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PDF Text
Text
The Gunpowder Incident
Volume 4 No. 3
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPER
Gunpowder
Prelude to
Incident
Independence
DAY
in Historic Area
Dates
April 18
to 24, 2005
Dates in Historic Area
May 9 to 15, 2005
NO. 1 FOR COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
SPRING
1774
THE GUNPOWDER INCIDENT
Newsline
REVOLUTION
AMERICAN
44"r`
sp1"
r
r'
issue
format,
focuses
the content
on two
specific
events. They are two of the most
important events to take place in Williamsburg during the march to Revo-
j '
i'-r`--
our usual
of this
TO THE
LEADING
EVENTS
Unlike
lution
and independence.
From April
y _,
4-
10
February
11* Al:
French and Indian War ends with
t
19 to 25, the Historic
.
ming will present the story of the
Gunpowder Incident; from May 10
to 16, programming will focus on the
Meatyof Paris
the'
F
tiffs,
7
October
of 1763
Proclamation
nial westward
3=
-
Prelude
sue
ends colo-
.
%
Area program-
'
to
Independence.
We
hope
you find these documents useful in
your efforts to support the program-
migration
1764
ming and enrich the experience of
n_
April 5
our guests.
a•-
Parliament passes the Sugar and
t
Acts
Currency
1
AN UNEASY
STANDOFF
1765
March 22
Parliament
111111
Act
Stamp
the
passes
After Governor Dunmore promised to
the colony' s gunpowder if it were
lipreturn
1766
March 18
4
Parliament
and passes
Stamp Act
Declaratory Act
repeals the
the
needed
PIP
June 29
Townshend
the
passes
1,-.- :
6.,:
p.
Acts
1768
rA
troops
are
In
sent to Boston
more,
1770
two
March 5
April
12
for the
except
repealed,
are
duty
hero
Parliamentpasses
December
successfully
brief
a
waging
brokering a treaty with the
Among the corre-
and
Indians.
Tea Act
the
all
Tea
Party
1774
which
March 31- June 22
Parliament
and
was
Coercive
the
passes
the
from
exportation
Act
Quebec
First Continental
Congress
meets
to " take
or
order,
the
instructing
all
effectual
most
for arresting, detaining and
any Gunpowder, or any sort
securing
of Arms
or
Ammunition
be attempted
1775
Colonies,
to the
measures
in Philadelphia
arms
the
governors,
letter from Lord Dartmouth,
a circular
governors
September 5- October 26
of
all colonial
sent to
was
Secretary
England
Accompanying
ammunition.
be
to
which
may
into the
imported
Province
of Lexington
Battles
and Concord
April20
Gunpowder
Incident
Williamsburg
Five Men Inform
Bur-
Benjamin
and
Waller
among
the House
Randolph
John
five men who told
of Burgesses about
members
the
Gun-
powder Incident:
the next
to the
Day
Doctor
Pasteur
came
said Waller' s House, and informed
him of the Governor'
s
include
to
the
Threatening
and
detaining
Virginia
rumors
Gazette in January 1775, along
of a slave uprising and Dunto
more' s
Gunpowder Incident
That
Public Magazine.
the
them
to the
alarmed,
was
numbers
that
Slaves, and
lay
the
lbwn in Ashes,
and that the Governor had desired him
to
this
communicate
his
Dedaration
Magistrates of the City, for that
not an Hour to Loose. That
to the
there
was
these
Dedarations gave the said Waller
Inhabitants of the lbwn
other
and the
uneasiness.
great
terwards
Waller' s
that
liberty
he
lency
Days af-
his Excellency came to the said
House on some private busiwhereupon
ness, ...
the
That several
was
that
to
to
his
lordship
very sorry to tell his Excelhe had lost the Confidence
of the People not
taken the
he said Waller took
mention
Powder
so
as
much
for
having
for the declaration
of raising and freeing the said
made
Slaves to which he answered that he
forbid the
prodamation attempting
meeting of the Second Virginia Convention
at which Patrick Henry gave his" liberty or
death" speech), prompted town volunteers
to
keep
a
watch
on
the
Magazine. At length,
however,
they grew negligent, and on the
evening of April 20 the guards were not to
be found. Dunmore took advantage
of this
security lapse. At about 4 in the morning of
April 21, he dispatched Lt. Collins of H. M.S.
to
have defended himself in
been attacked.
case
he had
to
palace,
in
Governor
a
supposed
was
deposited
John Dixon
They escorted
in this
justly
so
to the
the
on
action
Palace
city' s
the
con-
colonists'
Needless to say, the governor' s explanation
not received
was
favorably. hide-
force
from Hanover
Richmond,
miles
of
outside
of
150
of these
s
15
Ordinary,
Eventu-
Williamsburg.
was needed
Massachusetts
S. Wood,
Revolution:
The American
A History( New York: Modern Library
Lion, 2002), 52- 54
By
beginning
the
ish government
of
1775
the
Edi-
and
payment. Henry then offered the services
of his armed men to protect the colony' s
treasury in Williamsburg.• fYeasurer Robert
at
Brit-
supplements
coincidence
that
efforts
they
or
are
to
be
Independent."
subject
to
The British
thus built up its army and
navy and began restraining the commerce
first of New England and then of the other
colonies. .-.-.
By April 1775 fighting had broken
out
in Massachusetts. Since the British government had long assumed that Boston was
the
center
of the disturbances
in America,
it believed that isolating and punishing that
all
port city would essentially undermine
Colonial
resistance.
The Coercive
Acts of
to
disarm
the
two colonies leading the protest against
the ministry occurred at almost the same
time
was
sation.
the
What
topic
of
would
feverish
happen
Governor
action.
convernext
Dunmore
When
was
began
he learned
that the independent companies gathered
at Fredericksburg might march on Williamsburg, he again let it be known that
he would carry out his threats of April 22
nover
County.
1774 had rested
this
on
and
assumption,
British military actions of 1775 were
a logical
of the same asextension
the
sumption.
it
The British government,
thinkdealing only with mobs led
break up their bases, and to reassert royal
authority in the colony. On April 18- 19,
1775, Gage' s army attempted to seize rebel
whether
and
city. He also began to fortify the Palace. It
is likely that he sent his wife and children
to safety aboard H. M. S. Fowey when he
line. As early as November 1774, George
III had told North that " Blows must de-
Country
government
were
if the troops
Nicholas
politely refused the offer,
and Henry returned with his men to Ha-
ing
by
the
and
Pressmen
Carter
already preparing for
military action. By this time North' s supporters and the king himself saw no choice
back in
but force to bring the colonists
cide
Lexington
19.
Gazette
to take decisive
On May 4, Carter Braxton,
patriot, met Henry with the
return.
back to
broadsides were printed. The surprising
actual
simply
was
the night,
and sent them
April
anyone' s guess
Meanwhile,
moderate
Incident
through
militia
on
ally intermediaries negotiated payment for
to secure
its
the powder but were unable
a
Gunpowder
rode hard
awakened,
County, just north of
Doncastle'
to
of the
Fredericksburg with a letter urging calm.
During their return trip, they may have
passed a post rider racing eastward.
Sometime late Friday night, April 28,
or early Saturday morning, the rider galloped into the city and stopped at the
several printing offices to convey distressing news: British troops had fired on the
Concord
gentlemen volunteers
throughout
mustered
ready to march on Williamsburg
to force a return of the gunpowder. Patrick
men
news
reached them on Monday, April 24. After
a day' s debate, the volunteers decided to
send three riders to Williamsburg to see if
the capital needed military assistance. The
Peyton Randolph assured the men that no
spokesmen.
a
a
on
corn-
and
presented
Henry marched
came
Randolph
it."
upon
alarming
arriving in the capital at 1 P. M., April 27.
by
tion
when
messengers
magazine
slave
uprising, justified his acsaying that he " had removed the
Powder lest the Negroes might have seized
fear of
most
was
their
Dunmore, playing
cerns.
The
April 27. A number of independent
The crowd
delegation
the
Randolph
where
as
to
from the
of what
restoration
for the country' s defense."
calmed and chose Peyton
mayor
city
and
readiness
demand
arriving.
panies had been drilling at Fredericksburg
whole
exasperated;
themselves
got
convey
Burwell' s
urgent in-
quiries about Williamsburg' s plight began
came
within
heard about Lexington
Gordon
he
did say so and made no secret of it and
that he would do that or any thing else
at
of Carter's Grove.
much
and
to the
repair
As if that were not enough,
to
were
moored
As the Gazette reported, " the
if himself his Family or Captain Collins
insulted, he would declare liberty
were
to the
this side
Ferry, just
They
schooner
Collins,
raise the royal standard,
slaves, and reduce Williamsburg to ashes.
Virginia,
with
gesses about the
to
free the
seamen
half barrels of gunpowder from
15
remove
pendent companies,
for the most part,
on' s
were
to
under
your Government." ( It
is certainly possible that any of the colonial governors could have stretched this
cursecuring of arms and ammunition
rently stored within their colony.)
The letter, published in Purdie and Dix-
in
was able
he would
squad of 15 to 20
a
instruction
April 19
The
with
Magdalen
Williamsburg
awaiting his return was a copy
of his Majesty' s Order in ( privy) Council,
dated October 19, 1774, which forbade
16
Boston
Acts
to
spondence
10
May
totaling
the
returned
Ohio country
1773
militia
with
colony' s
protect
in the Ohio region. In
claims
after
campaign
tea
on
a
Dun-
went west
to
men
he
Lord
1774,
governor of Virginia,
divisions
of Virginia
December,
duties
of
summer
nearly
interests and
Massacre
Townshend
of
the
2, 500
Boston
Randolph
came to Captain Foy or Lieutenant
June 8
British
Peyton
to disperse, an uneasy calm settled over
Williamsburg. It did not last. The next
day, Saturday, April 22, the governor deliberately let it be known that if any harm
1767
Parliament
and
persuade the city'sindependent company
that
was
few
a
instigators,
seditious
therefore
ordered
its
General
Gage, to arrest the rebel leaders, to
arms
and
ammunition
town northwest
induding
in Massachusetts,
commander
the
stored at Concord,
of Boston. Colonial
silversmith
a
scouts,
Paul Revere,
rode
hours
of
miles
40
outside
marines
ington,
militia
one
but
knows
shots
who
minutemen—
between
and British troops
the
were
colonial
exchanged
and later at nearby Concord,
the British found only a few supplies.
there
to
fired first at Lex-
where
action,
however,
news
ar-
Williamsburg.
ordered
and
that
sailors
a
be
Immediately
detachment
of
dispatched
to
the Palace. They arrived at 10 A. M., May
4. Furthermore,
Captain
Montague
of the
Fowey threatened to bombard Yorktown if
his men were attacked.
Only a compromise
Lion.
the
countryside—
No
this
Dunmore
of
the
and Concord.
rived that Patrick Henry and an independent company of 150 men were only 15
tween
arms.
of the
On May 3 Dunmore issued a proclamation urging all Virginians to submit
dutifully to the laws of the land. Within
of the advancing redcoats, warned
patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel
Adams to flee, and roused the farmers
ahead
30 miles
Carter
Braxton,
worked out beRichard
Corbin,
and Patrick Henry to pay for the missing
gunpowder diverted a military confrontaNevertheless,
Dunmore
could
not
resist one parting shot: on May 6 he had
Henry virtually outlawed. In less than a
month,
the colonists'
world
had changed.
Submitted by Kevin Kelly]
�Spring 1775
SPRING
1775
PRELUDE TO INDEPENDENCE
Newsline
VOTE WHEN?
THE FIFTH VIRGINIA CONVENTION
LEADING TO THE
EVENTS
WHO GETS TO
ANIERICAN REVOLUTION
Resolved [ in Philadelphia]
1775
1776- 1830: THE VOTE
this
American
forces
capture
giances to
Fort Ti
10
May
With
Second Continental
Congress
these
and John Adams, the real
Jefferson
tion
Washington
appointed
of
Continental
the
the
was
from
III declares the colo-
George
in open rebellion
December
defeated
at
ries of
evacuate
Boston
was
May15
Convention
declaring
resolution
passes
the colonies
free and independent
of Great
The
Virginia' s resolution to the
CoConvennventiontion
at
fifth Virginia
developunder
f Rights
the
Congress
Virginia
adopts
Independence
P
into the House
4
July
to
of Inde P endence
Declaration
the
6
Virginia
Convention
for
constitution
new
ing
1776, John
Page
Lee, " I think
is
Treasurer,
pushed
that
independence.
almost
willingto
many VirginOn April 12,
Richard
to
wrote
Henry
every man, except the
dedare for IndepenP
any doubt about
local sentiment regarding the issue, on April
24, 1776, the freeholders
of James City
In
dency."
there
case
was
and agreed
met at Allen' s ordinary
instruct their delegates, the said Treasurer
County
to
Carter Nicholas and William Nowell,
Robert
to " exert
ability, in the next
utmost
your
Convention, towards
dissolving
the
con-
between America and Great Britain,
flexion
nor
as
it
soon-
final form of the document).
vote
ofas
against
congress
In addition to
a
common
shall
The
of the
not be de-
Congress
shall
have
to vote
shall
30, 1870.
XIX
The right of a citizen
States
of the United
not
be denied
or
abridged by the United States or by any
State on account
of sex.
Congress shall have the power
to enforce this article by appropriate
Virginia' s first elected governor. A new
united
to be joined by others
soon
a
to vote
ratified March
state,
under
XV
of citizens
Amendment
ment, the Convention chose Patrick Henry
sim-
2.
an
establishing a republican form of govern-
Pendleton stated
States
Section
the
on
of Chusing
power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Passed February 27, 1869,
felt that the
who
of Virginia should
Regulations,
nied or abridged by the United States or
by any State on account of race, color,
or previous conditions of servitude.
had
of
objections
The right
to- be
proceed
House
a
1776,
1.
United
the
Sev-
the "
neither
adjourn,
Edmund
totally, finally, and irrevocably." There
outside
Edmund
early April, captured letters to Governor Eden of Maryland,
revealing that a large
invasion force was on the way, provoked a
In
outrage
There,
chamber.
the
over
Jefferson,
Thomas
freeholders
6,
for the
constitution
such
Amendment
legislation.
foe,
Passed June 5, 1919,
ratified August 26, 1920
had been born.
and reentered
building,
the
as
t
1
Pendleton,
al
it
several days the delegates
next
such
matters
.
4, + 4
1*
-. '
s
"
t.;"
. •
_.:
t~
deliberated
fate of loyalists.
the
as
to the
saw
and
of Virginia
administration
x,
only ConOver the
the
was
in the Capitol.
to meet
vention
i
t
the fifth Virginia Convention. Chaired by
NICHOLAS' DILEMMA
ians toward
absent
a
or alter
as to the Places
the room, joined with a second group wait-
commonwealth
general
commonwealth (
ply that they" let that body die."
The former burgesses then filed out of
adopts a
the
Business,
Burgesses."
was
due to
Members met, but did
approveseral
Continental Congress
g
adopted
make
Section
fifth Virginia Conven-
July
on
Places and Man
Senators.
future
such
federal Bill of Rights;
the time the
RIGHTS
4. The Times,
except
of Rights of Man and the Citi-
dispersed
tion
on
middle
May6,
Y
Monday,
Law
in the United Nations Charter.
a lack of quoof the morning of
1776, about 45 men filed
About the
rum.
ringing
in the early days of the French
Revolution; and, more than a century and a
half later, the Statement on Human Rights
in
voting
1830.
and Representatives, shall be prescribed
in each state by the Legislature thereof;
but the Congress may at any time by
issued
zen,
had
that
in October 1775 and
reconstituted
never
for
Resolution
of Burgesses
House
been adjourned
Continental
Jul
a
the
as
until
ner of holding Elections for Senators
liberty and the
influence
to
was
Dedaration
speech
met
It contained
to
By
Convention
the
During
well
documents
famous
action
Section
of Rights to be
of individual
Declaration
crisis.
Virginia
heels of
the
for unified
provided
The fifth
2
the
to
in Richmond),
Convention
impending
e
of George Mason
leadership
second
the
and generally
Virginnia
the
variety
no
the
the new constitution,
did not change
VOTING
of Inde-
self- government as
as a pioneering statement of religious freedom that
owed much to James Madison. The Virginia
in Philadel-
that met
congresses
a
That
under
EVOLUTION OF
Convention's
finished.
yet
in America.
statements
right
infant
The U.S. Constitution
Virginia
first Dedaration
the
adopted
an
representatives
promoted by Patrick Henry' s
Give me liberty or give me death"
June
the
performed
they elected
first
Congress
of
policies;
Conventions.
not
was
created
thus
s
rights
next month, under the guidance of Fairfax
County delegate George Mason, that body
phia, arranged economic embargos of British goods, organized
military preparations
Richard Henry Lee presents
Members
become
to
king'
the
Conventions
general
the
Continental
House
the
allow
contest
of functions:
June 7
British
the
by
The Dedaration
pendence was
But the fifth
for the Tea Party. It
to the burgesses that Dunmore
born the Virginia
was
Britain
July
to
arena
be closed
to
was
Despite
for Independence to Phila-
Congress.
work
enacted,
Virginia Statutes at Large, 1762
Vir-
the
the result.
retribution
obvious
would not
Fifth Virginia
nental
House of Burgesses in May 1774 for
officially supporting the city of Boston,
port
ministry in
his support
for the consideration of the second Conti-
argue
further
or covert,
sake
delphia, and on June 7 the colony' s senior
delegate, Richard Henry Lee, presented it
se-
the
whose
to
opposition
of unanimity.
Thomas Nelson Jr. delivered
for the
the
Quebec
March 17
troops
called Conventions to
meetings
a
in
competency
In the end, he added
delegates
in
floor
the
resolutions,
contest."
with Great
continuing dispute
Britain. Governor Dunmore had dissolved
1776
British
"
taken
it
sole
age of twenty- one, recusant, convict, or
any person convicted in Great Britain
or Ireland, during the time for which he
is transported, or any Negro, mulatto or
Indian, although such persons be freeholders, shall have a vote, or be permit
ted to poll, at any election of burgesses,
or capable of being elected."
the
openly questioning
of America in so arduous a
the
ginia Resolution
gathered
and that
Britain
be
feme,
portions of each. Only
Robert Carter Nicholas is known
have
to
but
were
elected
had
Virginia
parliament of Great
Treasurer
revolu-
and atti-
sentiments
1774,
August
across
over
31
Colonists
IN VIRGINIA
And
by incorporating
was
minds
and military actions
of this transition.
results
Since
August 23
vies
end
the
of Bunker Hill
King
to represent
such declaration.
of the populace
1765 and 1776. The Dedaration of
Independence
June 17
in
change
in the hearts and
tudes
Armybetween
Battle
or
crown
to
and
We say consummated
not begun since, for such notables as Thomas
convenes
George
Colony
Revolution
the
words
the
upon
consummated.
June 15
commander
dependence
or
they give the assent of this
Lake Champlain
conderoga on
appointed
delegates
the
unanimously
body
colony in General Congress be instructed to propose to that respectable
to declare the United Colonies free and independent states absolved from all alle
10
May
that
i•
3t
Their
fi
e
t
7
r
_'
r
i `
real purpose, however, was to discuss and
vote
on
declare
to
a motion
independence
4
I.
a
from Great Britain.
