George W. Bordeaux's life had a tremendous arc.

From inherited in a will in 1859 as chattel property, to community organizer of freed slaves, to School Committee, County Commissioner, Register of Deeds, ....... to mortgager, debtor, ....resident of Pender County Poorhouse.

Often we see the stories of historical free people of color. They had a 'leg up' after the Civil War.  Many of them had already had an opportunity to become literate, had family and/or business relationships with white neighbors, owned land.

G.W. Bordeaux ended the Civil War not owning the shirt on his back, his next spoonful of food, or a spoon to eat it with.  He was illiterate.  He learned and scratched and fought his way to county-wide political office.  

And no one remembers him.

Read more: /Portals/0/Blog Content/PenderROCK in Reconstruction NC.pdf?ver=Im2pdLizUqs9UTnSugg_gg%3d%3d