Christian Author sheds light on Matson Slave Trial

Christian author, Robin Lee Hatcher, a descendant of Gideon Ashmore recently shared a family letter with Roger Ashmore who portrays Gideon in the upcoming Trial & Tribulations program that reveals the depth of relationship between Gideon and the Bryant family.

Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. She makes her home in Idaho where she enjoys spending time with her family and her high-maintenance Papillon, Poppet. Robin's many awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian fiction and the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance.  Her blog is WriteThinking.

Roger explains, “I am always doing research on the Ashmore family and I discovered Robin’s blog where she mentioned that Gideon was her great great grandfather.” After e-mailing and contacting her on Facebook, she shared a letter written by her grandmother about the Matson Slave Trial. Her grandmother, Madge Ashmore Johnson, was a storyteller and she wrote the letter submitting this family tale for a storytelling event in which she wanted to perform.

There were several new pieces of information contained in the letter, notes Roger. According to this story, Gideon did not immediately agree to help the Bryants. After talking to a tearful Anthony, he rode to Charleston and spoke with attorney Orlando B. Ficklin to see if there was a case that could be won. Ficklin agreed that Jane and the children should be free and said he would donate his services if Gideon would cover the actual costs. They planned to have the Bryants come to Oakland and to protect them so that Matson would have to go to the law and start the legal proceedings. The Bryants also wrote to Ashmore from Liberia expressing their thanks.

Johnson mentions in the letter that the story can be corroborated in Sandburg’s and Beveridge’s published biographies of Lincoln. Several sections of the letter actually reflect the influence of these works, but the above-mentioned facts are new. There are also small errors in some details that hint at the oral recounting of the tale over three generations – from Gideon to his son Mark and then from Mark to his daughter Madge. Trial & Tribulations coordinator, Renee Henry, comments “Its like playing the party game, Telephone, what you start with usually isn’t accurately recounted at the end of the game.”

The new information will be incorporated into Roger Ashmore’s portrayal of Gideon in Trial & Tribulations: The Story of the 1847 Matson Slave Trial program that will be in Oakland on September 16, 17, and 18. The innovative event combines first-person interpretation at two Oakland historic sites, an 1847 meal, and the performance of Three Fifths of a Man, an original drama.

Cast for Play Deep Into Rehearsals

Trial & Tribulations: The Story of the 1847 Matson Slave Trial program will be in Oakland Illinois on September 16, 17, and 18.  The innovative event combines first-person interpretation at two Oakland historic sites, an 1847 meal, and the performance of Three Fifths of a Man, an original drama.

Dr. David Jorns of Oakland is the writer and director of the play. He states, “We have a great group of dedicated individuals for the play this year.”  They are all working hard to make the production memorable.

Four cast members from last year are back: Jacob Norris, Benny Lee, and Bill McBurney (all of Oakland) are recreating their roles as Lincoln, the patient, and Matson respectively.  Stefanie Borntrager, Oakland, is also returning, but has an expanded part this year as Interlocutor #1 and Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  Borntrager notes, “I loved doing the play last year and had to come back. I love acting and working with Dr. Jorns.

Stefanie is also responsible for recruiting Brittany Olinger, Oakland, who is playing Interlocutor #4. “I really liked watching the play last year, and I’ve been in some of the musicals at the high school, so when Stefanie talked to me about it, I figured I’d give it a try.

Another former cast member recruited April Noel of Kansas to play Interlocutor #2 and Mary Chestnut.  In fact, their first names are the same (April Lee was the recruiter) and they’re playing the same character.

Tracy Flesner, Oakland, rounds out the females in the cast by playing Interlocutor #3 and Mary Corbin.  She is sure to give a feisty rendition of the woman who started the whole issue with her temper.

Four new men have joined the cast. David D. Biggs, of Westfield, portrays Rutherford, and his son David M. Biggs of Newman is lawyer, Orlando B. Ficklin.  Both men have had experience acting in community theater which has been helpful in preparing for these roles.  Randy Walters, Hindsboro, is taking his career talking in front of people as a minister into a new venue by taking on the characters of William Gilman and Joe Dean.  The final man is Ed Adams of Round Lake Heights in suburban Chicago.  Ed attended the program last year and has volunteered with the steering committee this year and agreed to create a new role, Frederick Douglass, for this year’s production.