The Convention
self into
of the
a committee
Archibald
upon
120-
the
periodicallyresolved
of independence.
much for
not
was
as
it
VIA.
>-
y,.
rt'
"`
a
T'
1, " \.
i:
so
what
considered
three
separate
had
1
x7,
s
1
t.
t;
1
I .
II
a
t'
b .
f
si
us.
resolutions
and on May 15 unanimously
Pendleton
rl
g
e:
',,
1-
was
1.
r
=,
r. .
r y'''
'
•
.
form it would take. The Conven
over
tion
version
question
independence
i
a
and
chair
the
The debate
against
or
the
debated
4
,
r
where-
whole,
Cary took
body
man
go
it-
I..
4
approved a
cobbled
together
irk`
less
was
certainty, however, about what Nicholas'
would be. Although he
response
sionate
supporter
considered
of American
opinion
was
that the
was
means.
A
man
pashis
differences
with Great Britain could be settled
drastic
a
rights,
less
by
known for his" strict-
veracity and honour," he would be
likely to vote against his conscience.
est
in May, it
for independence for
When the Convention
debated
two
a
resolution
days before
finally
las" demonstrated
despising
tion.
He
un-
his
it. Nicho-
adopting
his title to popularity by
vote for the revolu-
son-
A DECLARATION
good
people
of
OF RIGHTS
in the
Virginia
made
exercise
by the
of their
powers, which rights do pertain to
and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.
in- law Edmund
Ran-
Article III. The Government is,
for the
be, instituted
sovereign
or
Article VI. That Elections of Members to
serve as Representatives of the People, in
ought to
Benefit, Pro-
common
and Security
tection,
them
of the People, Nation,
Assembly, ought to be free; and that all
Men, having sufficient Evidence of perma-
or
met
it" and did not
was,
VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS: LOOK FAMILIAR?
Article
equally
I. That
free
and
all
men
are
by
independent,
Nature
and
have
certain inherent Rights, of which, when
State of Society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive, divest their
Posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life
they
enter
into
a
community, of all the various Modes and
Forms of Government, that is best which is
nent
wrote, "
dubious
of the competency
arduous
a contest." Imme
with his country" and allowed
be appointed a member of the
himself
to
committee
charged with writing a declaration of rights
and a plan of government for Virginia.
Submitted
by Cathy
with the
and
wants,
and at all times
amenable
to them.
Becoming
Suffrage,
any Government
inadequate or contrary to
of the Commua Majority
whenever
found
these
Article IV. That
is entitled
but
to
AMERICANS
exclusive
Training
Crevieaux- Gevertz,
Judge to be
or
from
Bob Doares, Cathy
Oppression,
Hellier, Kevin Kelly, Rose McAphee,
Linda Rowe, Phil Shultz
Nancy Milton
2005
All images
are
editor
Diana
Freedman,
graphic production
Williamsburg Foundation. All rights reserved.
ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation, unless otherwise
The Colonial
property
of The
Judicative;
may be
separate
restrained
by feeling and participating
noted.
the
from
the
Burthens of the People, they should at fixed
Periods,
be reduced to a private Station, reinto that Body from which they were
originally taken, and the Vacancies be supplied
by regular Elections, in which all or any Part
of the former Members to be again eligible, oI
ineligible,
as
the
Laws may direct.
or criminal
of his Accusation,
with the Accusers
to call for Evidence
to
and Wit-
in his Favour,
that
no
Man
be
deprived
of his
Liberty except by the Law of the Land, or
and
that
Repre-
Consent he cannot be found guilty, nor can
he be compelled to give Evidence against
and
and
of their
of his Vicinage, without whose unanimous
himself;
executive
or that
and to a speedy Thal by an impartial Jury
hereditary.
turn
Production:
Susan Q. Bruno, copy
the
thereof
Members
Contributors:
nesses,
Legisla-
Article V. That the legislative,
or deprived
VIII. That in all capital
be confronted
Emolu-
Offices of Magistrate,
Consent
the Cause and nature
neither
the
be taxed
Prosecutions a Man hath a Right to demand
of Men,
descendible,
being
not
distinct
Anne Willis
set
separate
Powers of the State should be
Editors:
Margot
or
or
own
Article
Privileges
tor,
TODAY
of Interpretive
Man,
no
and cannot
sentatives so elected, nor bound by any law
to which they have not, in like Manner,
assented, for the public Good.
from the Community,
in Consideration of Public Services,
or
which
of the Department
Attach-
their
be
shall
ought
is a publication
and
istration, and,
mens
Hellier]
with,
of their Property for public Uses without
means
Article H. That all power is vested in, and
from, the people,
consequently derived
are their trustees and serthat magistrates
Interest
ment to, the Community, have the Right of
purposes,
nit, hath an indubitable, inalienable, and
of acquiring
liberty
indefeasible Right to reform, alter, or abolish
of America in so
and possessing property, and pursuing and
after the vote was
taken, however,
it, in such Manner as shall be judged most
diately
obtaining happiness and safety.
to the public Weal.
Nicholas stated that he " would rise or fallconductive
dolph
common
of producing the greatest Degree of
Happiness and Safety, and is most effectually
secured against the Danger of Maladmincapable
the Judgment
[
Note:
of his Peers.
These protections
were
not given
to enslaved people in Virginia;
individuals
Courts
continued
enslaved
to be tried in lesser
of Oyer and Terminer
without
the
benefit of a jury.]
Article
XII. That the Freedom
of the Press
is one of the greatest Bulwarks of Liberty
and can never be restrained but by despotic
Governments.
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 3
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
©2005
Description
An account of the resource
The Gunpowder Incident
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/c5f5ad9a224954e914590d2c6e5629e6.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=gx5XORdhluExuPxouLcrbGXFgSb406lDzyrqGgc3StQrQTc24W6WWweE7Gtck5CQv9lE%7EuevvfCKghH9V6-Gjbzvzcjybtq2E97dWc2KrFTPd4LbMzX7cPcwVrlDH24%7Esftt0y5DjVm1yXoOnHY3nD8XP7m2qJUp41AqRNusPbcVCCcVJ07-AreULfNY%7EQQ4lNoXjhNT2eUTFn467bI8hsa5c8ChoA6NdyJ0aasXE-dd%7Ekn7HwU38S37EQlOqyRgr7XEiYtrAtsqL3XJydkRnNtkzvku12BlR7Kij%7E7sQvUrIImqLxdQ4pUPGiYh2DuW7cu8mA0P05QBEZh9FC5Lyg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
b437a94f03ab4718cd4d7849b89cfffe
PDF Text
Text
June and September 1781
SUPPLEMENT
Volume 4, No. 5
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPE-
4.
Y---:
eq..
VII
I.
allr
t
'
OF
i
s,
'
I'
j
ANS
II DAY
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elk
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8" * * *
NO. 1 IN COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
See
1781
WI L L I A M S B U RG
de Lafayette and his Continentals reach Richmond**
The Marquis
y
May 21
from Gen. Henry
Reinforcements
in New York
arrive,
forces
Gen.
under
Virginia
reached General
of
evacuation
Jouett Jr.
John
at
races
Thomas
all but
night
Monticello
to
keep
County
to
warn
to
and
General Assembly.
Y
legislators escape**
Nelson
Friedrich Von Steuben'
Gen.
s men
join
and Gen. Anthony Wayne, makand about 3, 000
Continentals
Lafayette
1, 900
militia under
command*
Cornwallis
Williamsburg*
reaches
American
main
about 10
reaches Bird' s
from Williamsburg*
army
miles
leave Williamsburg
troops
the James
River
on
July
and
6.
Cornwallis
August 2
Cornwallis
Yorktown
occupies
after
Clinton
him to fortify Old Point Comfort
the land would not support heavy
to move
and the Comte de Rochambeau' s
from the North toward Virginia upon
the intelligence that the Comte de Grasse,
own
the French admiral, is sailing with 3, 000
September
on
was
September
animals
the Marquis
September
5
forces*
14
and Rochambeau
Washington
Williamsburg before
their
arrive
troops
eau
Williamsburg
September
28
to set
intentions had been
Peale)
)
a
topic
of
conversation
s
s
street
main
encouraged
to
experience
weekend.
Activities include musket drills, artillery
batteries, dragoon or cavalry maneuvers,
and surgeons caring for the wounded in
a military field hospital. The reenactment
draws to a close late Sunday afternoon as
Cornwallis marches his troops out of the
city to meet Continental Army forces at the
James River near Greenspring
feed this growing army.
to
PRELUDE
Plantation.
TO VICTORY:
Washington
of the allied army arrived
thousand Virginia militiamen
elements
Several
around Williamsburg.
camps
up
combined American and French
of 16, 000 men march from
The Siege
September
Prepares
for Yorktown!
On the
but the city remained
siege
of Yorktown,
9
that the
wounded
over.
meals.
Some
an
to Yorktown*
and
a
steady
taking
residents
for Yorktown
were
soldiers
British
redoubt
a
9
on
of artillery fire alerted perceptive
arrival of French soldiers who
rumble
new
stage.
October
The
14 signaled
that the
siege
was
al-
of shelling stopped on the morning of October 17,
knew that the British surrender was imminent. Some may have set
the
on
Those
afternoon.
had entered
distant
the
When
siege
thunder
morning of October 19 arriving in time to witness the surrender
remained at home knew the victory was real when the defeated
who
escorted
westward
through
In early November, as victorious
way back to New York and the
town.
along Duke of Gloucester Street
celebratory mood pervaded Williamsburg
and the United States sparked an elaborate
A
ain
bombardment
across
the
on
their
and in the lower tidewater
Submitted
by
area,
Kevin Kelly]
Cornwallis
surrenders
7, 247
at Yorktown.
men
with the
British army of
General Washingof the French, has
the
assistance
for the
independence
colonies*
on
May
1,
1783. Peace between Great Brit
parade, public proclamations
of peace and
A
Chronology of
the Waroflndependence
University
Virginia
and
1763- 1783( CharlottesPress
of Virginia,
Choosing
Becoming Americans:
Chronology ( Williamsburg, va.:
Williamsburg Foundation, 1996).
1973).
Revolution
Colonial
war
and the fate of fathers,
sons,
brothers, husbands;
the
consequences
for
of occupying forces, friend and foe; rampant inflation; the perilous flight of slaves
to join the British ranks in a bid for freedom; the sometimes
shocking
endured; Williamsburg' s own diminished role in the post- Revo
these escapees
conditions
Williamsburg
in the
wake
lutionary period.
Although
Selby,
War
September
26 through
reenactment
28, 1781,
the last three days of the period when General Washington
and le Compte
de Rocam-
of the French
forces, were
beau, commander
headquartered in Williamsburg, prior to the
Eastern
Yorktown.
Virginia
has
the
differences
between
loyalist John Randolph
who
left Virginia for England
usually portrayed almost as a polite disagreement, a poisonous atmosphere
inlliamsburg marked the departure of several loyalist residents. Rumors
Williamsburg
of intimidation against people who did not conform to the Continental Association circulated
and his patriot
son
Edmund
are
Tavern in
the Raleigh
widely. In late November 1774, a liberty pole was erected opposite
Williamsburg" upon which was hung a large map& a bag of feathers, under it a bbl [ barrel]
in the prevailing climate of fear during
of tarr." In 1775 and 1776, Tbries fled Williamsburg
which persons judged to be" inimical to the liberties of America" could find their names and
an
of their transgressions published in the Virginia Gazette.
As the Revolution approached, the promise as well as the pitfalls of the changing times
account
cont.
Steuben and British armies under Cornwal-
lis and Arnold. There is a general shortage
of food and material.
has moved
to
General
Yorktown.
Cornwallis
Williamsburg
is
now in American hands. Lafayette barely
missed destruction in a trap set by Cornwallis at Green Spring. General Washington is
now moving to trap Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Smallpox arrived in town with the British
army in June and remains a problem.
The
entrance
into
Colonial
Williams
burg's Historic Area by advance units of
Washington's army on Friday afternoon
signals the beginning of the annual holiday
of war: families rent asunder by opposing politi
Events of the day masked the realities
cal views; suspicions about loyalties among old friends and associates; bad news from the
front about the
October 19
Revolutionary
represents
at
repeated toasts to independence.
storm
This
even
THE DOWN SIDE OF REVOLUTION
and 10 fall, allowing
a second parallel of
closer
September 2- 4, 2005
tember
these
ready. The next morning the army
of military activity shifted away from
were
important rear area. Hospitals, for example,
of October 9, the distant
afternoon
were
complete
prevent Cornwallis from escaping
York River to Gloucester*
Va.:
the
at Yorktown*
16
E.
in the Greater Wil-
encamped
was
French army took up winter quarters near Williamsburg
the war in Williamsburg came to an end.
their outermost
surrender
redoubts
A violent
were
planned
staffs
in
townspeople
October 14
breastworks
and their
for sick and wounded French and American soldiers. Sutlers( a
Williamsburgsiege g
been marched over and foraged over by the
follower of an army camp who peddled provisions to the soldiers)
supplying the troops in
American armies under Lafayette and Von
the field purchased their goods, especially liquor, from the city' s merchants.
established
Americans marched
30
to
generals
from unit to unit. They laundered dothes. They cooked
messages
Williamsburg,
British
of Yorktown**
allies
the
the evening of September 27, the battle plan
off for Yorktown. With its departure, the center
that
17
September 29- October
earthworks
15, 000 to 20, 000 soldiers
some
By
set
out
to Yorktown*
Williamsburg
British
While
area.
Williamsburg
armies
ville,
George Washington( (
9
9
14. Six days later, advance
September
on
most
to
return
22*
September
on
in
marching
with de
from the North. After conferring
Grasse on board his flagship, they
John
are
Continental Army units led by the Marquis
de Lafayette. While Cornwallis prepares
his battle plan, his troops drill and pursue
various activities in camp throughout the
took time off to go sightseeing in the old capital city. Their presence also placed heavy demand
of the region. Supplying food and fuel would have been especially difficult.
on the resources
Cornwallis'
won
are read to the townspeople,
trap near Williamsburg for the advancing
driven up and down Williamsburg'
were
Rochaml
carried
the Virginia Capes, de Grasse dampart of the British fleet under Adm.
Thomas Graves that is forced to return
to New York, dosing an escape route for
ton,
r;'`
of
on
soldiers engaged in the routine chores of army life. They drilled. They posted guards. They
land
de St.
2, 3, 000 troops
under
a
October
Guests
The pace of military activity picked up with the arrival of General Washington and General
Outside
the
Martial
afternoon.
the occupation by visiting the British encampment, observing the soldiers and their
commanding officers as Cornwallis plans a
forces in and around Williamsburg.
Their arrival brought good news. They had real money. Virginia' s cash- strapped plantwith provisions. Livestock and
had reluctantly supplied the cash- strapped Lafayette
with Lafayette'
joined
the
at 5: 15 P.M., and the terms
occupation.
4`-:-<
had anchored in Lynnhaven
a large fleet, presumably French,
several thousand French soldiers landed at Jamestown Island on
when
throughout
of occupation
to
British
troops.
who must deal with the implications of the
that
a rumor
confirmed
liamsburg
Bay
Simon*
British
f
planned
about the
speculation
of the occupation
law is declared
s?`
French and American
combined
a
By late September,
in Chesapeake
arrives
at Jamestown
The
Washington
17tht
under Gen. Thomas Nelson soon joined them.
De Grasse
The
When word
reached
the
foodstuffs that had once seemed in short supply quickly materialized. Wagons and herded
August 26
g
ages
Afir'
He quickly moved to seize
Cornwallis.
opportunity to capture
and began
from the West Indies for the Chesa-
peake*
and,
town
doomed.
September 5 and
armies
men
Bay instead.
decision
conversations,
ers
begins
Washington
sail his fleet
to
14, Washington knew that the
was
new
Bay
19
George
s
He ordered
fortifications*
his
the
de Grasse decided
August
1"
4
that
news
reenact
as
More British army units converge on the
Spies from Yorktown supplied a steady flow of inforamong many Williamsburg residents.
mation about Cornwallis' actions. It was no secret that the British were constructing
strong
around Yorktown and across the York River at Tindalls Point. Amidst these
earthworks
James River**
Gen.
an encampment
i
gone to ground in Virginia
French admiral
the Comte de
Chesapeake
this
when
weekend
Friday
on
to Market Square and secures the area for
had
admiral'
siege
However,
special
noon
the Flag of the Union, the patrol proceeds
fleet from
French
at
flag from the Capitol and replacing it with
Williamsburg.
promised
a
West Indies.
the
Meanwhile,
Cornwallis conalong the south side of the
raids
August
to
army south on August 19.
9- 24
From his base in Suffolk
where
arrival of
the
4
orders
the
the
Tavern,
ducts
on
Grasse,
June 26
July
War had returned
reached
June 25
cross
twice
This
begins
Light Dragoons, accompanied by a patrol of
light infantry, enter the Historic Area near
the capitol. After removing the American
The enemy had
this year. Soon
British.
the
on
Williamsburg
4,
J
George Washington' s Continental
up with
army north of New York City. Washington had
planned to besiege the city, but success hinged
is elected
of Yorktown
Jr.
June 19
July
eye
ment
During the summer, a French army corn-
governor**
The
of liberties.
manded by the Comte de Rochambeau linked
Thomas
ing
Cornwallis occupied Williamsburg and imposed martial law on the town's residents,
which resulted in hardship and their loss
solalso
a large allied American army would occupy it.
seven
June 12
Maj.
an
occupied
and to Charlottesville
Jefferson
the
warn
Col. Banas-
sees
troops in Louisa
s
From June 25 to July 4, 1781, British
encamped
who was
Friday- Sunday, June 24- 26, 2005
forces under the command of Gen. Lord
where
A detachment of his
of Williamsburg.
army marched through town to take up a
it could
where
position east of Williamsburg
June 4
tre Tarleton'
Lafayette
UNDER THE REDCOAT
2
August
g
about
speculation
west
Richmond**
and
of
British army had gone. Cornwallis'
diers had landed at Yorktown. That news
27
forces American
Williamsburgon
days
the
in
Charles Cornwallis
ended
that
British
the
bringing
News reached
Clinton
7, 000**
to
Cornwallis
Capt.
2.
COMES TO SUMMER 1781
WA
April29
May
Page
on
page 2
reenactment.
The
weekend
is filled
with
evidence of military prowess by the Con
tinentalArmy troops, including artillery
practice and musket drills. The reading of
General Orders at the Courthouse puts the
army to the tasks at hand Saturday morning. General Washington' s staff formulates
the strategies,
for
is
the
siege.
located
Advance
programs
execution.
at
tactics, and contingencies
A military
the
Saturday
Building.
include
field hospital
Governor' s
Palace
East
afternoon' s
a mutineer' s trial and
The Gen. Marquis
de Lafayette
will hold a public auction at the Courthouse on Sunday morning.
Following a full day of reenactment
events on Sunday, General Washington addresses his troops and issues final marching
orders as the army prepares to leave York
town at 5 P. M. Sunday.
�2
Summer and Autumn 1781
4. V-, 4.•
I
jP
1 •
NEWS
y:
fYw..
i
1'
PEOPLE
,
r.
r
I
4$ ( "
4,,
4,:
THE DOWN SIDE OF
eirlii, ' '
titit
A_
REVOLUTION
I ": )
V.
