Darlene Colon: Nothing gets past this historian

Darlene Colon looks up a family member in the archives at the Lancaster County Courthouse. Photo Courtesy Lancaster Newspapers

Lancaster Sunday News

April 20, 2008

It started with an unanswered question.

That's what prompted Darlene Colon to research her family tree, a decades-long journey that has produced many unexpected - and fascinating - revelations.

"When my grandmother died, my mother was wondering out loud about the origin of her grandmother's last name, Quamony," Colon remembered.

"That was in January of 1983," she said. "And I've been working on it ever since."

Hometown: Pomeroy.

Current residence: Lancaster city.

Family: Four children, Darlene, Nathaniel, Stephaan and Melissa; and eight grandchildren.

Occupation: Assistant account administrator at Fulton Bank.

The most interesting things I've learned about my family background: Well, they were all advocates for freedom. My great-great-great grandfather Ezekiel Thompson was a freedom fighter and involved in William Parker's secret society to rescue those kidnapped by bounty hunters in the Christiana area. He was also a part of the Christiana Resistance on Sept. 11, 1851. Zeke was arrested and held in Moyamensing Prison. Due to the efforts of Thaddeus Stevens and a strong defense team, he and 37 others were released.

Two of Zeke's sons continued the fight by enlisting in the Civil War. My great-great grandfather Joseph died in New Orleans during the war, and my great-great uncle Miller Thompson died shortly after coming home. Miller was in Jacksonville, Fla., at the Battle of Olustee. I also found seven other ancestors who enlisted.

Projects I'm working on now: I'm searching for more descendants of participants in the Christiana Resistance; researching the inhabitants and descendants of a once-thriving African community in Conestoga and restoring the cemetery there; and continuing to research the life of Lydia Hamilton Smith.

Organizations/community groups I belong to: President of the Christiana Historical Society; vice president of the executive board of the United States Colored Troops Institute for Local History and Family Research; and board member of the YWCA of Lancaster, where I'm a member and past chairman of the Racial Justice Committee.

Also a member of the Lancaster NAACP; the Sadsbury Township Historical Society; the African American Historical Society of Lancaster County; the African American Veterans Project of Lancaster County; and the Pennsylvania Past Players.

Hobbies other than genealogy: Dancing! I love to salsa and merengue, and would like to eventually take lessons for ballroom dancing.

The best book I've read lately: "The Price of a Child," by Lorene Cary. It's a novel based on a true story of the flight to freedom by a mother and her children.

The best movie I've seen recently: Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns." It has a little bit of everything - great comedy, some drama, and life lessons all in one picture and done well.

Web sites I frequent: Mostly genealogical research sites, but I must admit I love eBay.

Magazines I read: A variety, including American Legacy, which covers black history and culture, and Woman's Day.

The person in history I most admire, and why: It's too hard to choose one. There are so many men and women of integrity, strength, and great moral values to use as guides/mentors. There's Lydia Hamilton Smith, a single mother in a time when it was hard to be a woman, much less a woman of color. The same can be said of Eliza Parker of Christiana who stood ready to sacrifice with her husband, William.

The more contemporary people: Medgar and Myrlie Evers; Malcolm and Betty X; Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, stood together through turbulent times. And the women had to eventually stand alone and raise their families as well as continue their husbands' work.

Favorite restaurant: Friendly's. I love ice cream.

Favorite vacation spot: Cancun - a great place to recharge!

What I do to relax: Listen to music while I knit or crochet.

The radio station I have on in my car: I have three stations plugged in - jazz, oldies and Spanish.

One thing I'd change about myself: Try to be more organized. Is that possible?

Quotation to live by: "Don't mistake God's patience for His permission."