Public presentations of the program are Thursday and Friday evenings from 4-8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Participants should plan to attend the entire time to take advantage of the many activities that shed light on this trial and all its participants.  Tickets are $25/person and are limited, so advance purchase is encouraged.  Groups of ten or more will receive a discounted admission price.  Call 217-508-9113 or e-mail trial.tribulations1847@gmail.com to reserve tickets.

Trial & Tribulations: New in 2010

Once again, history comes to life in Oakland on September 16, 17 and 18 when you meet  seven historical characters who lived through the Matson Slave Trial. The trial freed the Bryant family from slave holder Matson even though Abraham Lincoln represented Matson. Ticket holders will also enjoy an 1847 meal and watch the original historical drama, Three Fifths of a Man, written by Dr. David Jorns. The program starts at the Rutherford Complex at Pike Street and State Route 133 and is from 4-8:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Saturday’s program is from 2-8:30 p.m.and includes three extras: 1840s music performed by Motherlode String Quartet, Harriett Tubman portrayed by Kathryn Harris, and craft/life-style demonstrations replicating the nineteenth century nearby free African-American community. A ticket for any night is also good for the Saturday extras.  For more details visit our website at www.matsontrial1847.org, call 217-508-9113 or email us at trial.tribulations1847@gmail.com.   Tickets are $25/ person and include site admissions, the meal and the performance.  
The committee announces the following changes for this year:

• People will pick up their tickets and be welcomed in the Depot on the Landmarks property.
• Interpreters in town will be located in buildings: Rutherford at the house, Ashmore in the Historical Museum, and Lincoln in the Meeting House.
• Meal will be catered by Lincoln Springs Resort and will be ham/turkey, vinegar coleslaw, cornbread, chunky applesauce, vegetarian baked beans, and bread pudding.
• More of the houses in the village will be open.
• Saturday extras as listed above.
• Play has been slightly rewritten and will have some new cast members which will change the performance.
• No gift shop, but publications and postcards will be for sale at the depot and the Columbian Building.
• Some of the interpreters presentations have been altered to reflect new research and to add more variety to the stories.
• The Lincoln Springs Trolley will be here on Saturday to move people between town and the village.
• Golf carts will be available at the village to help people move between houses.

Comments in the Mattoon & Charleston Newspapers from last year for tell an excellent program in 2010

Bill Lair, Managing Editor of the Mattoon Journal-Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier had the following to say about T & T:

"The people of Oakland did an outstanding job in bringing the people, passions, morals and legalities of the time to life...While I have known the basics of the Matson slave trial for many years, I learned so much more on Saturday...Originally, my wife Cheryl and I thought we might just go for the meal and the play. But the first-person interpreters really added to the understanding of the magnitude of the case...Roger Ashmore, a descendant of Gideon Ashmore, and Kim McGee posed as Ashmore and Rutherford outside of Dr. Rutherford’s historic home. They did a great job of portraying the two key figures in the story and explaining their involvement and their willingness to take action on their beliefs...Marylee McGee, Kim’s wife, portrayed Mary Corbin. She was a hoot! It was not difficult to get a sense of the real Mary Corbin’s temper and charm when visiting with her at a cabin at Independence Pioneer Village. The interpreters, as well as the actors in the play, all are local residents. Three performers from Indianapolis, also at Pioneer Village, portrayed freeman Anthony Bryant, Jane Bryant and Lucy Dupee, a resident of the black community that was just north of Oakland. I don’t know their names but they brought emotion to the roles so visitors could get a sense of the misery and cruelty of slavery..."Three Fifths of a Man” was the play written and directed by David Jorns, former president of Eastern Illinois University. It was more like readers theater, with few props, and very fast-paced. The cast sparkled...Incidentally, I thought the play treated Lincoln a bit harsh but the Matson slave trial is about so much more than Lincoln. It was a polished performance by all."

 

Many of the interpreters and several of the actors will return to their roles this year.  The play has a couple of extra characters, and special activities have been added for Saturday (though any ticket will admit you to those events).  Get your tickets today by clicking on contact us on the website.

2010 Meal Catered by Stovepipe Grill & Smokehouse

The 1847 meal this year is catered by the Stovepipe Grill & Smokehouse at Lincoln Springs Resort outside Charleston, Illinois.  The meal will have smoked turkey and ham, a vinegar coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and okra, chunky applesauce, cornbread, vegetarian baked beans, and bread pudding.  These are all dishes that were available on the Illinois prairie in that period.  It will be delicious!