I
L
III
i4nr
f
1
page I
from
cont.
TWO PERSPECTIVES
r
t.„
E1./
Y
rc .., ..,;
War and the Slaves
0
a
r
\
CAlt
I
Pl,,,,
kait
and
pushed
Geddys in
long
favored
Jr.
T/ L/:,..
Al,/,
VMS
1>
Ralao6'
61:..,,
TApI[ '
C
A.
a
1nf'' .,
l
the
h -
/'
ILL,
l 16
G
C
lA.1
l ' ;:
r
r
1
deserted
County farm affected
but
children
other
liam
not only his
his
his brothers,
also
workers
remained
the
on
in
the
site.
slaves
Brother Wil-
Williamsburg
and drove livestock and
provided
Virginia and Continental
area
forces.
leaders
Gentry
common
goods for
struck
upon
property
way of establishing
ground with Virginia
a surefire
as
ownership
economic
yeomanry in the effort to enlist lesser landowners
and farmers in the Revolution. Promoted
as
ownership
ery,
even
sacred
almost
an
unsettled
the
as
of rebel
and Dun-
times
proclamation provided
for
a real chance
more' s emancipation
slaves
right,
property
the institution of slay-
protected
sympathizers
freedom,
many choosing
lines in Norfolk in 1775,
to
British
to
run
joining
others
the
they marched through Virginia in
Cornwallis used the former slaves to
British
recruiting
On August 14, 1781, General
construct
massive
Later, however,
limited
at
earthworks
they became
and
resources
a
Yorktown.
drain
his
on
abandoned
were
to
fate, ill dad, poorly nourished and vuland other diseases.
nerable
to smallpox
news
that
would
shape
his strat-
of the Revolutionary War. In order to support the American camegy for the remainder
paign, French Adm. Francois Joseph Paul, Compte de Grasse, had left the West Indies
with a fleet of 28 ships of the line, six frigates, and 3, 000 troops bound for the Chesapeake Bay. Washington was informed that the admiral planned to return to the West Inof de Grasse' s support, Washington and
dies by mid- Octiober. In order to take advantage
de Vuneur,
Jean- Baptiste- Donatien
assault
They
on Clinton
French
their troops
almost
artillery and
south and Barras
with
for the army. By August 20, the allied army advanced
to sail for theChesapeake...
days, the French
and British fleets maintained
contact
but did
they drifted about 100 miles in the direction of the Carolina
Capes, thereby allowing Barras to slip unnoticed into the Chesapeake Bay with the
French siege artillery. On September 14, Graves gave up hope of renewing the battle
not
in combat
engage
as
Surrounded
and ordered the British to sail to New York.
to
unable
escape
to
or
receive
land and
by
Cornwallis
sea,
was
supplies.
Carte de la Partie de la Virginie depicts
a
dramatic,
stylized,
somewhat
version
of the
Designed
in the American victory at Yorktown.
for the French market, the map illustrates— and perhaps enhances— the French position
at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Admiral Grave' s fleet is pictured as they prepared
irnportant
the
role
French navy
played
sail for New York.
to
their
The
war
ginia by
inflation
exacerbated
was
caused
that
in Williamsburg
unrest
settled
that
weariness
1780
Pritchard
and Henry
of Latitude:
Degrees
G Taliaferro,
America, Colonial Williamsburg
Mapping
called
a
difficulties
was
they
way through
Williamsburg
Property damage,
Yorktown.
on
made
r
smallpox
w »
fore
wars
s
own
fate
was
s,
Pr "
a
I
t1
0 •'
°!
''
a
or either
such
negro
of the
United
or mulatto
shall
Black Women
For the bulk of slave women located
on southern plantations, the war entailed
both physical suffering and greater latitude
for personal action. Forced to make do with
less in the way of food, dothing, and other
basic
supplies,
white
southerners
consid-
ered the daily needs of their slaves to be a
low priority ( especially after 1778, when
fighting engulfed the region). At least some
whites fulfilled the prediction of the patriot
who railed against runaway slave men
seeking protection from the British: " The
aged, the infirm, the women and children,
are still to remain the property of their
masters, masters who will be provoked to
severity, should part of their slaves desert
them."
Untold
numbers
of slave
of " an enraged
0
Oltbit :, . •"
u
3E_
'
women
and
injured
4)
r
•
1
1
Fj
am
jET
ate authorities
of Cornwallis
and the unwillingness
of
would face similar difficulties
War and the Masters
Williamsburg, July 11, 1781
My ever dear Fanny:
HE S Ej ARE THE
V`
indud-
almost a century later.) Virginia slaves who
did contribute to the patriot cause as mili
tary laborers found themselves performing
dangerous and dirty work, from toiling in
lead mines to erecting fortifications.
YORKTOWN IS PROOF
P O S 1TI
the British.
obstades,
assist in the war effort.( State and Confeder-
'
4' r:.
Surrender
against
faced several
slave owners to sell or hire out their slaves to
3L 1..
is
1.,
kb*
1
i
in the campaign
to Lord Dunmore
14
f
H••
t
,
A
y
air. .:
e_' '
Yorktown
ttio
common-
ing the escape of able- bodied male slaves
x
Submitted by Linda Rowe]
pfr
of this
until
The officials
w
•
3,.
wr+"'
o,
sealed be
end. On April 7, 1780, the govup and left town.
4
-~
-
t i'h'
packed
ernment
'
A
plague of stinging flies increased the general
discomfort and unease of local residents.
Williamsburg'
i'
o
.
II ,+
.•:•.
,,
vrtawtF7177F
for
and
r..,
r,
ram, Roi.-:.
s
their
course
this
that he is a free man.
borers
1
6:
w
as
within
Slaves as Laborers
followed first the British
forces then the American
under
During the Revolution, Virginia author
ties sought to employ slaves as military la-
fix the prices of foodstuffs and appoint an
to force compliance.
oversight
committee
Further
have
and
at home as well as on the battlefield.
meeting of all
decided to
town
free inhabitants at which it
slaves
produce a certificate from some justice of
the peace for the county wherein he resides
war
as a major concern. Ordinary citizens of
Williamsburg
negro
masters,
people" desperate to keep the upper hand
and
and rivaled the
service
States,
felt the wrath
2002, pp. 282- 284.
Foundation,
rampant
by
hardship
real
Colonial
Vir-
on
Beck
Source: Margaret
the
500 miles to Virginia.
supplies
prepared
the next two
During
officer
planned
their
of the French fleet at Newport, Rhode Island, to sail to the Chesapeake
siege
their
wealth to enlist any negro or mulatto into
Saint- Laurent, Comte de Barras,
Adm. Jacques- Melchoir
convince
abandoned
Compte de Rochambeau,
in New York and marched
needed to
also
commander
as
1781.
received
Washington
several
from
pretence of being free men have enlisted
as soldiers: For prevention whereof, Be it
enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any
VICTORY AT YORKTOWN
AMERICAN
and
wife
whereas
-
T
in Williamsburg, put his house on the market and move his family to his Dinwiddie
May 1777— Act II. An act for the more speedily completeing the Quota of Troops.
And
h'`
of Safety. Geddy' s 1777
commercial activities
to suspend
Slaves as Soldiers
7
Committee
decision
and
la
I „
h.
L'/ 7N'
l°°
p
of the
member
L,/
I I 1 11 l'O. 111\ 66 III WOK, h
the
as
and prosstanding in the
community, James Geddy
and was a
cause
patriot
local
such
way. Solid
of
tradesmen
perous
families
pulled
different
a
w
l'[.
T T
LS
TIMES THAT TRY MEN' S SOULS
Here [ the British]
remained
for some days,
and with them pestilence and famine took
root, and poverty brought up the rear. . . .
Our friend Madison and his lady( they have
lost their son) were turned out of their house
The town of York-
to make room for Lord Cornwallis. Happily
20th October 1781
the
port town with the signing yesterday of the
Articles of Capitulation betwixt his Excellency General Washington, Commander
Silence has
descended
now
on
this
and Chief of the combined forces of America
Earl Cornwallis, Lt. General
Thus is ended
TODAY
AMERICANS
Becoming
is apublication
of the
of
Department
P
Interpretive
paining
Crne
including
a
some
17, 000 allied
reported 8, 500 British troops,
learn that the reinforcements
would
Kelly,
on
on
the
nia
and
Production:
editor
graphic production
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
All rights reserved. All images are property of
unless
Foundation,
The Colonial Williamsburg
otherwise
noted.
inhabitants,
has said,"
dying,
handsome
glad
as
to
withdrew
complete
from their forward
dismay,
Cornwallis
never arrive.
well
as
the town
Denny of Pennsylva
itself. Maj. Ebenezer
be relieved of this disagreeable
in every stage of the small pox. Never
house, but prodigiously shattered."
station.
was
in
Negroes lie about, sick
so
filthy
a
place
some
directs the " garrison of York to march out to a
precisely with drums beating a British or German march.
than six long years of war, perhaps finally there might be a full and
Artide II of the Capitulation
place— at two
After more
afforded
them
an asylum.
Mr.
of her cook was obliged
her neighbours
to have recourse
to dress her dinner
to
for her.
They have but one little boy left to wait on
and loyalist Americans.
9. These military endeavors
prepared
way for the launch of troops in a direct assault on the British.
Some at York suppose that 12 or 1, 500 rounds of siege artillery have been fired
has taken a horrendous toll
the town in a nine- day period. The bombardment
Linda Rowe, Phil Shultz
The
against
Col. Deux- Ponts, seized control of Redoubt
Rose McAphee, Nancy Milton,
2005
seamen
On the evening of October 14, 400 Americans under Alexander Hamilton,
and captured Redoubt 10, while a like number of French, commanded by
the
Contributors:
Diana Freedman,
auxiliaries
and
stormed
Anne Wil isW
Susan Q. Bruno, copy
German
day
soldiers
York. As his army approached the town, the British
posts and dug in to await reinforcements. lb his
Gevertz
Bob Doares, Kevin
20-
The campaign began the 28th of September as Washington's forces marched on
would
Editors:
Margot
a
American and French
and France, and the Rt. Honorable
of his Britannic Majesty' s Forces.
siege of York and Gloucester, pitting
College
McClurg has one small servant left, and but
two girls. He feeds and saddles his own horse
Poor Mr. Cocke was deserted by his favorite man Clem: and Mrs. Cocke by the loss
o' clock
peace. It will be a peace hard fought and dearly won.
GOD SAVE GENERAL WASHINGTON AND THE ALLIED ARMY.
lasting
Submitted by Phil Shultz]
them
within
doors.
But this is not all. The
small pox, which the hellish polling of these
infamous wretches has spread in every place
throughwhich theyhave passed has now
obtained a crisis throughout the place so that
there is scarcely a person to be found to nurse
those who are most afflicted by it. Your old
friend Aunt Betty is in that situation. A child
of Sir Peyton
Skipwith' s who
is with
her,
was deserted by its nurse, and the good lady
was left without a human being to assist her
for some days. As the British
any respecty
plundered all that they could, you will conceive how great an appearance of wretchedness this place must exhibit. After tyrannizing
ten days here, they went to James Town
where they were attached by our advanced
parties
Our army is in motion. Among
the plagues the British left in Williamsburg,
lliamsburg,
that of flies is inconceivable.
St. George Tucker
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 5
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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©2005
Description
An account of the resource
June and September, 1781
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/ad44f6e32899c494875d3f065fee298d.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=sfy6HwKIC1Mxl--FyzhTYXiC-Q8dUNRipen5XCflO1xRfHoQrxNmzpCGaoGlM5m34Ci%7EegnZWu%7E28Kt4%7Eu6wPNciBgYEsFZ9VNU7urjGu19g04QiaGdekSWO01GIcQtKKoKDxNLV1UCepgUhtDkuycimEw1zUKjP%7ESQ%7E9BhasALKtf8xabz-nXiITdkhgfGui4i4eRa6T1wmqOHR0wrbskEn4nxKlqz-cmZVQK6C-uukxPx1SFKEZUsTSSu5L7eZD-ilxe%7E7TVSBMwl9aZf-obSjZ6-jEHW6LEgYoQKgmJW1ag20x9zwQ--XGNjxJHM5nDbpOo7sKHkm4kCWr1dKww__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
b437a94f03ab4718cd4d7849b89cfffe
PDF Text
Text
June and September 1781
SUPPLEMENT
Volume 4, No. 5
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPE-
4.
Y---:
eq..
VII
I.
allr
t
'
OF
i
s,
'
I'
j
ANS
II DAY
i i
Da
elk
je
41,,,,
A,,,,,-
1111111•
i
k-,
ibill,
1
la
1.
4
/ .. .
0
8" * * *
NO. 1 IN COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
See
1781
WI L L I A M S B U RG
de Lafayette and his Continentals reach Richmond**
The Marquis
y
May 21
from Gen. Henry
Reinforcements
in New York
arrive,
forces
Gen.
under
Virginia
reached General
of
evacuation
Jouett Jr.
John
at
races
Thomas
all but
night
Monticello
to
keep
County
to
warn
to
and
General Assembly.
Y
legislators escape**
Nelson
Friedrich Von Steuben'
Gen.
s men
join
and Gen. Anthony Wayne, makand about 3, 000
Continentals
Lafayette
1, 900
militia under
command*
Cornwallis
Williamsburg*
reaches
American
main
about 10
reaches Bird' s
from Williamsburg*
army
miles
leave Williamsburg
troops
the James
River
on
July
and
6.
Cornwallis
August 2
Cornwallis
Yorktown
occupies
after
Clinton
him to fortify Old Point Comfort
the land would not support heavy
to move
and the Comte de Rochambeau' s
from the North toward Virginia upon
the intelligence that the Comte de Grasse,
own
the French admiral, is sailing with 3, 000
September
on
was
September
animals
the Marquis
September
5
forces*
14
and Rochambeau
Washington
Williamsburg before
their
arrive
troops
eau
Williamsburg
September
28
to set
intentions had been
Peale)
)
a
topic
of
conversation
s
s
street
main
encouraged
to
experience
weekend.
Activities include musket drills, artillery
batteries, dragoon or cavalry maneuvers,
and surgeons caring for the wounded in
a military field hospital. The reenactment
draws to a close late Sunday afternoon as
Cornwallis marches his troops out of the
city to meet Continental Army forces at the
James River near Greenspring
feed this growing army.
to
PRELUDE
Plantation.
TO VICTORY:
Washington
of the allied army arrived
thousand Virginia militiamen
elements
Several
around Williamsburg.
camps
up
combined American and French
of 16, 000 men march from
The Siege
September
Prepares
for Yorktown!
On the
but the city remained
siege
of Yorktown,
9
that the
wounded
over.
meals.
Some
an
to Yorktown*
and
a
steady
taking
residents
for Yorktown
were
soldiers
British
redoubt
a
9
on
of artillery fire alerted perceptive
arrival of French soldiers who
rumble
new
stage.
October
The
14 signaled
that the
siege
was
al-
of shelling stopped on the morning of October 17,
knew that the British surrender was imminent. Some may have set
the
on
Those
afternoon.
had entered
distant
the
When
siege
thunder
morning of October 19 arriving in time to witness the surrender
remained at home knew the victory was real when the defeated
who
escorted
westward
through
In early November, as victorious
way back to New York and the
town.
along Duke of Gloucester Street
celebratory mood pervaded Williamsburg
and the United States sparked an elaborate
A
ain
bombardment
across
the
on
their
and in the lower tidewater
Submitted
by
area,
Kevin Kelly]
Cornwallis
surrenders
7, 247
at Yorktown.
men
with the
British army of
General Washingof the French, has
the
assistance
for the
independence
colonies*
on
May
1,
1783. Peace between Great Brit
parade, public proclamations
of peace and
A
Chronology of
the Waroflndependence
University
Virginia
and
1763- 1783( CharlottesPress
of Virginia,
Choosing
Becoming Americans:
Chronology ( Williamsburg, va.:
Williamsburg Foundation, 1996).
1973).
Revolution
Colonial
war
and the fate of fathers,
sons,
brothers, husbands;
the
consequences
for
of occupying forces, friend and foe; rampant inflation; the perilous flight of slaves
to join the British ranks in a bid for freedom; the sometimes
shocking
endured; Williamsburg' s own diminished role in the post- Revo
these escapees
conditions
Williamsburg
in the
wake
lutionary period.
Although
Selby,
War
September
26 through
reenactment
28, 1781,
the last three days of the period when General Washington
and le Compte
de Rocam-
of the French
forces, were
beau, commander
headquartered in Williamsburg, prior to the
Eastern
Yorktown.
Virginia
has
the
differences
between
loyalist John Randolph
who
left Virginia for England
usually portrayed almost as a polite disagreement, a poisonous atmosphere
inlliamsburg marked the departure of several loyalist residents. Rumors
Williamsburg
of intimidation against people who did not conform to the Continental Association circulated
and his patriot
son
Edmund
are
Tavern in
the Raleigh
widely. In late November 1774, a liberty pole was erected opposite
Williamsburg" upon which was hung a large map& a bag of feathers, under it a bbl [ barrel]
in the prevailing climate of fear during
of tarr." In 1775 and 1776, Tbries fled Williamsburg
which persons judged to be" inimical to the liberties of America" could find their names and
an
of their transgressions published in the Virginia Gazette.
As the Revolution approached, the promise as well as the pitfalls of the changing times
account
cont.
Steuben and British armies under Cornwal-
lis and Arnold. There is a general shortage
of food and material.
has moved
to
General
Yorktown.
Cornwallis
Williamsburg
is
now in American hands. Lafayette barely
missed destruction in a trap set by Cornwallis at Green Spring. General Washington is
now moving to trap Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Smallpox arrived in town with the British
army in June and remains a problem.
The
entrance
into
Colonial
Williams
burg's Historic Area by advance units of
Washington's army on Friday afternoon
signals the beginning of the annual holiday
of war: families rent asunder by opposing politi
Events of the day masked the realities
cal views; suspicions about loyalties among old friends and associates; bad news from the
front about the
October 19
Revolutionary
represents
at
repeated toasts to independence.
storm
This
even
THE DOWN SIDE OF REVOLUTION
and 10 fall, allowing
a second parallel of
closer
September 2- 4, 2005
tember
these
ready. The next morning the army
of military activity shifted away from
were
important rear area. Hospitals, for example,
of October 9, the distant
afternoon
were
complete
prevent Cornwallis from escaping
York River to Gloucester*
Va.:
the
at Yorktown*
16
E.
in the Greater Wil-
encamped
was
French army took up winter quarters near Williamsburg
the war in Williamsburg came to an end.
their outermost
surrender
redoubts
A violent
were
planned
staffs
in
townspeople
October 14
breastworks
and their
for sick and wounded French and American soldiers. Sutlers( a
Williamsburgsiege g
been marched over and foraged over by the
follower of an army camp who peddled provisions to the soldiers)
supplying the troops in
American armies under Lafayette and Von
the field purchased their goods, especially liquor, from the city' s merchants.
established
Americans marched
30
to
generals
from unit to unit. They laundered dothes. They cooked
messages
Williamsburg,
British
of Yorktown**
allies
the
the evening of September 27, the battle plan
off for Yorktown. With its departure, the center
that
17
September 29- October
earthworks
15, 000 to 20, 000 soldiers
some
By
set
out
to Yorktown*
Williamsburg
British
While
area.
