Power, Memory, and What We Leave Behind
“Having no power except for the power you have over men.” That line, spoken by Lady Kenna in the TV series Reign, has stuck with me. The show may take creative liberties with history, but it’s depiction of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her feud with Queen Elizabeth I echos something I’ve seen time and time again I my own historical research: the struggle for power.
Land meant power. Influence meant power. And women — especially outspoken women — rarely had either.
That theme runs deep in Legacy Lore: The Accused, and it’s one I’ve been unraveling for nearly a year. I grew up in Manteo, North Carolina — a small town on Roanoke Island, which just happens to be the site of the first English colony in the New World. You’ve probably heard of the “Lost Colony” — a group of about 115 English settlers who vanished without a trace in the late 1500s. The mystery of Roanoke has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. It’s what first sparked my love for history and planted the idea that stories — even unfinished ones — deserve to be told.
That idea is what drives this podcast. It’s what keeps me flipping through faded court records and handwritten documents, searching for truth in the gaps. Because history, as we’ve learned, is often written by people in power. And in the 17th century, those people were almost always men.
Men decided what went on the record. Men decided what was important. And if something — of someone — challenged their authority? Well, you already know how that usually went.
Eleanor Neale, my 11th great-grandmother, lived in that world. She had wealth. She had a voice. But because she was a woman, her power was limited…and dangerous. Men feared what they couldn’t control. And when fear takes over, stories are written that twist the truth into something easier to swallow: witchcraft.
This season (yes, I keep telling you this season because there will be others) explores how fear shaped women’s loves in Colonial Virginia. And yes, it’s about witchcraft — but it’s also about land. About justice. About what we’re allowed to say and who we’re allowed to be.
I’ve spent the past year crafting this podcast, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. Every element — from the sound designer to the historical sourcing — has been a labor of love. And while the podcast gives you the episodes, this blog is where I get to share me. My thoughts. My personal connection. The stories that didn’t make it into the final cut but still deserve to be remembered.
If you’re reading this, I hope you’ve already signed up for our Email List. (If not, you still can join — it’s the best way to stay updated on blog releases, bonus episodes, and exclusive content.) Early Access to the first two episodes may be closed, but there’s so much more to come.
This story — Eleanor’s story — is more than a glimpse into the past. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come….and how far we still have to go.
Because history doesn’t just repeat itself — it evolves. And if we’re paying attention, we can learn from it.
