Anita Wills Book Presentation – “Pieces of the Quilt: The Mosaic of An African American Family” at Hayward Library on Dec. 2, 2009

San Leandro, CA, November 02, 2009 – (PR.com) – Join Author Anita Wills for a Presentation of her book “Pieces of the Quilt: The Mosaic of An African American Family.” It is author Anita Wills, second book, after “Notes and Documents of Free Persons of Color”. Ms. Wills’ writes from a Historical and Genealogical perspective, about the mixed raced heritage of African Americans. The book is a culumination of over twenty years of Genealogy Research and Documentation.

One chapter is dedicated to the Native Americans who inhabited Southeastern Pennsylvania. The authors Maternal Lines are interwoven with these first peoples of America. Outside of Lancaster and Chester County a group of Tri-Racial Isolates inhabited a region known as the Welsh Mountains. When the Civil War started, the Welsh Mountain ancestors answered the call. Several fought alongside neighbors and friends in the 41st United States Colored Troop. Another ancestor, Walter Samuel Pinn, joined the 54th Massachusetts, while a resident of Lancaster County. He trained at Readsville Massachusetts, Under Colonial Robert Shaw. He was upgraded to Corporal by Colonial Shaw, while in training. Corporal Pinn marched to Savannah, and was there when Colonial Shaw lost his life.

In Colonial Virginia the ancestors achievements were plucked from records hidden away for generations. The author will talk about finding her female lines beginning with a white woman, Lydia Hilliard, who was born about 1690 in Westmoreland County Virginia. Her mulatto daughter married William Monroe Junior, the Uncle of President James Monroe, and was embroiled in a nasty court battle. Ms. Wills will share her struggle to locate and document the history’s which intertwined with the Washington and Monroe Families.

The Presentation will include Questions and Answers period, and a book signing.

From pr.com.