Williamsburg
armies
ville,
George Washington( (
9
9
14. Six days later, advance
September
on
most
to
return
22*
September
on
in
marching
with de
from the North. After conferring
Grasse on board his flagship, they
John
are
Continental Army units led by the Marquis
de Lafayette. While Cornwallis prepares
his battle plan, his troops drill and pursue
various activities in camp throughout the
took time off to go sightseeing in the old capital city. Their presence also placed heavy demand
of the region. Supplying food and fuel would have been especially difficult.
on the resources
Cornwallis'
won
are read to the townspeople,
trap near Williamsburg for the advancing
driven up and down Williamsburg'
were
Rochaml
carried
the Virginia Capes, de Grasse dampart of the British fleet under Adm.
Thomas Graves that is forced to return
to New York, dosing an escape route for
ton,
r;'`
of
on
soldiers engaged in the routine chores of army life. They drilled. They posted guards. They
land
de St.
2, 3, 000 troops
under
a
October
Guests
The pace of military activity picked up with the arrival of General Washington and General
Outside
the
Martial
afternoon.
the occupation by visiting the British encampment, observing the soldiers and their
commanding officers as Cornwallis plans a
forces in and around Williamsburg.
Their arrival brought good news. They had real money. Virginia' s cash- strapped plantwith provisions. Livestock and
had reluctantly supplied the cash- strapped Lafayette
with Lafayette'
joined
the
at 5: 15 P.M., and the terms
occupation.
4`-:-<
had anchored in Lynnhaven
a large fleet, presumably French,
several thousand French soldiers landed at Jamestown Island on
when
throughout
of occupation
to
British
troops.
who must deal with the implications of the
that
a rumor
confirmed
liamsburg
Bay
Simon*
British
f
planned
about the
speculation
of the occupation
law is declared
s?`
French and American
combined
a
By late September,
in Chesapeake
arrives
at Jamestown
The
Washington
17tht
under Gen. Thomas Nelson soon joined them.
De Grasse
The
When word
reached
the
foodstuffs that had once seemed in short supply quickly materialized. Wagons and herded
August 26
g
ages
Afir'
He quickly moved to seize
Cornwallis.
opportunity to capture
and began
from the West Indies for the Chesa-
peake*
and,
town
doomed.
September 5 and
armies
men
Bay instead.
decision
conversations,
ers
begins
Washington
sail his fleet
to
14, Washington knew that the
was
new
Bay
19
George
s
He ordered
fortifications*
his
the
de Grasse decided
August
1"
4
that
news
reenact
as
More British army units converge on the
Spies from Yorktown supplied a steady flow of inforamong many Williamsburg residents.
mation about Cornwallis' actions. It was no secret that the British were constructing
strong
around Yorktown and across the York River at Tindalls Point. Amidst these
earthworks
James River**
Gen.
an encampment
i
gone to ground in Virginia
French admiral
the Comte de
Chesapeake
this
when
weekend
Friday
on
to Market Square and secures the area for
had
admiral'
siege
However,
special
noon
the Flag of the Union, the patrol proceeds
fleet from
French
at
flag from the Capitol and replacing it with
Williamsburg.
promised
a
West Indies.
the
Meanwhile,
Cornwallis conalong the south side of the
raids
August
to
army south on August 19.
9- 24
From his base in Suffolk
where
arrival of
the
4
orders
the
the
Tavern,
ducts
on
Grasse,
June 26
July
War had returned
reached
June 25
cross
twice
This
begins
Light Dragoons, accompanied by a patrol of
light infantry, enter the Historic Area near
the capitol. After removing the American
The enemy had
this year. Soon
British.
the
on
Williamsburg
4,
J
George Washington' s Continental
up with
army north of New York City. Washington had
planned to besiege the city, but success hinged
is elected
of Yorktown
Jr.
June 19
July
eye
ment
During the summer, a French army corn-
governor**
The
of liberties.
manded by the Comte de Rochambeau linked
Thomas
ing
Cornwallis occupied Williamsburg and imposed martial law on the town's residents,
which resulted in hardship and their loss
solalso
a large allied American army would occupy it.
seven
June 12
Maj.
an
occupied
and to Charlottesville
Jefferson
the
warn
Col. Banas-
sees
troops in Louisa
s
From June 25 to July 4, 1781, British
encamped
who was
Friday- Sunday, June 24- 26, 2005
forces under the command of Gen. Lord
where
A detachment of his
of Williamsburg.
army marched through town to take up a
it could
where
position east of Williamsburg
June 4
tre Tarleton'
Lafayette
UNDER THE REDCOAT
2
August
g
about
speculation
west
Richmond**
and
of
British army had gone. Cornwallis'
diers had landed at Yorktown. That news
27
forces American
Williamsburgon
days
the
in
Charles Cornwallis
ended
that
British
the
bringing
News reached
Clinton
7, 000**
to
Cornwallis
Capt.
2.
COMES TO SUMMER 1781
WA
April29
May
Page
on
page 2
reenactment.
The
weekend
is filled
with
evidence of military prowess by the Con
tinentalArmy troops, including artillery
practice and musket drills. The reading of
General Orders at the Courthouse puts the
army to the tasks at hand Saturday morning. General Washington' s staff formulates
the strategies,
for
is
the
siege.
located
Advance
programs
execution.
at
tactics, and contingencies
A military
the
Saturday
Building.
include
field hospital
Governor' s
Palace
East
afternoon' s
a mutineer' s trial and
The Gen. Marquis
de Lafayette
will hold a public auction at the Courthouse on Sunday morning.
Following a full day of reenactment
events on Sunday, General Washington addresses his troops and issues final marching
orders as the army prepares to leave York
town at 5 P. M. Sunday.
�2
Summer and Autumn 1781
4. V-, 4.•
I
jP
1 •
NEWS
y:
fYw..
i
1'
PEOPLE
,
r.
r
I
4$ ( "
4,,
4,:
THE DOWN SIDE OF
eirlii, ' '
titit
A_
REVOLUTION
I ": )
V.
I
L
III
i4nr
f
1
page I
from
cont.
TWO PERSPECTIVES
r
t.„
E1./
Y
rc .., ..,;
War and the Slaves
0
a
r
\
CAlt
I
Pl,,,,
kait
and
pushed
Geddys in
long
favored
Jr.
T/ L/:,..
Al,/,
VMS
1>
Ralao6'
61:..,,
TApI[ '
C
A.
a
1nf'' .,
l
the
h -
/'
ILL,
l 16
G
C
lA.1
l ' ;:
r
r
1
deserted
County farm affected
but
children
other
liam
not only his
his
his brothers,
also
workers
remained
the
on
in
the
site.
slaves
Brother Wil-
Williamsburg
and drove livestock and
provided
Virginia and Continental
area
forces.
leaders
Gentry
common
goods for
struck
upon
property
way of establishing
ground with Virginia
a surefire
as
ownership
economic
yeomanry in the effort to enlist lesser landowners
and farmers in the Revolution. Promoted
as
ownership
ery,
even
sacred
almost
an
unsettled
the
as
of rebel
and Dun-
times
proclamation provided
for
a real chance
more' s emancipation
slaves
right,
property
the institution of slay-
protected
sympathizers
freedom,
many choosing
lines in Norfolk in 1775,
to
British
to
run
joining
others
the
they marched through Virginia in
Cornwallis used the former slaves to
British
recruiting
On August 14, 1781, General
construct
massive
Later, however,
limited
at
earthworks
they became
and
resources
a
Yorktown.
drain
his
on
abandoned
were
to
fate, ill dad, poorly nourished and vuland other diseases.
nerable
to smallpox
news
that
would
shape
his strat-
of the Revolutionary War. In order to support the American camegy for the remainder
paign, French Adm. Francois Joseph Paul, Compte de Grasse, had left the West Indies
with a fleet of 28 ships of the line, six frigates, and 3, 000 troops bound for the Chesapeake Bay. Washington was informed that the admiral planned to return to the West Inof de Grasse' s support, Washington and
dies by mid- Octiober. In order to take advantage
de Vuneur,
Jean- Baptiste- Donatien
assault
They
on Clinton
French
their troops
almost
artillery and
south and Barras
with
for the army. By August 20, the allied army advanced
to sail for theChesapeake...
days, the French
and British fleets maintained
contact
but did
they drifted about 100 miles in the direction of the Carolina
Capes, thereby allowing Barras to slip unnoticed into the Chesapeake Bay with the
French siege artillery. On September 14, Graves gave up hope of renewing the battle
not
in combat
engage
as
Surrounded
and ordered the British to sail to New York.
to
unable
escape
to
or
receive
land and
by
Cornwallis
sea,
was
supplies.
Carte de la Partie de la Virginie depicts
a
dramatic,
stylized,
somewhat
version
of the
Designed
in the American victory at Yorktown.
for the French market, the map illustrates— and perhaps enhances— the French position
at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Admiral Grave' s fleet is pictured as they prepared
irnportant
the
role
French navy
played
sail for New York.
to
their
The
war
ginia by
inflation
exacerbated
was
caused
that
in Williamsburg
unrest
settled
that
weariness
1780
Pritchard
and Henry
of Latitude:
Degrees
G Taliaferro,
America, Colonial Williamsburg
Mapping
called
a
difficulties
was
they
way through
Williamsburg
Property damage,
Yorktown.
on
made
r
smallpox
w »
fore
wars
s
own
fate
was
s,
Pr "
a
I
t1
0 •'
°!
''
a
or either
such
negro
of the
United
or mulatto
shall
Black Women
For the bulk of slave women located
on southern plantations, the war entailed
both physical suffering and greater latitude
for personal action. Forced to make do with
less in the way of food, dothing, and other
basic
supplies,
white
southerners
consid-
ered the daily needs of their slaves to be a
low priority ( especially after 1778, when
fighting engulfed the region). At least some
whites fulfilled the prediction of the patriot
who railed against runaway slave men
seeking protection from the British: " The
aged, the infirm, the women and children,
are still to remain the property of their
masters, masters who will be provoked to
severity, should part of their slaves desert
them."
Untold
numbers
of slave
of " an enraged
0
Oltbit :, . •"
u
3E_
'
women
and
injured
4)
r
•
1
1
Fj
am
jET
ate authorities
of Cornwallis
and the unwillingness
of
would face similar difficulties
War and the Masters
Williamsburg, July 11, 1781
My ever dear Fanny:
HE S Ej ARE THE
V`
indud-
almost a century later.) Virginia slaves who
did contribute to the patriot cause as mili
tary laborers found themselves performing
dangerous and dirty work, from toiling in
lead mines to erecting fortifications.
YORKTOWN IS PROOF
P O S 1TI
the British.
obstades,
assist in the war effort.( State and Confeder-
'
4' r:.
Surrender
against
faced several
slave owners to sell or hire out their slaves to
3L 1..
is
1.,
kb*
1
i
in the campaign
to Lord Dunmore
14
f
H••
t
,
A
y
air. .:
e_' '
Yorktown
ttio
common-
ing the escape of able- bodied male slaves
x
Submitted by Linda Rowe]
pfr
of this
until
The officials
w
•
3,.
wr+"'
o,
sealed be
end. On April 7, 1780, the govup and left town.
4
-~
-
t i'h'
packed
ernment
'
A
plague of stinging flies increased the general
discomfort and unease of local residents.
Williamsburg'
i'
o
.
II ,+
.•:•.
,,
vrtawtF7177F
for
and
r..,
r,
ram, Roi.-:.
s
their
course
this
that he is a free man.
borers
1
6:
w
as
within
Slaves as Laborers
followed first the British
forces then the American
under
During the Revolution, Virginia author
ties sought to employ slaves as military la-
fix the prices of foodstuffs and appoint an
to force compliance.
oversight
committee
Further
have
and
at home as well as on the battlefield.
meeting of all
decided to
town
free inhabitants at which it
slaves
produce a certificate from some justice of
the peace for the county wherein he resides
war
as a major concern. Ordinary citizens of
Williamsburg
negro
masters,
people" desperate to keep the upper hand
and
and rivaled the
service
States,
felt the wrath
2002, pp. 282- 284.
Foundation,
rampant
by
hardship
real
Colonial
Vir-
on
Beck
Source: Margaret
the
500 miles to Virginia.
supplies
prepared
the next two
During
officer
planned
their
of the French fleet at Newport, Rhode Island, to sail to the Chesapeake
siege
their
wealth to enlist any negro or mulatto into
Saint- Laurent, Comte de Barras,
Adm. Jacques- Melchoir
convince
abandoned
Compte de Rochambeau,
in New York and marched
needed to
also
commander
as
1781.
received
Washington
several
from
pretence of being free men have enlisted
as soldiers: For prevention whereof, Be it
enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any
VICTORY AT YORKTOWN
AMERICAN
and
wife
whereas
-
T
in Williamsburg, put his house on the market and move his family to his Dinwiddie
May 1777— Act II. An act for the more speedily completeing the Quota of Troops.
And
h'`
of Safety. Geddy' s 1777
commercial activities
to suspend
Slaves as Soldiers
7
Committee
decision
and
la
I „
h.
L'/ 7N'
l°°
p
of the
member
L,/
I I 1 11 l'O. 111\ 66 III WOK, h
the
as
and prosstanding in the
community, James Geddy
and was a
cause
patriot
local
such
way. Solid
of
tradesmen
perous
families
pulled
different
a
w
l'[.
T T
LS
TIMES THAT TRY MEN' S SOULS
Here [ the British]
remained
for some days,
and with them pestilence and famine took
root, and poverty brought up the rear. . . .
Our friend Madison and his lady( they have
lost their son) were turned out of their house
The town of York-
to make room for Lord Cornwallis. Happily
20th October 1781
the
port town with the signing yesterday of the
Articles of Capitulation betwixt his Excellency General Washington, Commander
Silence has
descended
now
on
this
and Chief of the combined forces of America
Earl Cornwallis, Lt. General
Thus is ended
TODAY
AMERICANS
Becoming
is apublication
of the
of
Department
P
Interpretive
paining
Crne
including
a
some
17, 000 allied
reported 8, 500 British troops,
learn that the reinforcements
would
Kelly,
on
on
the
nia
and
Production:
editor
graphic production
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
All rights reserved. All images are property of
unless
Foundation,
The Colonial Williamsburg
otherwise
noted.
inhabitants,
has said,"
dying,
handsome
glad
as
to
withdrew
complete
from their forward
dismay,
Cornwallis
never arrive.
well
as
the town
Denny of Pennsylva
itself. Maj. Ebenezer
be relieved of this disagreeable
in every stage of the small pox. Never
house, but prodigiously shattered."
station.
was
in
Negroes lie about, sick
so
filthy
a
place
some
directs the " garrison of York to march out to a
precisely with drums beating a British or German march.
than six long years of war, perhaps finally there might be a full and
Artide II of the Capitulation
place— at two
After more
afforded
them
an asylum.
Mr.
of her cook was obliged
her neighbours
to have recourse
to dress her dinner
to
for her.
They have but one little boy left to wait on
and loyalist Americans.
9. These military endeavors
prepared
way for the launch of troops in a direct assault on the British.
Some at York suppose that 12 or 1, 500 rounds of siege artillery have been fired
has taken a horrendous toll
the town in a nine- day period. The bombardment
Linda Rowe, Phil Shultz
The
against
Col. Deux- Ponts, seized control of Redoubt
Rose McAphee, Nancy Milton,
2005
seamen
On the evening of October 14, 400 Americans under Alexander Hamilton,
and captured Redoubt 10, while a like number of French, commanded by
the
Contributors:
Diana Freedman,
auxiliaries
and
stormed
Anne Wil isW
Susan Q. Bruno, copy
German
day
soldiers
York. As his army approached the town, the British
posts and dug in to await reinforcements. lb his
Gevertz
Bob Doares, Kevin
20-
The campaign began the 28th of September as Washington's forces marched on
would
Editors:
Margot
a
American and French
and France, and the Rt. Honorable
of his Britannic Majesty' s Forces.
siege of York and Gloucester, pitting
College
McClurg has one small servant left, and but
two girls. He feeds and saddles his own horse
Poor Mr. Cocke was deserted by his favorite man Clem: and Mrs. Cocke by the loss
o' clock
peace. It will be a peace hard fought and dearly won.
GOD SAVE GENERAL WASHINGTON AND THE ALLIED ARMY.
lasting
Submitted by Phil Shultz]
them
within
doors.
But this is not all. The
small pox, which the hellish polling of these
infamous wretches has spread in every place
throughwhich theyhave passed has now
obtained a crisis throughout the place so that
there is scarcely a person to be found to nurse
those who are most afflicted by it. Your old
friend Aunt Betty is in that situation. A child
of Sir Peyton
Skipwith' s who
is with
her,
was deserted by its nurse, and the good lady
was left without a human being to assist her
for some days. As the British
any respecty
plundered all that they could, you will conceive how great an appearance of wretchedness this place must exhibit. After tyrannizing
ten days here, they went to James Town
where they were attached by our advanced
parties
Our army is in motion. Among
the plagues the British left in Williamsburg,
lliamsburg,
that of flies is inconceivable.
St. George Tucker
�
Dublin Core
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Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 5, Supplement
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
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©2005
Description
An account of the resource
June and September, 1781
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/651d21ad167b388d008dc077fa109ef4.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=B3oqHbWGRqVBPZQUQ1pLqRGC77d6M9HNQWfEpE-jrnMYVWwq3KdX-XJT3PZgia4TlRjbUlelK5kkvTiAcX5cUmoyj1JRoXBQcOs4fgkYRRhng83xC-Sv6NhvenKvO0LnR80tdIXucE4jM44MxNmSGpC8e6jDhqKYQSAvLFUz60zSc8MpEDdBehSEcKrZUsOFFRNrquoOwZUlGnH2tMXI4M2BnZhRiovyiELe0BqgHokW9R-kWkoLNocJJQwghbVgWuJuZBc2omzHccTkl0vQvVUAUQHJKbNi6lIIn3v1EnOoSd8QZ0fpHBrnRsQ75SqaEqD-U5ZP3D6Y7wziHi-zwA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
7db61adfbfb68fa6cda20d1d0fb8a1f9
PDF Text
Text
Volume 4, No. 6 August 2005
Supplement
Virginia Convention
1774
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPER
RI8MIS
ir
DAy
3-
4.,
4. ,.... ., _,,..
NO. 1 IN COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
aim.
sce p. 2
See p. 2
CONVENTION TO CONGRESS:
CALL FOR
A CONGRESS !
