http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2012/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula.html Stories, quotes and anecdotes. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:33:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2012/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula.html#comment-1349951 John E. Fletcher, PhD Tue, 07 May 2013 18:42:18 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula/#comment-1349951 The true facts about this case and the story of the Ballads can be found in my new book, “The True Story of Tom Dooley: From Western North Carolina Mystery to Folk Legend”, published by History Press, April 2013. It is available on Amazon and most book stores.

]]> http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2012/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula.html#comment-1315930 Laurie Allen Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:22:14 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula/#comment-1315930 Ann Melton is my great grandmother- my father was George Clyde Allen Jr.died in1976 at 56. I have postcards of Ann and Laura that I just found and posted on my facebook. Dad’s mom was Lena Page. I’d appreciate any information on my family history. I was born in 1960, both parents have died, never knew any grandparents- met one great grandmother in Fl. around 1965? she was 102 I think. There were a bunch of old people that were my Dad’s relatives. I remember the names Winne, Annabelle, I was a bit scared. We drove down from NJ to see my step grandad- Capt. Jessie O’Hyden. Lena Page Allen O’Hyden had died some time before. Not sure how- rumors that she was garden society and a bee sting to the foot killed her. Then, I hear my Dad’s family in NC owned Allen’s mountain at one time and it was like the Hatfields and McCoys, stills and all.
Seems there is much more to my family history and I’d like to hear about it. I can be reached at laurieallen55@msn.com

]]> http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2012/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula.html#comment-1153217 John E. Fletcher, PhD Mon, 24 Dec 2012 23:58:22 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2008/05/hang-down-your-head-tom-dula/#comment-1153217 Almost all the “facts” in this story are untrue. Neither Laura Foster or Ann Melton were pregnant by Tom Dula. The source of the disease was the promiscious woman Laura Foster. The Ballad was sung as early as 1868 in Wilkes and nearby counties. The first poem was written by Col Thomas C.Land in 1868 entitled “The Murder of Laura Foster. The ballads were widespread in the tri-county area after 1870.

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