David Brown is a trustee and long-time interpreter for Historic Sotterley, Inc. He and his wife, Erna are donating all of the proceeds of the book to Sotterley Plantation. “I love the place. I want to see this place succeed … to survive for future generations,” said Brown.
The story of Sotterley Plantation began shortly after the founding of Maryland and continued over the next three centuries. It rose from humble beginnings, prospered in the age of tobacco and slavery, endured The Great Depression, and survived three wars, only to stumble toward imminent ruin until a generous fate brought both restoration and a renewed relevance for our time.
Some who resided at Sotterley were socially prominent, though many were not. Some were free, while others were enslaved. Some were white, many more were black. Yet together their stories have much to tell us about the history of Southern Maryland and a maturing Chesapeake society.