August
A Colonial
1774,
first
the
members
of
August 6,
in Williamsburg. The convention
made
up of former members of
met
was
the
House of Burgesses
to
Williamsburgto
fectu
4
to-
came
4,,
their
rights
colonial
this
r''
sr,
Will
4
'
f,
shadow
purpose of unifying American
ance to British policies.
of the 1st Convention will
events
back
life
to
Williamsburg'
s
Capitol,
the
Wythe,
Robert
convene
At the
of
relate
Richard
Carter
Randolph,
Henry Lee,
dents
and Patrick Henry will discuss and dedifferent
batewil
of protest. They
s business,
s
measures
instructionsthc
for
draftingg
of
to
uses
Williamsburg'
s
and the impact
events
lives.
people
at
a
Stories
time
tionary
who
about
this
to
leadership
Britishgovernment to
restore rights
Country
crops
their
"
this
crops
year
after
Massachusetts
the
same
North
to the people
and
cease
treatment
American
its threats of
toward
be
learn about Virginia'
role
in uniting the
that
can
meat,
its other
other
colonies
in
fear
an
lb
import,
including his
wit "
the
the
The
exporting
of
number
their
slaves,
of the
con-
neither
ourselves
of November next." It is further resolved,
to
stoppage
and
Merchants
and
Goods. . .
rates
of British goods, " that
Venders of Goods
this
within
of
advantage
but ought to sell the
have
they
twelve
been
Colony
Scarcity
accustomed
This
dolph,
Richard
ington,
elected
Patrick
a
Pendle-
General Congress that
will meet in Philadelphia in September.
We
and
wish" them to
true
observe . . .
to
allegiance
Dawe,
and Preroga-
Subjects in Britain.
all
a
Statutes
in all Cases whatsoever
stitutional. . . .
under
half of
debts byNorth
colonists
British
to
creditors"
American Colonies possesses
the
and Thad W. Tate,
A
Colonial
Virginia:
History ( White Plains, N. Y.: KTO
Press, 1986), 322.
to
Congress
resolutions
with the intent
contained
therein
that the
would
be
majesty King
him in the legal
an hum-
ble and dutiful
III.
address"
to George
of
t•
semblies with the sole Right of directing
internal Polity. . .
but it is
our
Desire
A'
that you cordially co- operate with our Sister
Colonies in General Congress...
of
pointed
Deputies
ap-
to meet in General
4,
T
In-
valuable
for the [ Virginia]
structions
i.
for the
Ends." (
4,
Congress,
a
August 6, 1774)
Mr. Jefferson, from Albemarle County,
who
could
that
not
attend
of illness,
cause
he
the
desired
to
lengthy
be-
convention
some
sent
be
included
r
0
notes
in
the
Ill 1
f°
deputies' instructions. Alas, alack, the tenor
of Mr. Jefferson' s comments proved inflam4
and his document
matory to the extreme
was tabled by the delegates.
So next
month
these
seven
IW'',,..;
Virginians
will go off to the city of Brotherly Love. As
know from their instructions, there will
be
ample
to
our
coupled
sovereign
abiding conviction
Englishmen. God
to
wisdom
of faith and
expression
our
of
our
save
with
rights
Deputies
allegiance
a
deep
and
The
so- called
document,
Jefferson
and give
complaints
that
to the
general
by
Phil Shultz and Nancy
Milton]
resolutions
con-
laid
begin
out
with
series
of
reminders
a
of
common Saxon ancestry and end with a
call to " Open your breast, Sire, to liberal
and expanded
Submitted
humble
tained in what became a 23- page pamphlet
were anything but humble. In this bold
freeborn
as
king
the
thought.
Let not the name
of George the Third be a blot on the page of
history."
must
be
stressed
that
this
impas-
sioned treatise was a draft, far from being a
final copy, and Jefferson, aware of the inaccuracies
and
intemperate
language,
never
intended its publication. In fact, he was not
and Resolves of the First Continental ConBy 1774 the leading colonists, includeven aware of its publication by Williams
British government
re
ing Thomas Jefferson and John Adams,
gress put it. But the
burg printer Clementine Rind. The pubto
mained
committed
that only the separate Amerparliamentary
arguing
we
fished instructions quickly found their way
ican legislatures were sovereign in America.
sovereignty embodied in the Declaratory
into George Washington' s hands. By Sep
Act, which no American leader could
to this
argument,
Parliament
According
John E. Selby
tinental
As-
their
congress!
any
final authority over America, and
the colonies were connected to the empire
M. Billings,
he intended
present to the Virginia delegates to the Con-
It
had
Warren
was a draft of instructions
is uncon-
The original Constitution
to£ 1, 400, 000
little
the
most incendiary texts that served to fan the
flames of discontent growing stronger and
hotter with the passing months.
History is replete with instances of
major events hinging on seemingly insignificant trifles. One such example of particular
interest is Mr. Jefferson' s Summary View of
the Rights of British America. This document
And there-
THE DYE IS CAST
just
have
fore that the Power assumed by the British
Parliament to bind America by their
1776 Virginia' s debt had
grown
might
are
faith
his
George III . . . to support
By
our
of all his just Rights
their Fellow
we
Henry Lee, George WashHenry, Richard Bland,
deputies to
as
herself
entitled to the same rights and privileges as
for
As-
Peyton Ran-
Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund
ton
to
last past." ( Convention
August 6, 1774)
convention
of
at the
same
months
sociation,
as
other
Merchandises
Philip
that British subjects in America
tives...
Accomplishment
constituents,
by
actions
will
we
ought not to take
s.
the
purchase, any Slave, or Slaves,
by any Person, after the first day
imported
regards
Debt
any
insurrection
to
16, 1775. Virginia
England, February
exercise
nor
the
Growing
those
or
attributed
Williamsburg,
their
to report
able
vention.
Virginia' s
for
staves,
many
was
S NAPSHOT
load
ship their
to do with
from James City County,
Carter Nicholas, to the great relief of
cause.
TO DAY
a
get
The delegate
who
VI RGINIA
the
1775!
commodities.
leadershipRobertVirginians
s
to
1,
entertainment!
said
timber,
like
Guests will
colonies.
also
of
for
to
mezzotint,
are
year what are they
in the coming year and
that?
They don' t grow
weed"
golden
white
England
used as a basis for what he called"
August
after
of this-
same
and civil liberties
S
being forced to sign either the Association or the resolutions drawn up by the Williamsburg Convention of August 1774.
The alternative
is to be tarred and feathered.
until the tobacco planters
even though
they can
Wait
guests will learn about the summer of
of Virginia' s
1774, the determination
political
loyalists
gone
step further and dared
agree
to withhold
exports
Mother
variety of Historic Area sites.
By participating in these events,
the
black and
have
delegates
Alternative
The
an
of protest.
BUT
THERE' S MORE!
WAIT!
The
revolu-
coerce
1774-
old and time honored
on
in Williamsburg
and the
lived them will be related
to
t,
4
the
tradition
one
their
1,
even
been deprived of one of Thomas Jefferson' s
all British goods
to
en-
slaved community will gather at differ
ent locations, revealing their thoughts
about these
Y
deed,
ti
i
resi-
of
November
age
of
a
might
fellow
stories
near
by
congress.
Members
But for a case of dysentery on a hot
summer day, citizens of Williamsburg, and
eventually the rest of the colonies and, in-
elected
as
County,
his
SUMMARY VIEW
1
sweeping agreement to eschew
importation and use
will conduct the convention'
n
convention'
the
to
Nicholas,
Peyton
York
J
JEFFERSON' SS
SON
J
Diggs, delegate
from
J
3
f
Dudley
George
a... '
of the pop-
representatives
If`
1
a
or
ulace?
Area.
characters
even
come
9
legal
legislate
to
authority
a
conven-
no
Colonial
throughout
g
Historic
with
tion
week of August 2- 7, the
the
During
resist-
a
r
T
shadow"
f
lot
govprotest of the Boston Port Bill andY.
ernment
foreshadow
a
what we now call the Intolerable Acts.
continental shadow gov
drafted an association
The
that foryernment? READ ON.
bade the importation of British goods
i
The
dele g ates,
after
1774,
November
1,
and slaves
after
convening from August 1
and the exportation
of goods to Great
through
August 6, made
Britain after August 1, 1775. They also
their way home with stoelected delegates to the 1st Continenries
to tell. So, what was
tal Congress, held in Philadelphia duraccomplished
by this erst R * (
ing September and October for the
while "
i
x
!!
as
freeborn Englishmen.
intensifytheir
s
l'`
of assuring
means
Virginians
returned
who
14
of the late House
Burgesses
gether in this capital city
to deliberate the most of
Convention
Virginia
has
just been received that 89
1- 7, 2005
From August 1 through
News
Williamsburg:
Williamsburg
August
program,
ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS
1- 7, 1774
no
through
only
colonists
ment
the
would
concede
had the right to
nal
commerce
the
case,
ests
king.
and
of both
a
The
was
regulate
most
that
their
the
Parliaexter-
only " from the necessity of
regard to the mutual inter-
countries,"
as
the Declarations
longer take seriously.
It was now only a
matter
of time before
these irreconcilable positions led to armed
conflict."
Gordon S. Wood,
History,
A
The
modern
The American
Revolution:
A
Library Chronicles Book,
Modern Library, New York, 2002.
tember
the
draft
had
been
reprinted
in
Philadelphia, and by early November copies
were circulatingin London.
How did this work- in-progress come to
be seen by so many? Stopped in his tracks,
as it were, by " the bloody flux," Jefferson
sent
two
copies
of the
document
Continued
ahead,
on
page 2
�Virginia Convention 1774
s ..
r ,, .
Many enslaved Africans
Z.
were
shipped to the Western Hemisphere
NEWS
a
from Cape Coast, an English outpost on the Gold Coast of West
Africa. Above is a detail from
Africa, a hand colored engraving
by John Bowles, London, ca. 1740.
a,
X
a
s
q
'
_
4
S.
4rx.,
A,
J
.,
FORUM
1.-
END THE SLAVE TRADE !
S
JEFFERSON'
SUMMARY VIEW
Continued
On April
other
was
read to
was
s
large
a
Many of the
heartyapplause,
PP
language.
in
Jones
resolutions
but
letter
a
claimed
resolutions]
were
Meriwether
to
Peyton'
and
After
other
some
with [ the
that
elegance,
they
borne
by
Jef-
third of the document,
one
the
is
from all
likely
other
explores
a"
he describes
distinguish
to
listing
present
a
these
are
which
to
colonies]
acts
history."
systematical
deliberate,
plan of reducing [ the
Among
the
periods of American
series of oppressions,"
as "
slavery."
free trade,
limiting
and imposing
restricting commerce,
He gives special mention
duties.
entitled
to the act
for suspending the legislature of
New York" as" a phenomenon unknown in
An
act
His
nature."
of
evaluation
the
act
that
closed the port of Boston is particularly pasthe act, its repercussionate
as he describes
its
sions,
endured
those
his final
In
and
afterlife,
by
hardships
the
affected.
immediately
of this evaluation,
paragraph
of
measurement
be
despotism
filled
of the essay focuses on
the conduct of His
calls "
section
Jefferson
Majesty, as holding the executive powers of
the laws of these States, and mark out his
III' s
into
its passing
He
with
continues
inattention
s
of laws that
or negation
until
son
finally,
at the
with
ends
spectful: "
what
Importation
The
from
the
Coast
to the
the
Support for this
comes
from
mony through...
imploring
the
that the
king
to
agree
as
dissected
restrictive
African
that the Virginians
slaves
import
duty
conspicuous" (
Virginia:
Bancroft
respondence,
Official
TYanscripts).
came
in 1773
after
almost
encroach
by
Todd Norris]
TODAY
is a publication of the
Department of
Training
Editors:
Anne Willis
to
come
wants
tinue
wishes
that
on
two
will
between
con-
not
congress, and had
imperial efforts to restrict their own control
of what they would have termed their " in
temal polity" for that and nothing more.
the
of what will happen
when (
indepen
deliberately shut down their own courts of
law in an area of critical jurisdiction. Perhaps
they would have confessed their amaze
ment, but they might also have responded
that they contended for much the same
broad objective in 1774 as they had in 1764,
or for that matter in the early 1750s: to block
in lieu of
merchants
tensions
enflame
extralegal intercontinental
countermand-
of the Virginians
of London
to
issue
at this
aware
at the economic
Warren M. Billings, John E. Selby
and Thad W. Tate, Colonial
if) the Vir-
Virginia:
A History ( White Plains, N. Y.:
ginia slaves are armed by the French or
Spanish. Regardless of his arguments about
KTO Press, 1986), 333- 335.
the ever- increasing number of slaves in Virginia, it will be left to the colonists themselves to stop the trade in August of 1774.
Lord
Submitted by Phil Shultz]
The importation of slaves from Africa into Virginia dropped off dramatically six months after the General Assembly had instructed
Lord Dunmore on April 1, 1772, to deliver their address to His Majesty asking for an end to the slave trade.
Virginia with incomplete records of place of origin. In 1774, only 36 slaves arrived in Virginia. Without the king's approval, Virginians had
effectively ended their own trade and were prepared for the association' s call for an end to the slave trade.
Submitted by Anne Willis]
DATE
OF
ENTRY
VESSEL
MASTER
NEGROES
FROM
PORT OF ENTRY
Brig Fanny
Sloop Smithfield
Ship Polly
Snow Nancy
William Westcott
21
new
Negroes
Grenada
Hampton
Alexander Cochane
20
new
Negroes
St. Vincent
Hampton
1772
February 28
March 4
May
July 9
July 30
Snow Thomas
August 20
Ship Union
Ship Prince of Wales
Fredericksburg
Brig Fanny
Sloop Black Prince
Sloop
October 14
Brig Charlotte
October 19
Schooner Commerce
October 20
Brig
Brig
Ship
Brig
September 24
12
November 3
November
23
December
Bob Doares, Jennifer Jones,
McAphee,
Todd D. Norris,
Rowe, Phil Shultz
21
December
Powers, Linda
the
merchants"
efforts
IMPORTATION OF SLAVES INTO VIRGINIA 1772- 74
November 25
Contributors:
Rose
of self- interested
duties that the assembly wished to impose
November 6
Margot Crevieaux- Gevertz
Kelly,
seems
ing
which
represen
Transcripts).
Bancroft'
the
the
to accom-
were no more than had been permitted
November 5
Milton,
set
finding
at
Lord
October 13
Kevin
a
laws could
uneasiness
and intended
ro osed
oppositionproposed
to the
dence they had once spurned), had advo
cated and joined in the formation of an
colony and the crown, and he has a real fear
October 12
Nancy
advanced
final
that
their
This time Lord Dunmore posited that the
October
Interpretive
to the
Stamp Act within traditional modes of imperial politics. When that effort failed, they had
initially betrayed a sense of uncertainty and
hesitation. Now in recent months they had
formulated trade embargoes ( and thereby
royal
Dartmouth
supplication
modate
re-
America."
AMERICANS
of
express
a
the
when
Cor-
sent
this
entreaty to London
BEFORE dispatching
nearly three weeks
of 1772.
the laws enacted in the session
His next attempt
often
He
Dunmore
October 5
Becoming
they
(
effect,
no
of the Virginians'
fail of renewing the
heads. He is well
re-
Lord
to
not"
upon
were
questing in their petition. Thus, the crown
would be granting the wish " of a country
whose
loyalty and affection have allway
determined
love and har-
all British
governor
disallowances
tation
the
to
noted
secre-
to
1771,
With this plea making
made in
1774
was
occasions.
colonial
283- 284.
1906),
effort
First, in May of 1772, his lordship sent a
strong and vigorous message to Lord Hillstary persuade
additional and
of addresses
Commons couched in all the old forms of
humble
Transcripts).
'
royal governor of Virthe petitions and desires of
borough
a series
Vincent, Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados, Tobago and St. Christopher. In 1773, 3 slaves arrived from the islands while 52 slaves arrived in
future
Submitted
Lou
or
Lord Dunmore,
separate
Va.:
and they " could not be
be intended as a prohibition
the Slave trade" ( Bancroft
to obstruct
up until
supposed
and
corner.
ginia, supported
the burgesses on three
of
Virginia,
DOES MAKE . . .
unexpected
an
Colonial Press,
The
trade.
slave
to frame
now shifts from Africa to the Caribbean islands with a much smaller number of slaves. For 1772, 155 slaves arrived from Grenada, St.
our...
fraternal
establish
to
African
Journals
eds.,
1770- 1772 ( Richmond,
come
wise
measures
similar
and
reads
of
apprehensions
ment,
it would be
end
to
by
that
conclusion
prudent
1772
al.,
et
of Burgesses of
the House
POLITICS
burgesses have
s
H. R. Mcllwaine,
a
been consid-
long
of British
judicial
the
Other
you will be pleased... to
of these...
grievances, to
procure redress
against
quiet the minds of your subjects...
any
hath
of Africa
round
king, the House of Lords, and the House of
into the Colonies
of Slaves
recent
permitted, or had they been more introspective men than they were, they might have
been startled to compare the beginning and
ending of the decade. In 1764 they had sat
Security and Happiness of such Numbers of your
1 ty,s dut f
Majesty' s dutiful and loyal Subjects.
oYdown
promote the Prosperity and Happiness
of your Subjects in the Colonies, encourage us
and implore your
to look up to the Throne,
Majesty' s paternal Assistance in averting
Calamity of a most alarming Nature.
the most
From May through September 24, 1772, 1, 560" Negroes" were listed as imported into Virginia from Africa, Angola, and the Wind-
that
resolution...
presume to hope that the Interest of a few will be
disregarded when placed in Competition with the
Had the demands of pursuing opposition to
ward and Gold Coasts. After September 1772, there are no listings of slaves being imported into Virginia directly from Africa. The trade
on
end of 23 pages, Jeffer-
This, Sire, is
useful Inhabitants,
more
the most part in positions of prominence.
His
render
analyzed
are
some
By the fall of 1774 Virginians had trayeled a long road over the decade just passed,
perhaps none more so than the group of established leaders of the colony who had held
power when it began and who remained for
confirmation
attack
the
toothless.
process passive and
transgressions
an
to
of your Majesty' s
may reap Emoluments
but when we consider
that
and may,
in Time, have the most destructive Influence, we
Colonies, with
to
George
and implementation of it.
resurrection
Majesty'
and
disuse,
Dominions.
American
WROUGHT?
under
from this Sort of Traffic,
that it greatly retards the Settlement of the
Source Book
Virginia
s
are sensible
Subjects in Great- Britain
if desired.
slaves
deviations from the line of duty." Jefferson
briefly traces the history of the king' s veto
right,
im-
Dartmouth had become colonial secretary.
up."
The last
what
We
The many Instances
of your Majesty' s
benevolent intentions and most gracious Dispo-
been
he condudes, "
If the pulse of [ the king' s]
people shall beat calmly under this experiand another will be tried till
ment, another
the
of your Majesty'
representative
to restrict the
colonies
Enslaving
Virginia'
rapid and bold succession of injuries
which
enable
hands of
at the
colonies
previous reigns.
