Olde Towne Portsmouth Photo Gallery
This is my photo collection from Olde Towne Portsmouth on the first day of summer—June 20, 2020. Ten days earlier, the Confederate Monument at the town square was overthrown amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and I was struck by the sight of revolutionary signage displayed on several Federal and Greek Revival style townhouses in the community. Brief descriptions are provided below.
Descendants of the Great Dismal 
Hello again. I don’t know you and yet I am incredibly proud of you and Keith. I just know our Bass and Anderson kin are smiling down on you. You represent our family well. I am a direct descendant of William Bass 1654 and Caleb Anderson 1795. I would love to know more about our amazing family and would be thrilled to know cousins closer to my age. I know of the family through my grandmother’s cousins. I grew up spending summers in the country with my grandmother. She lived in Lawrenceville, IL. I want to know how we’re connected. Are you my cousin? I have always wanted a big family. I grew up knowing that our family had native roots but never knew the name Nansemond. My grandmother is Katherine Viola Mae Adams. Her mother (ggran) is Edna Meeks. My gggran is Viola Portee. Her mother ggggran is Harriet Anderson. Her mother is Polly Bass (my 4th grandmother). Are we cousins??? I don’t know anyone else who would know more about our family and tribe than you. Please.
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So I’ve always been told I was Cherokee and I’ve always known my Granny Ocie was a Bass. What I didn’t realize is all the family I actually have. I was born in Portsmouth, VA 4/28/81. I’ve never met another person born there nor have I been since i was one year of age. For the past 30 years I’ve felt a void and I think I just found what can fill and heal it. I need to go back to my roots and visit and learn.
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My great grandfather was a Bass and just recently we have traced our heritage to the Nansemond Tribe. My cousin and I have been doing extensive research so if anyone has any tips let me know. Thanks so much.
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