Crews uncover a piece of American history at GE-Hitachi

A piece of American history was unveiled Thursday on the grounds of the GE-Hitachi plant.

Years ago, several grave markers were identified on the property. A ground-penetrating radar, along with a dog team, have since been used to uncover exactly what was there. What crews found were gravesites of soldiers who fought during the American Revolution and Civil War, members of the original British family who owned the property during colonial times, and the slaves who worked there.

Thomas Lockhart, a direct descendent of the Quince family, said it is important to him to know about his family’s history. “On a personal level it means I know something about where I came from and what the people I came from stood for,” he said. “They stood for liberty, freedom, fighting for their rights which is what they did their whole lives, and that’s important to me.”

Speakers at Thursday’s unveiling ceremony included Lockhart, New Hanover County Commissioner Bobby Greer, and Jack Fuller, president of GE-Hitachi.