He devotes the rest of the tract to
that
portation of
sition
publication by subscription."
lengthy introduction, which
a
comprises
He
the
after
s nephew,
captivated
so
and
point
of
nature
their
procured
ties
bold
30 years
written
himself,
young patriots
in the
assemblies
to
and,
of great Inhumanity,
officiallyy
Most Gracious Sovereign,
not
were
extreme,
Randolph,
that "
king
the
with
met
were
According
fact, Edmund
implored
Trade
as a
its present Encouragement, we have too much
Reason to fear will endanger the very Existance
audience.
adopted due to the
the
Patrick
to
one
copy has been lost, but the
taken to Randolph' s home and
Henry. Henry'
eyed
House of Bur-
the
of Lord Dunmore. The legislators
auspices
Randolph and
to Peyton
one
1772,
gesses resolved to present the following adthe
dress to King George HI through
page 1
from
1,
WHAT HAVE THEY
TO THE KING
ADDRESS
24
Success
430
Angola
250
Windward
200
Africa
James
280
Gold Coast
James
James Bivins
400
Africa
Lower James
John Sinclair
3
Grenada
Rappahannock
William
7
Grenada
Hampton
7
Grenada
Hampton
John Williams
20
Bermuda
Hampton
Wilson R. Bailey
John Wood
15
Barbados
Hampton
Thomas
Duncombe
James E. Colly
Thomas Lewis
Charles
Walter
Pole
Westcott
Gray
seasoned
James
and Gold Coasts
and St. Martin' s
James
Hampton
Richard
Unity
Liberty
John Knight
William
Rysam
Brickle
Barbados
Hampton
3
St. Vincent
Hampton
5
Kelsick
Porter
Antigua
4
Betsy
22
Grenada
Hampton
27
Barbados
Hampton
1
Antigua
Hampton
Schooner Thomas
Wright
Schooner Smithfield
Alexander Cochane
12
St. Christopher
Hampton
Brig John and Willis
Sloop Little Molly
Samuel
Wilson
8
Tobago
Hampton
Thomas
Burrows
4
Antigua
Hampton
1773
no
date]
November
5
December
2
Brig Othello
Brig Francis
Sloop Hope
John Duncan
Joseph
Outerbridge
Duncan Campbell
52
1
Bermuda
Hampton
4
Tobago
Hampton
1774
Production:
Susan Bruno, copy
Diana
Freedman,
graphic production
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
reserved. All images are property of
unless
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,
m 2005
The
All rights
The
editor
otherwise
noted.
January 24
February 10
Sloop Grace and Sally
Sloop Phoenix
1
Antigua
Hampton
William Westcott
30
Antigua
Hampton
August 22
Live Oak
John Eve
5
Grenada
Hampton
Christopher
Wilson
Walter Minchinton, Celia King and Peter Waite, eds., Virginia Slave- Trade Statistics 1698- 1775
Richmond, Va.: Virginia State Library, 1984), 183- 189.
�
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<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Virginia Convention 1774
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/9a8ef77b016f987561c57002ceecaee0.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=JFWyUVJnUYoQy%7ESx8jKw6rAF6lDem0VZahrEtvNhLT%7EUdZV6DUxLDE4qQi2yzM-L86bbWsAJAJ%7EnIeiGJP07JdA654GodR3YVmmXE8gT5URp3MRzcv-AwlDw5i81opDUAeEGvvg81jfilKia9s2TlWzLnUc4-EPRCFMuoF9lbbRAbfSKD5KHXkAZ%7EsyhQbcptdydQiTLEJr0bStUVk3wwbIzfKG5z-4HE2TmMwrdWnNmSTC1ir842p0xUgGsJm1VUpgio0DLsVjt5EbWoOfj56v4y9Auu8N6tgUQ3Zdyfk5xn0SHn3lkkrOSQGXEt1KMHcOcxuCXXuTHZZIrFVAybQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
076253435618f0313d94cdbd70c9971b
PDF Text
Text
Volume 4, No. 6 Autumn
Autumn 1775
2005
THE INTERPRETER'
Dunmore'
fr=3,
Jr-
s
Proclamation
A
I
i
NO.
MARCH 25TO
Newsline
23:
Second
i',
Convention
Parllament
See Page 2
lE;!! II,!; ll':::
r
=_==_
WILLIAMSBURG
British forces.
by
2005
1775
in
Colonies
U. S. in
Armed
Armed
with
B
a
Conflict
its
a
accepts
Iraq
Indian Threat
Horrendous
let e
t'
Boston,
near
of the
Threatening
Hurricane
I
Hurricane
*
J
Season
IP
s
.,
111 • . •
war.
d
10
tellr
Apri119: Battle of Lexington and Concord
in Massachusetts
Threat of
Terrorism
4
committee
try in every county.
first bloodshed
in
to the West
of a
calling for the organization
volunteer
company of cavalry or infan-
the
i
Afghanistan
report
ensues
(
G _,
y,
Patrick Henry delivers his famous" Give
death" speech.
me liberty or give me
The
and
,
St. John' s Church, Richmond,
at
avoid interference
to
f
TIMES FOR COLONISTS
Convention
Virginia
1 FOR COLONIAL
King
REVOLUTIONARY
30, 1775
NOVEMBER
meets
CANS
ODM
a
'.
See Page 3
March
t
A
k
S NEWSPAPER
z
,
x
April 21:
Dunmore's
under
Acting
orders,
sailors led by Lieutenant Henry Collins
of H.M. S. Magdalen
Landing
liamsburg,
Burwell' s
at
anchor
James River
the
on
in the capital
powder from the Magazine
I
r'
of
hall- barrels
15
then take
V4
1 j
Wil-
near
ulation
to
Randol
y
Market
John Dixon persuade the crowd
to send a delegation to the Governor's
in the evening,
1
peacefully rather
Another mob gathers
returning. The next
the
marines
the
day
and Concord
Battles of Lexington
followed
three horsemen depart
In
Williamsburg.
to
from Hugh Mercer,
to
response
Fredericksburg
volunteer
about
rendezvous
April
600
29, intending
capital.
have
George Washington
the
commander
forces and
horsemen
Richard
Henry
the
to
men
diately,
Pendleton, and
send
Lee—
remain
the
appeals
iII
to
with 20, 000
rebellion
the
Continental
Second
10:
in Philadelphia.
convenes
dolph
Congress
27,
Peyton Ran-
to
of Lord North'
of February
not
to tax
to
agree
the
if they would
in accordance
colonists
themselves
tax
American
difficult
young men break into
late Satthe Magazine in Williamsburg
the
Several
early Sunday and
blast triggered
shotgun
urday
are
or
greeted
by a spring.
are slightly wounded. An outraged
public condemns Dunmore as a wouldby
a
increase
mercenaries,
continent
"
choices
Crown
or
about
to
the
are
those
they
consider
make
allegiance
loosely
governments
Committees of safety often
secute
forced to
their
to
structured
in the 13
shadow"
forces,
colonies.
harass and perdisloyal to the
farms and in
in the field
and
assassin,
Monday
The
Magazine.
the
storms
on
mob
a
as
highly
dysentery,
and
the
marines
Wrlliamsburg'
s
are
coming
volunteer
again,
company
is
on
page 5
VIRGINIA
TODAY
and
apple
REVOLUTIONARY
peach
crops,
devastated
drought
fields.
tobacco
1775, the
Article
Now
of
supplies
could
colonists,
whatever,
not "
Tobacco,
export
salt
to
directly
or
any
Britain."
Great
of rain
shake
Continued
or
How
on
as
1775
Word
has
been
of
our
most
Speaker, the Honorable Peyton
Designed
by
open
large in
size,
for
nature
and
command[ ed]
about,
Phila-
beloved
of
respect
his last debt to Nature
in
an
when"
Congress
Continental
Nathanael
Rhode
Thomas
Greene: General
Island
Regiment
Jefferson
39 Years
of the
33 Years
Half
and all,
a
vast
damage."
Carter also
and as he was universally esfor his great Virtues and shining
Abilities, the Congress have determined to
his Memory and Remains all possible
Mr RanDemonstrations of Respect. . . .
dolph was as firm, stable and consistent a
shew
32 Years
Continued
on
page 6
down
everywhere.
In
and cattle."
Fodder to Pieces."
Much mischief was done by the hurricane in this colony, but the Maryland
Gazette reported that, as the storm barreled
very deservedly One of the first American Characters,
of the united
as he was
the first President
teemed
all the fences
brocke doun a deall of Corn fT Tore all the
Apoplectic
Colonies,
John Hancock: President of the
everything
in the Country. It has tore many trees &
As this Gentleman Sustained
40 Years
makes
foundations. . . .
wind S rain I have seen since I have been
he
in Chief of the Continental
43 Years
it, and
nel William Daingerfield of Fredericksburg,
wrote in his journal on September 2 that
he " returd. Home by Sundown; At which
time came on one of the hardest gales of
deportment,
of proportion,
and esteem
by
not out
at Table . . .
Northwest
John Harrower, Scottish tutor for Colo-
1774) On October 23, in this year
Lord 1775," our first venerable presi-
seized
before
almost to their
houses People
an
his very aspect, independent of the high
Silas Deane to Mrs.
character he sustains." (
paid
to
short— one general destruction except my
Randolph.
business,
majestic
though
sometimes
flat, tobacco leaves all broke off and drove
from
received
of the death
delphia
and
discovered his " fodder all gone, corn quite
George Washington: Commander
John Adams
that
me my Mill dam again, to rebuild waist-
Fit." " He died in the Evening, without ever
recovering his senses after the first Stroke.
Army
on
began to abate about 2 in the night. It cost
page 2
HIS LAST DEBT TO NATURE
was
recorded
the weather side of my house in a float. I
am obliged to get up. If the window sand
bags or some such thing had been thought
of before night this leaking might in a great
measure been prevented. The violent Gust
gates
dent"
Neck
past 9, a dreadful time, Gust harder and all
other
is daunting
farms and large plantations
our
Northern
with prodigious flows that drive vast sheets
planters going to market their
The impact on both small
tobacco crops?
of
LEADERS:
the
Northeast
wheat
Virginia
Deane,
SNAPSHOT
YOUTHFUL
on
and I wish I could say there were any signs
of its abating. The Wind is from North to
indirectly,
he
and on the
Colonel Landon Carter of Sabine Hall
fever.
and gunpowder are in short supply. Under
1,
the Association of 1774, by September
are
at Norfolk
in
goods into the colonies
after
late frosts in spring
summer
affable,
mobilized.
Continued
typhoid
1774
destroyed
a
or
hard aground
Hampton Roads shoals.
Saturday, " About half after 3 the much
suspected Gust began; it has now struck 6,
manufactured
1774
driven
economy is in turmoil. The Assoof 1774 halted imports of English
The
and
hands of this storm. Near to 25 ships were
resulting in illinfectious diseases such
from
typhus,
slammed
and corn were flattened.• Ibbacco stored in
some warehouses fared little better at the
undisciplined,
troops
storm
bridges swept away. Entire fields of tobacco
governor
recriminations
and Assembly exchange
over the incident. When it is rumored
that
much
shops
often
Tivo
be
Continen-
incomplete and
families
the
struction in its wake. Trees were uprooted
and shingles ripped from rooftops and
hurled about the landscape as if shot from
a cannon. Chimneys were toppled and
sons
lack the equipCondiment or ammunition they need.
unclean
and
are often
tions in the camps
debate,
greatly. War on the
is now inevitable.
and
families
fathers, and
In four hours
into the Northern Neck, leaving untold de-
Anxiety and hardship follow.
Troops
nesses
land
and
sea
Loyalists and patriots
with quotas sent from London.
June 3- 4:
to
forget.
in Virginia.
unwillinglyjoin the
on
morning on September 2. It was a Saturday that many Virginians would not soon
and
of the House of Bur-
changes
leaving
December
induding
Edmund
son
Randolph,
labor force
reduced.
to
October
rebellious"
inevitably
willinglyor
subjects
war. ..
III plans
conciliatory prowhich promised
s
27,
his "
War
the
heated
The first hurricane force winds began
lashing the seaport town of Norfolk mid-
Randolph,
communities. Husbands,
in
on
former
his brother, Speaker
the
Williamsburg
of the colony, chooses to
home" to England with his family,
gesses Peyton
colonies
Later,
some
return "
leaving
HENRY??
NO, A HURRICANE!
general
ciation
bellious
session
news
posal
after
communities
attorney
In
apart.
September 15, John
on
is manifestly carried on for
the purpose of establishing an independent
empire."
To defeat the colonists, George
of the General Assembly
since
May 1774 meets in Williamsburg.
Dunmore had summoned it in response
First
June 1:
Parliament,
by
23, George
his
asked
and
strongly supports the king, who declares in
his address in the upper house that the" re-
is elected president.
again
and
follow
to
regulars
colonists.
2, 000
imme-
Boston
American
the
proclaimed
suppress
May
to
cabinet
that
spring of 1776. On August
open
quiet.
ordered
be sent
26
July
a
at
PATRICK
colonists' cause. These choices tear families
tal forces,
his army.
building
London
reinforcements
delegates— George
Edmund
Washington,
in
meeting
named
had been
in chief of the Continental
now
was
Decisions reached
Williamsburg,
plea from Peyton Randolph
violence.
three
In addition,
congressional
other
running
meeting of
Congress on June
Continental
second
15,
were
At the
supplies.
the
on
and
Boston
s
remained
British
The
the
a
avoid
in
siege
of food and
conflict at Bunker'
bloody
17.
on
there
the
the
out
company,
march
to
By morning,
from
returned
bringing
to
men
June
on
under
call
a
of the
commander
by
Hill
in Fredericksburg;
on a hectic ride
arrives
an
only for Virginians
Armed conflict had already broken out at
Lexington
and Concord on April 19, 1775,
arm
the
unsettling time not
but for all colonists.
Autumn 1775 is
threatens
April28: News of
THE PRODIGIOUS
WIND OF 1775:
enraged governor publicly
the slaves, but peace prevails.
to
Ow`
e.
it is rumored that
when
are
`
k
than
violence.
svot;
Tom
y
10ififr
and
Carter Nicholas,
t
i
Mayor
turn to
A.
Square, but Peyton
h, Robert
Palace to protest
p
A
during the early morning hours. Drums
beating the alarm bring most of the pop-
'
north through Annapolis," a great quantity
of the copper
on the state- house
was torn
up, and the market- house blown down;
[
also]
the damage sustained in different
parts of the province, we are told, is very
considerable."
The worst, however,
was yet to come.
By September 11 the storm had taken
dead aim at the province of Newfoundland.
Continued
on
page 6
�Autumn 2005
BRITAIN' S DETERMINATION:
KING GEORGE and PARLIAMENT
dicial
powers, which they already
in the most arbitrary manner. . . .
NEWS
exercise
NE
And
although many of these unhappy people,
t
VS
still retain their loyalty . . .
the torrent of violence has been strong enough to
may
compel their acquiescence
force
0
shall
till a sufficient
Wil-
to support them." [
appear
liam Cobbett, The Parliamentary
History of
England from the Earliest Period to the Year
1803, London:
FOR WAR
STRATEGY
mid September
By
had
more
developed
Lord
1775,
v
secure
strategy
Virginia for the Crown. The plan called for
two armies— one from the west, one from
Hampton Roads— to
and
rebels
Fortg
the
British
and
Bay
Potomac
force would then
Members of the House of Commons
- -
retire
i
1'
e}'
,,,
t `:
J
f'
1
i.
I
Henry
his
Loyal
would
Regiment
Native
by
and detachments
American
allies
from British regiments in
Canada. Dunmore commanded
larger
the
army, which began assembling in late June
1775. The governor obtained
140 men
from the 14th Regiment. Later he created
Queen' s Own Loyal
the
Jacob
250
Ellegood,
Byrd (
which
under
contained
almost
Dun-
1775.
created the Royal Ethiopian with
also
himself
Virginians
mid- November
by
men
more
colonel and eventually
of William
Byrd III)
as
son
King' s procession departed St. James
Thomas
as
major
o'clock
[ October 26, 1775],
at walking speed.
Horse Grenadiers with
ing
in the lead to
60,
000
the
clear
followed
clattering
the Guard in red and
of footmen,
unit
a
eight
magnificent
cream-
horses ( Hanoverian Creams),
spoked
heavy
loomed
missioned " little"
Allegorical
roads
prepare
requisition
other
Parker
Jimmy
mas-
as "
chief military engineer— to
and fortifications.
He would
works"—
those
or
slaves
from
troops
as
vice
four
a
of sufficient
were
crowned
the
on
seaboard
and
his
Dunmore (
Eilbeck).
ex-
of about
town"
requisitioned
12
flagship,
A
16
ton
floating
civilian "
vessels,
ves-
406
the
armed,
some
anchored, and ready, supported Dunmore' s
efforts.
Submitted
Continued
from. . .
Report
Local
claimed
reports
Pete Wrike]
by
that
from
page 1
tremendous
a
tidal wave carried boats up against the cliff
and
even
some
300
than
up into the woods. More
in Northern Bay.
perished
men
And according to Robert Duff, the colonial
governor, " a considerable number of boats
with
their
Several
have
crews
been
wreaked
vessels
lost.
totally
the
on
Ocean levels rose to heights " scarcely ever
John]
December
Boyle' s Journal
1775 " that
recorded
violent
a
Mother
tember
NatureNaturea
spent
in
of
storm
her
fury
Phil Shultz and Nancy
Milton]
Continued
Times
Revolutionary
incomes
by
from
page 1
greatly reduced in these difficult times. And on September 2, 1775, a
are
horrific hurricane
fury, destroying
Closer
to
hits Virginia with its full
homes
home,
themselves
concern
and
and
Virginia'
Lord
over
s
patriots
Dunmore' s
His
Hampton
of Great Bridge and
open
well
as
raids
on
Battles
the
Kemp' s Landing bring
armed conflict to Virginia.
Dunmore'
slaves
s
repeated
and indentured
weigh
masters
wealth
and
session
and
of
as
slave
critical
vember
servants
on
times
and
to
free
of all rebel
Virginians,
rebellion
whose
upon
slaves.
during
posFears
these
heighten
1775,
anxiety. On NoLord Dunmore issues a
proclamation formally offering freedom to
of all " rebel masters,"
slaves
striking again
at the
heart of free Virginians'
dependence
and security.
Submitted
by
lord has
noble
continent." [
Wil-
sense
of in-
Anne Willis]
Benjamin
Harrison,
Thomas
Nelson
Jr.,
and Mr. Speaker Peyton Randolph, lately
lost to us. At the beginning of our present session " there never appeared
a more
perfect unanimity among any set of men,"
but it has not been long since that it has
become clear that our councils are " heav-
T.C. Hansard,
concluding
king by
1813, 696.]
rhetoric
each
on
vote
side,
supports
strongly
of 278 to 108.
the
a vote
By the early
morning of October 27 about three- quarters of the members
of Parliament support
in his
king
the
proposed
actions
against the
ily clogged with . . . shamefully interested
proprietary people," who have now seen fit
to brand Mr. John Adams, his cousin Sam,
and myself, along with our allies Thomas
Jefferson
Adams
and George
while referring to themmoderate Men." I shall leave
selves as the"
colonists.
Source: David McCullough, 1776 ( New
York: Simon and Schuster, 2005), p. 3- 19
Submitted by Anne Willis]
Wythe, as " The Lee-
Junta,"
it to you, dear
reader,
to
discern
truth.
the
Our early debates were twofold: the
status of trade and foreign alliance and the
assumption
of governmental
confederation
of the
several
powers and
colonies.
On
his
to divide these United Colonies by prohibit-
the
on
place
in
throne
ing all of them except Delaware, Georgia,
North Carolina, and New York from trading
with any nation except Great Britain, Ire-
of Lords with the
the House
peers of the realm dressed .
in their crimson
and
robes,
of
members
House
the
--
land, and British West Indies, I did offer a
motion on the 12th of October that Custom
of
Commons
rear
standing at the
of the hall. He argues
that
the
raised
Houses in all these Colonies be shut up and
the officers
Americans " have
and
troops,
lecting
a
be turned
col-
are
naval
force
the public
revenue,
and assumed to themselves
legislative,
brief
of
existence
Norfolk'
s
first
to
news-
paper, the Virginia Gazette, or Norfolk Intelligencer, came to an end in early fall 1775.
S. Duncan
William
in
weekly
June
Holt,
Hunter
first published
4
1774.
ardent
an
printer John Holt
April
In
patriot and
for British
waters,
making his base of operations there
of the large tory element in the
alleged
more' s
treasonous
father
of British
dirty
actions
by
Dun-
in the Jacobite Rebellion of
noon
Dunmore sent
on
an
sailors
September 30,
Saturday,
officer
and
little Borough
and
soldiers
a
detachment
to" the
ashore
of Norfolk" to
capture
and confiscate
his press. The landing
party met no resistance as it marched to the
shop and seized Holt' s " press, tipes, paper,
Holt
ink, two of the printers, and all of the utensils."
Holt' s bookbinder, Cumming, was also
taken.
Holt, said to have been
building,
was
not
hiding
in the
ordered
the
or
none;
Norfolk
as "
the
"
Paul
illegal and
caused the
their
the
Dunmore told
riotous."
seizure
a
favor
was
by
pour-
of the Norfolk press
Williamsburg
campaign
against
papers to step up
him, even charging
he" dared
that
offer violence
to the chastity
poor innocent girl" from the Norfolk
and that he kept a mistress
poorhouse
of
a
in
Williamsburg—
no
evidence
benefit allowed them by the late Restraining
Acts." On the subject of opening our ports
to Foreign
Trade, the Congress
was Mute.
On the matter of the assumption
of
Congress has recommended, in response
protested
scotching the printed viper that
ing its poison in their midst."
Dunmore' s
render
afterward,
Loyall
he had done Norfolk
mayor
and thereby
government by the various colonies, the
Immediately
effects."
sies and Dissention"
of the inhabitants,
numbers
mayor
all of
be laid open to trade with
for
accusations
offered.
which
to their
request
for advice,
that both
New
Hampshire and South Carolina set up their
own
Governments.
On Confederation
be-
tween the several colonies Congress was,
top my dismay, once again mute.
Not long after, on the 9th of November,
Congress was informed, by a letter from our
agents in Great Britain, my brother Arthur
Lee, Esq., and Richard Penn, that the King
had refused to receive our" Olive Branch Pe-
tition," and that he had seen fit to proclaim
that these
colonies
are in" Open Rebellion"
the
and outside the " Protection of the Crown."
Holt' s equipment to print
paper of his own aboard
ship. The burning of Norfolk at the beginning of 1776 thwarted Holt' s intention to
While this is indeed a most melancholy and
disconcerting development, it is my hope
short-
Meanwhile,
used
governor
a
was
lived
reestablish
his
newspaper.
He
joined
the
Revolutionary army and, after Yorktown,
partnered with John Dixon to publish a
Richmond
that it will serve to " arouse America from
the fatal lethargy into which the feebleness,
folly, and interested views of the proprietary
Governments with the aid of Tory Machina-
tions have thrown her, most unhappily."
Adapted from Norfolk Highlights, 1584-
captured.
Several hundred people
raid with inaction, though
gentlemen . . .
Norfolk
fled Williamsarea
daily by
them
that
ought not to avail themselves
of the
g
few
joined by
were
appears
with their
of public
became the
son
in Norfolk-
warships
serted
raid
publisher.
In June 1775 Dunmore
because
1775, John
of Williamsburg,
it
man
us a " rope of sand." Congress did see fit to
do no more than to recommend that New
York, Delaware, North Carolina, and Geor-
is at present a
very insecure place for the life or property
of any individual, and is consequently dethat
so
four-page
the
but
arms,
who
offered
designs of Parliament to formant " Jealou
i'-
SEIZURE OF THE NORFOLK PRESS
The
Crown
foreign Nations. It is my hope to thwart the
1s1
r_ _,
and ju
executive,
of the
out. I further
our Ports should
f
ig;; !:
seized
1745. At
threats
security depend
control of their
unrest
15,
heavily
the
a whole
Boston Harbor
issue
at
than
campaign
Despite the strong
was
The
siege
one
con-
port city. Holt' s paper immediately began a
steady, merciless
needling of the governor.
Among other barbs, the September 27
actions.
with the rest of the delegation, Mr. Wythe,
Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee,
spoke
1803, London:
its
and
plantations along Virginia' s waterfronts
his activities
in Norfolk are threatening.
whereabouts
having been lately
the former, in light of the passage by Parliament of the" Restraining Acts," which seek
burg
crops.
Your correspondent,
For the opening of Parliament, King George III took
on
1775.
GRAND CONGRESS
NOVEMBER 27, 1775
to attend to the Grand Congress along
of
the
London,
souls,
population at nearly a million
the largest city in Europe and
widely
sidered the capital of the world. [ p. 4]
of British North America in Sep-
Submitted
of Bengal.
shores
FROM THE
liam Cobbett, The Parliamentary
History of
England from the Earliest Period to the Year
of Massachusetts and Virginia to
bean to the
the
1813, 696.]
lost— he has lost
now
from
A REPORT
for two hours fol-
Mississippi and beyond, from the Carib-
the
September last killed 4, 000 persons in the
several harboursNewfoundland."
the coast
reached
that
by
that
most
by James Fox who called Lord North
a " blundering
that
pilot," and concluding
Lord Chatham, the King of Prussia, nay,
Alexander the Great, never gained more
Hansard,
the
empire
II
4
a
separation
shores."
known before and caused great devastation." [
an
rolling past—
included
Canada,
ei 91.
elected once again to serve the freeholders
of Virginia, has returned to Philadelphia
in
as
though the very grandeur,
and weight of the British Empire
armed
tenders,
"
within.
sovereign
was
including
view
succeed
their
lowed
and back,
provide full
not
as
eternal
to the Year
Edmund Burke
was
wealth,
admiral in Virginia, nominally commanded
H. M. S. Otter, 14; H. M. S.
King Fisher, 14; 5
sels,
to
,,,,„,1 0
1803, London:
T. C.
posfoot-
heritage,
size
till!
Q
fight-
are
History of England from
colored
door panels celand windows
the
We
l
nirici
Wilkes,
John
we
an
enemies,
Parliamentary
sea
on
nation' s
Should
Earliest Period
single
front
wheels,
gilded
scenes
ebrated the
It
as necessary.
Dunmore,
mid- November
I
I —.
acts
will follow, and the grandeur of the British
empire
pass away." [ William Cobbett, The
gods, formidable
reminders that Britannia ruled the waves.
units
In
1
t;
all
repealing
shall be considered
we
chariot
riding the left lead horse, and six
at the side....
Three gilded cherubs
collectively known as the Norfolk militia,
which numbered about 50. Dunmore cornof
it .
Prime Minister
that "
prophetically
implacable
gold livery, and a rank
gold. Finally
the
head
to
proposes
population.
...
in red and
also
King in his colossal golden
the
pulled by
men
the
by
filled with nobility, then
of Horse Guards, the Yeomen of
a
tilion
estimated
an
out],
appointed
Brown
,
increases the wealth, the natural strength,
rode
coaches
gleaming
came
two
drawn
way [
turned
people
tradition,
By
swords
top— symbols of England, Scotland and Ireland— held high a gilded crown, while over
John
there
morn-
ing for the subjection, the unconditional
submission of a country infinitely more extended than our own, of which every day
proceed-
commanding. By mid- to late November,
this unit numbered almost 300. Dunmore
ter
Fitzroy
argues
Foresters
supported
in the
The Lord Mayor of London,
Dunmore appointed Dr. John ConnollyThe
PP
at two
to command the western army.
Connolly
and
where
four
passed in Parliament since the Stamp Act.
main
Hampton Roads.
be
chamber
until
seek independence. Former
base at
to
own
debate
position arguing against the use of foreign
troops and questioning why the colonists
i
`'
their
ing. About twenty members of the House
speak out in full support of the colonies'
i
j
i
,`
to
is heated
i
:
sides with the
King by a vote of 69 to 29.
River,
The
return
~',
w '
s`'
(
Pitt (
would be checked.
rebellion
the
i
and, with British control of
Chesapeake
the
against
Alexandria. A string
Dunmore) would
at
converge
of posts from
be maintained
campaign
N(,
r! -
when the ma orit
midnightmajority
f
k
I
t
Dun
to
a
1813, 696.]
The House of Lords debates the issue until
DUNMORE' S
LORD
T.C. Hansard,
Strong debate ensues in both Houses.
Y
witnessed
a "
the
few spirited
drum
to
beat
So that she may see that the specter of
Tyranny " hangs like a flaming sword over
George Holbert Tucker)
their heads." If it does then Congress will no
newspaper.
1881
by
Submitted
by
Bob Doares]
doubt adopt the declaration lately authored
Continued
on
page 5
�Autumn
3
2005
DUNMORE OFFERS FREEDOM TO
SLAVES OF " REBEL MASTERS"!
NEWS
FORUM
t.
)*
, ..,.-----
IPA
DAVID BRION DAVIS,
S
DUNMORE'
SLAVERY AND HUMAN
PROCLAMATION
Odds and Ends
rr
Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Vrginia, issued any number of proclamations
rgmi
duringhis tenure in Virginia. But when we
hear
all know it is the
Landing,
to the
refer
someone
one
15,
r
New York and Oxford: Oxford University
f,
Press, 1984), 107- 108
In the
public at Kemp' s
1775. Yes, the
if1:, 1, r
for the Crown.
make
No modern
of the document?
Politicallyit
So what
can
else
marked
made
it
clear:
the
some
in
some
into the patriot
there
and
bear
to
willing
210, 000
hope
to
king
the
of
able
King' s
their
way to
With the colony so dependent on bond
labor, there was a distinct financial aspect
to
there
impact
slaves
MAJESTY' S
His
on
Army
that
attack
now
of
on
to
detrimental
slaves
also
held
proclaim
by
masters
the
owners
indentures.
President
Lincoln
freedom only to those
in states in rebellion.
proclamation
statement
in
or
to
was
certainly
Virginians and
Slave
surroundingcolonies.
were
the
nightmare
g
of
their
to Justice,
the more
reasonable
restored,
to
which
of the
Course
Civil
effect; I have
this
ing,
is
y. I d
encouraged
now
here
slaves
and
was
a
other
document
bound labor to
thought fit to issue
issued
offer
such
them
the
take
ven-
his way, he would expel every slave from
Virginia. The slaves were so numerous, he
royal governor himself who
Submitted
by
the
to
would
be
history,
it
eager
was
to
do
In
so.
not France
nor
irony
an
by
the
Subjects,
or
any
to
other
present
most unhappy
Country, or
of them for their former
or sect had sought to
and British
rule)
the southern limits of Spanish America,
colonialgovernments took the legality of
g
Y
black slavery for granted. The governments
of
Britain,
France,
Spain,
Portugal,
Hol-
land, and Denmark all openly supported
the African slave trade.
Bythe
1750s
to be sure,
the classical
justifications for slavery, already discredi ted by Montesquieu and Hutcheson, were
being demolished by the arguments of
Rousseau, Diderot, and other philosophes,
to say nothing of the calculations of Hume
and Franklin regarding the effects of slayery on population growth and productivity
of labor. On the level of abstract political
philosophy, John Locke, a shareholder in
the Royal African Company, was the last
major thinker to seek justifications for
enslaving foreign captives. And Locke' s
strained
arguments
were
more
than coun-
terbalanced by his more famous and influential celebration of human liberty. Yet
the Enlightenment' s indictments of slavery
were scattered and desultory. Often they
left loopholes
for a defense of colonial
slav-
eryongrounds of expediency and public
interest.
As
late
as the
1770s,
when
the
Quaker initiative finally led to a rash of militant antislaverypublications
on
the
Atlantic,
no
on both sides
realistic
leader
could
seriously contemplate the abolition of New
World Slavery— except, on the analogy
with European slaveryand
P
span of centuries.
serfdom,
over a
November
1775
byOfficers P Pprop-
to receive the same.
Year
church
ada ( under both French
Williamsburg:
of His
A FEW ANONYMOUS
REMARKS
MAJESTY' S
ON
LORD DUNMORE' S
Reign.
of
PROCLAMATION
DUNMORE ( GOD save the KING.)
Spain but the
made
Dig-
require,
Peace may be again restored to this
SIXTEENTH
geance on their masters, and the slaves
written
to
discourage its members from owning or
even trafficking in black slaves. From Can-
GIVEN under my Hand on board
off NORFOLK,
the Ship WILLIAM,
in the
the 7th Day of November,
and someday an enemy
France or Spain, would
to
and
and
at
as
opportunity
Crown
order,
Quitrents,
erly authorised
very man who in 1772
Lord Hillsborough, secretary
for the colonies, that if he ( Dunmore) had
had
their
salutoryPurposes,
rP
of England,
S
as
my Proclamation, hereby declarthat until
the aforesaid
good
told Hillsborough,
His MAJ-
Taxes due or that may become due,
in their own Custody, till such Time
unable
that
up arms against their masters for the
good of the Crown. And this prodamation
was
further
anydemanded
Purposes
be obtained, I do in Virtue
take
joining
all His MAJESTY' S Leige
g
society. In the Carolinas and Maryland
well as Virginia, slave uprisings could be a
real threat;
a
MAJESTY'
nito
the ordinary
Law
appertaining to
and willing
are able
may be, for
speedily reducing this Colproper Sense of their Duty,
to His
retain
hereby
Servants,
as soon as
ony to
good Order of this Colony may be
again
others, (
ESTY' S ' hoops
may be brought
that the Peace, and
and
or
and
confiscation
And I do
c.
to bear Arms, they
of
Subjects
c. &
free that
Rebels,)
be
liable to the Penalty
upon such Offences;
forfeiture of Life,
as
Negroes,
and
hoops
or
to His MAJ-
further declare all indented
and
March
their
MAJESTY' S '
His
such
Tenders,
Army,
an
be
everyPerson
Traitors
as
upon
of Lands, &
Abettors,
and
Virginia' s economy. But loyalspared, as Lord Dunmore did not
insurrections
as as
now absolutely
necessary Step, rendered so by a Body
of armed men unlawfully assembled,
and the formation
sooner
STANDARD,
thereby become
the Law inflicts
disagreeable disagreeable but
firing
require
q
Peace
that
may the
ESTY' S Crown and Government,
Colony, without being
by my Duty to this most
and
direct
a
on
psychological
slave
looked
and that all such Traitors,
Finally,
a
have
this
compelled
do
I
end
the
MAJESTY' S
His
GREAT- BRIT-
Purposes,
be
Eighty- eight years later,
would
determine to
capable of bearing Arms, to resort to
Hopes,
might
between
Place
`
entertained
ever
destroy the well disposed
this Colony. To defeat such
freedom to their
offer
Colony: and to
good Order
restored,
of
proclamation. If large numbers
and indentures went to Dunmore,
were
by
to ME
Authority
his MAJESTY,
and
would
the
slaves
fists
and Vice Admiral
Accomodation
an
havingtaken and
SIN
recruits (
arms)
wstandr. OfproblematimC
to
the
of
course,
Norfolk
near
was
persons,
large numbers
drawing
and
Power
the
given,
same.
have
I
mili-
a
if any success,
obtaining
of British Regulars. With the
of slavery in Virginia,
enslaved
AS
that
proclamation was
His lordshipwas
little,
services
of
His
A PROCLAMATION.
actionpushed
camp.
document.
the
this
cases,
Obviously, the
precious
of the
suffer
may have been wavering right
who
to
be
or
of Virginia
minion
Unfortunatelyfor the
consequences.
British,
Earl of DUNMORE,
Colony
to
come
Crown and
traitor to the
as a
Honor-
the Right
Excellency
JOHN
able
King' s standard and pledge loyalty
the
His
By
we
was an effort to identifyto
MAJESTY' S Lieutenant
and Goverexecute Martial Law, and cause the
who. By declaring martial
nor General
of the
and Dosame to be executed
throughout this
clearly who was
law, Lord Dunmore
as for manydecades
and Reformed churchmen and theologians.
;` .
proclamation offering freedom to indentures
and slaves ( of rebels) who would take up
arms
1760s,
come, black slavery was sanctioned by
Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian,
Yt
gli
we
proclamation,
made
November
on
PROGRESS,
a
4F4 '
Source: Holton, " Rebel
offer.
against
Rebel,"
Phil Shultz]
183
A copy of the above
fallen into my hands. It
address a few remarks
mation; and as part of
respects
the
negroes,
proclamation has
may be proper to
upon this proclathe proclamation
and
seems
to offer
some very flattering and desireable to join
them, it may be doing them, as well as the
country, to give them a just view of what
they are to expect should they be so weak
and wicked as to comply with what lord
Il
Dunmore
c
R
requires. Those, then, who are
afraid of being stiled rebels, I would beg
`"
to consider,
J
1-
that although
lord Dunmore,
in this proclamation, insidiously mentions
his having till now entertained hopes of
c°..
r `"
an
r '' \'
accommodation,
yet
the
whole
tenor
of his conduct, for many months past, has
had the most direct and strongest tendency
to widen the unhappy breach, and render
Y..
a reconciliation
more
difficult.
For what
other purpose did he write his false and inr5
cr
Y
r
7(
a
c -'' /
``
'
\,
;,.•.
-
flammatoryletters
to the ministers of state?
r
7
Why did he, under idle pretenses, withdraw himself from the seat of government,
where alone he could, had he been willing,
have done essential service to our country?
Do
not
believe
his
words,
when
his
actions so directly contradict them. If he
r,
4
wished for an accommodation,
if he had a
desire to restore peace and order, as he professes, it was to be on terms which would
Wr
have been disgraceful,
and in the end de-
structive of everything dear and valuable.
Consider again the many attempts which
have been made to enslave us. Nature gave
us equal privileges with the people of Great
Britain. We are equally, with them, entitled
to the disposal of our own property; and we
have
which
never
e
we
resigned to them these rights,
Sn
derived from nature. . . .
We eContinued on page 4
�4
Autumn 2005
AM I NOT
NEWS
A MAN
Ili,
i
A'
COLONIAL
the
colony'
excerpts
rdejs
used the
s
m
deter slavess from joining
hoped
enslaved
that
i=
John
r
LORD DUNMORE' S SLAVES
British. They
and
the
men,
s opinion
that slaves were property can also be seen in the proclamation
he issued in November 1775. The governor
to offer
carefully worded the document
Virginia
Dunmore' s
cruel
length to be discovered
have
down
Norfolk
to
ment to
blacks,
the
at
lamation,
who
he gave great encouragebut, such was his
unfortunate
such
creatures
his
defray
lordship' s
disposed
were
and
expences;
of to
we
he took any dislike to, he delivered
masters,
to be punished. Since
as
that
up to their
the
troops
began
issued
a
march,
their
lord
s
rebels,
to
him, but
rd. A
corn-
burg,
Dunmore
their
upon
allegiance
told they
however,
masters
Some
remained,
but
runaways,
these
return.
were
of
Incident
the Gunpowder
in August of the
run
get off, but such
policy of this cruel man,
Mitchell
described
named
man
him
ROBIN,
as "
likely
a
negro
not only
he keeps these unhappy creatures
against their will, but intends to place them
in the front of the battle,
in
flying,
of
case
from their
ignorance
utter
knows they will do.
An honest negro
barber
of
thought
to
York)
prevent their
which,
Anonymous Remarks
of fire
arms,
titioned
asked
of
he
what
s
war,
VII.
An
establishing a mode of punishment
to America in this colony
enemies
And be it farther
or
ordained,
the
is
arms
deny,
plied
mittee
in
case
possession of an enemy, cannot be transported with convenience to this colony, the
same
shall be disposed of for the
colony,
of such
or
rebels,
returned to the
slaves,
owner
or
few
shall be
for the
sale,
the
or
of such
and
which said
charge
valuation
in
commissioners
certified
to
each
the
made
county
committee
shall thereupon grant their warrant,
directed to the treasurer for payment of the
of such slave as aforesaid.
value
Source: Hening,
ed.,
our rights,
are
they
the
of
rights
Statutes
at Large,
9: 101,
106.
and
freed him before
of people, for
sake
a
this
proclamation seem necesThey have been flattered
lb
as
by
a
are
to
able
Continued
All
baggage,
his Lordship'
were
1776,
moved to
"
his farm
from
s slaves
Dunmore'
at
to
miles
six
domesticks
s
Porto
Bello,
The
King, which
in part:
states
accused
are
of
the
What
owed
words
duct
We
to
the
we
forget?
it. Allegiance
have
has
ever
ever
condemn,
to
our
avowed
been
and
We
King.
it— our
consistent
with
never
arms
Our
con-
with
in
it.
our
taken
and
of Hampton
con-
be sent
Ordered that Colonel [ Patrick] Henry be
at Liberty to give direction to the Keeper
of the public Gaol for the discharge of
James a Mulatto slave belonging to Lord
Palace in early
the colony' s leaders
at the
property that he left
Palace. They decided
property of lord Dunmore,
property seized by him,
their
out the
ing
of this
order
Dunmore.
in this colony, for
the navy, with-
December
or
erty of their
be provoked
Convention."[ See Enslav-
their
slaves
of
masters,
therefore,
He
negroes.
is
a
will
cruel declara-
pretend
&
to
greater
and injured
a
kindness,
and
enough
wicked
and
let them only consider
of effecting their escape, and
if they
must expect to suffer
they
fall into the hand
them
consider
also
of the Americans.
what must
Let
be their fate
If we
should the English prove conquerors.
can judge of the future from the past, it will
be much mended. . . .
not
tempted by this proclamation to
yourselves. I have given you a faithful
of what you are to expect and declare
before GOD, in
your
welfare,
as
doing
well
as
it I have considered
that
of the country.
you will profit by my
cannot tell, but this I know, that
Whether
Mr.
Ruffin
a
resource
which
Rose
[
the
Note: According
"
the Com-
to Ruffin,
the commit-
the said Slave to the West Indies
or Lead
Mines."
That design was frustrated by
the death of Dick " before such Step was
taken."]
advice
I
December 29, 1775
Last Monday night arrived in town, from
Hampton, under a strong guard 33 black
and white prisoners, coupled together,
who were committed to the publick jail.
Sources:
whether
Scribner and Tarter, eds.,
Revolutionary Virginia, 5 ( Charlottesville, Va.:
University Press of Virginia for the Virginia
Independence
Bicentennial
will
Crown
Virginia Gazette( Purdie),
December 29, 1775, supplement
v--N
never
4,%
powers, to
Parlia-
l'
nor
were
end this dispatch.
11,.
entitled.
this I
Commission),
46, 127, 140, 144, 239, 240;
I
1:--
remain
your humble and Obedient Servant.
Richard Henryee
y
Submitted by Frank Magargee]
Source: John E. Selby, A Chronology of
Virginia and the War of Independence,
17631783(
incorrigible
tee of safety " refused to discharge" Dick,
intending as a Terrour to others to send
McAphee]
Freemen
of unconstitutional
neither
another
in the public Jail till further orders.
part with— we oppose the claim and
exercise
claims
desire him to be delivered, he is to remain
1775
hands—
also
mittee cannot consent to his being delivered at present, Er as Mr. Ruffin does not
suffer
or not, if you desert us you most
certainly will.
Virginia Gazette ( Pinckney), November 23,
by
repented
his escape leaving the others at Mulberry
Island, & was soon after taken up on land
brought to this City; Mr. Ruffin thinks
we
Submitted
declared
Be not then, ye
negroes,
ruin
he
found means to make
but as he appears
difficulty
what
as
negro man in the public Jail named Dick,
to
children,
Slave
expedition&
ment.
provoke the fury of the Americans against
their defenceless fathers and mothers, their
the
a
of upon his paying charges of Imprison
mercy of an enraged
But should there be
people.
any amongst the negroes weak enough to
intends to do
believe that lord Dunmore
them
before
claimed
Safety] &
him Sincerely penitent &
wishes to have
him restored, which the Committee
allow
it out of any tenderness to them, but
solely upon his own account; and should
it leaves by far the
it meet with success,
at the
this
of the
make
number
of
negro man named Joe, now in the public
Jail, who with 5 others belonging to himself & father went off in a boat to go to
Lord Dunmore, but before they reached
who
does not
1775
Ruffin [ Jr.] appeared [
Committee
the
to severity, should
part of
desert them. Lord Dunmore's
declaration,
Lion to the
masters
24,
Mr. Edmund
Resource Book, 356- 359]
Virginia
ment
Parliament?
slaves
that no person be allowed to make reprisal on
forgetting we owe
has protected andWith
is it that
allegiances
Allegiance
the
December 1775
of
rest
the
Governor' s
the
at
town."
when
secure
prop-
page 2
from
1775
Ordered, that the Committee of Safety do
cause so many of the Captive Slaves as
they shall think necessary to be emploied
in working in the lead Mines.
left the governor.
14, 1775, Virginia Gazette
women,
the
made
power that
sustained us
..
the
remain
up of myself, James
and Wm. Livingston
in answer to
We
to
promised
do lord Dunmore
infirmed,
still to
from. . .
committee
Wilson,
the
are
The aged,
children,
is freedom
then,
none,
con-
be sent
he
and Catherine Scott did
she
July
s
that "
about
view
whose
of safety,
who
The
to
venture
country and to the
class
upon
A Report
the
aforesaid,
of
us
to their
second
service.
slaves,
by
rob
to
remarks
and
of transportation;
shall be
will
believe,
I
one,
be right,
then
and
have now left the palace, and are gone, bag
wives,
lawful
to
my countrymen, are the dutiful
of society; and the persons who
but to such
owners
paid, by the treasurer of this colony
time being, the full amount of such
value of such slaves,
after deducting
expenses
and
or owners,
Rebellion
so.
opposition
nature.
troops.
of safety may judge most proper.
Provided always, and be it farther ordained,
owner,
us
who
sary, is the negroes.
with their freedom, if they are able to bear
arms, and, will speedily join lord Dunmore' s
ing to an act of assembly for punishing slaves
committing capital offences, as the committee
That the
make
avowed
If this doctrine
rebels
The
dealt with accord-
or otherwise
we,
human
of this
use
They
sounds.
empty
cannot
and
endeavor
use
the
then
rebels,
members
otherwise
apof this colony, as the cornof safety shall judge most proper; and
such slaves, so taken in arms, or in
to the
us
open
up in such a cause as
is not only justifiable,
thing. But let us not be
to take
with
pose. . . .
which no
be disposed of by sale, and the money arising
from such sale to be laid out in the purchase
or
vigor-
proceed
to
authority; but it is usurped and arbitrary
to oppower which we have determined
authority to transport such slave, or slaves, to
any of the foreign West India islands, there to
ammunition,
more
and fear than of
weakness
honourable
an
call
if any
taken in
this
and
rebellion
deceived
colony, or in the possession
of an enemy, through their own choice, the
committee
of safety shall have full power and
of
rebellion
but
That
shall be hereafter
slaves,
against
arms
adopting a
seemed rather
of
spirit
a
this,
for
com-
in this fruitless
not
our
it be
ordinance
for
our
peace and loyalty; and all that we gained
If
was to be more grievously oppressed. . . .
HENING' S STATUTE
1775— ACT
righteousness
that
appear,
long proceeded
so
opposition
ous
Source: Virginia Gazette( Pinkney), November 30, December 9, 1775
slave,
and
from
December
that the
would
case
track that
he ought first to set his
free.
own
hoped
we
our
in the most dutiful
again,
taken
of Hampton
to the publick Gaol in the City of Williamsburg.
Scott
Roger
page 3
from
plaints would be heard and attended to;
to avoid the horrors
of a civil
we wished
setting negroes
free, said, that he did not know any one
foolish enough to believe him, for if he
so,
and
once
manner;
being
when
1776.
at
him,
he
Caesar, the famous
(
of lord Dunmore'
intended intended to do
Continued
engagement,
an
that Dunmore
note
Sarah stated that
in
Palace
the
January
feet 7 inches high,
5
left
Purdie'
however,
to
14,
the Town
noted
the
1775
December
fined
not
very
as he
year. William
Loyalist
that
left Williamsburg,
so
April
in
same
Slaves
to the publick Gaol in the City of Williamsburg.
indicate that three of the goverslaves were evacuated
with the British
claimed
an
way to
that it should
s slaves,
the Town
at
Ordered,
she
intermeddle with.
right to
Entries in the Black
not.
or
from New York in 1783.
their
on
that the
fined
nor' s
Fredericks-
away in 1775. It is possible that Robin
took advantage of the turmoil caused by
to
attempts
is the barbarous
week,
Ordered,
to
Directory
ran
that
several
made
with
negroes,
through
At least five of Dunmore'
labour forced many of them
were
left behind have
their
Those
fly.
to
own
passed
day last
one
smallest
kept
constantly employed in digging entrenchments
in wet ground, till at length the severity
more
correspondent,
a
December 13, 1775
be at
Henry
It is not known if James ran to join Dun-
property of others, but whom neither
he, nor even his august master, have the
immediately
were
they
ma [ ]
by
generous to his own bondmen
wished to be to those who were
the
taking
s slaves
his Berkeley plantation; so
seem
his lordship has not been
first went
at
number
considerable
of his
two
overseer,
prodamation inviting the [ dirty]
as he is pleased to say, to repair to
of
oath of
Woodford'
colonel
under
mand
informed,
are
Colonel [ Patrick]
that
Liberty
late proclamation for emancipating such
repair to his standard,
slaves
as should
others,
for— there are 14 in Confinement.
give direction to the Keeper of
the public Gaol for the discharge of James a
Mulatto slave belonging to Lord Dunmore."
An entry
12, 1776, issue of the
his Berkeley County plantation did not
know about the proclamation:
NOTWITHSTANDING
lord Dunmore' s
it is confidently
said, he sent to the West Indies, where these
as our
Gaol [ Hampton] is at present very insufficient; We therefore wish they may be sent
1775 John Pendleton" Or-
In December
dered
at
of them,
some
secured, are become too numerous
ran
of Dunmore' s plantations.
Regiment."
in Purdie' s January
Virginia Gazette noted that Dunmore'
first went
lordship
an
osnabrug shirt,
blue jacket, and says
away from the palace at Williamsburg." The account of Robin' s clothing indicates that he worked in the fields at one
Dunmore'
his " Ethiopian
join
a consider-
negroes,
unwary
baseness,
his
When
number.
by
from him to
deserted
lately
able
begins
policy
on
a
he
Under the terms of the procs own slaves could not
bodied.
able
Lord
has
and
slender
freedom only to those slaves who belonged
to his political opponents
and who were
Book
Resource
made,
blue breeches,
Dunmore'
masters
Enslaving
December 4, 1775
The Negroes we have divers quarters
found going over to the Governor and
women,
read the paper, when
they read the paper themselves, and when
shared the details with other slaves.
slaves
their
GAOL
newspaperto
that
when
THE PUBLIC
-
j°
that
would hear about the poor treatslaves
received from Dunmore
children
ment
from
Gazette
t
r." :
indicate
Virginia
s
SLAVES AT
i , ),
DISCOURAGE SLAVES
Pinkney'
ANDA
BROTHER?
LEADERS
USE THE PRESS TO
The following
NEWS
Charlottesville: University Press of
Virginia,
1973), 17- 25.
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NEWS
I intend
leave
to
WILLIAMSBURG
fall of 1775, the
the
By
of
drumbeat
Continued
Newsline
June 8: Although
and Great Britain
page 1
from
be
to
appearing
of apologizing to the Assembly for
the spring- gun incident, Dunmore slips
verge
of town with his
out
and
boards
H.M. S.
Dunmore's flight
ginians,
Josiah Martin's
June
North'
s
French
and
Indian
colonial
strengthen
names
unanimously
nental Army. He
renown
the next
1, 000
casualties.
under
siege
one
Accosted by armed men at the college
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg: June 1775
Robert
suffer
British
1740
ca.
college
College;
College of William
chaplain,
Assembly
Received
24,
May
Dunmore
while
board ship
July
July
17- August
Regiment,
attack
the
Williamsburg,
Convention
Church,
again
his recent
Convention
establishes
11-
an
commit
member
enough
of safety to act as an executive body
between sessions under the chairmantee
ship of Edmund
Boston
and to send 20, 000
by
s
owners
Lord
rejects
proposal.
conciliatory
loyal
on
to
subjects
help
Hurricane
who
feat
several
s
hundred
Otter
John Holt. Dunmore
to
his
publish
own
Place
quorum until March
October 23:
for lack
at
Peyton
dins
I
a
A
Yaio
.
troops
of
House of Lords
dies
a
by
by
mons
pacification.
the
r
a,
October 12- 21: In
a
of
series
t-•'-
information from loyalists,
British
14th Regiment
stroymore
the
rebels
than
70
capture
J.
F
x
a
cannon
the
Virginians
barely
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October 19, the British sally out again
in the vicinity of Norfolk, conducting
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.
tip.
by
12, Captain Samuel Leslie leads a sortie
P
into the country near Norfolk and five
days later dashes to Kemp' s Landing,
where
gv
s
of the
hidden
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r
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A
T
I
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f
of 278 to 108.
a vote
Septem-
ber 1775
BIR-
NE. W
r
5, e
1
of 69 to 29, the House of Com
a vote
ing Virginia loyalist
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg:
q
i
I
in
in
forces
sea
supports
general
Brother of Speaker Peyton Randolph; lead-
England
g
Q _
n
1u
c
will be dispatched
colonies'
1727
Based on Kevin Kelly, " White Loyalists
r
N7.>
o0 --
i1
i
I
of Lords, King George III declares
the American colonies in rebellion and
the
Worchester,
ca.
Occupation: Barrister; attorney
and judge, vice admiralty court
I
i "°
House
secure
Date of Birth:
around
"
1M
and
Place of Birth: Virginia
in-
by
encamped
companies
r
Co.
Randolph
land
court- martial
graphics by Todd D. Norris)
J•
a-,,.
I.
that
August/
1775
John Randolph
Gazette; sub-
of Birth: 1724
it
1..
26: AddressingParliament
pledges
Virginia/ Williamsburg:
September
Virginia
mock
a
if
a"
Philadelphia.
October
Departed
general
l
1776.
1,
to
in
S.
H. M.
then uses the press
Gazette until spring.
adjourns
Son of George Pitt
Arrived in Virginia/ Williamsburg: 1744
of Williamsburg,"
Colonial Williamsburg
er
Occupation: Surgeon/ apothecary; kee Pj
Inte
reter [ Summer 1996 , submitted
P
of the public Magazine; muster master
by Nancy Milton and Phil Shultz, with
of
attendance,
loyalist
a
of Birth:
Date
armyde-
1
October 12: General Assembly meets i n Wil
liamsburg but, with only 37 members
in
Virginia
Date of Birth: November 15, 1754
George Pitt
about
5.• s„ urli
press of Norfolk printer
the
seizes
from
men
Floyd Pitt
Place of Birth:
in early September 1775
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg: After September 9, 1775
Landing.
I
cease
of the Association of
of
August 1775
rages from
September 1: Exports to Great Britain
September 30: Squad
Sep-
rebels
Hardcastle
dependent
against the
militiamen
nextyear
Refused to give key to the Magazine to the
Richard
jected
desert
king;
for
cut firewood and cart to town;
1751
Williamsburg
willing
overseers
re
Occupation: Unknown
declaring
rebellion
build
Arrived in Virginia/ Williamsburg: By 1770
Virginia Gazette prints
in
are
beeves;
ditch fields, grub, and fence
of Birth: Unknown
Date
from
to
Hire
tember);
Place of Birth: Unknown
and drive off the
slaves
and
for cattle; sell mutton,
s
Other:
Virginia/ Williamsburg:
Joshua
long
North Carolina to Newfoundland.
terms
burn
ves-
November 15: Dunmore and his
suppress
Kemp'
the
Departed
them
hogs
hogs, and
g
steers; butcher hogs ( December
g December)
Virginia
to
Fatten
shelter
Occupation: private secretary to his father,
Richard Corbin Sr., receiver general
Nearly tarred and feathered before leaving
800 enslaved persons in Virginia accept
the offer in late 1775 and 1776.
insurrection.
August29- September2:
to
in Auditor General'
auditor
Date of birth:
Named
s
Livestock:
Place of birth: Virginia
of
reinforcements
arrive
deputy
Captain
sunken
Crown and to fight for the
23: King George III proclaims the
American colonies
in rebellion and
the
to
fers freedom
and
wheat
apple seed
Richard Corbin, Jr.
November 12: Dunmore' s Proclamation of-
August
calls
allow
of
George' s proclamation
the colonies
in rebellion.
spring.
North'
into
success
King
America
to
July 31: Continental Congress
the
delays
town
10: Purdie'
November
immediately
regulars
to
sow
cart
Orchard: Make cider and peach brandy
1775
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg: June 1775
( Willliamsbur
Willliamsburg), August 1776 ( Virginia)
g
attackers.
July 26: British Cabinet meets at 10 Downing Street and decides to dispatch 2, 000
to
A barricade
Williamsburg
Pendleton.
reinforcements
by
ships
the
being
Office
Wood-
to
sends
before
sels
clean;
wheat;
cart cider and brandy to town; gather
apples and grapes; plant grapes and sow
more;
Norfolk.
on
Dunmore
raids,
Hampton.
and
winter
grams
and a revenue officer
June
thresh,
in
Vegetables: Gather peas and beans; dig potatoes, carrots, and turnips; pull pumpkins
Arrived in Virginia/ Williamsburg:
1763
Occupation: Private secretary to Lord Dun-
Henry' s First
of Henry' s
Squire with five
Matthew
provides for the annual election of its
delegates and local county committees
and
because
October 25- 27: Encouraged
St. John's
at
The
of Patrick
largely
ford for the assault
Virginias
thirda
meets
Richmond.
Regiment
Regiment and assigned
First
26: Fearing Dunmore would
for fodder;
and straw to town; plow and sow other
of
Date of Birth: ca. 1745
Se P tem-
military inexperience. Gradually most
of Henry' s troops are detached from the
in Cambridge.
arrives
Virginia
instead
action
on
up quarters
Norfolk.
near
Washington
2:
takes
Second
blades
Place of Birth: Scotland
in Virginia/ Williamsburg:
ford' s
and
James Menzies
October.
29: Lady Dunmore
and her children
sail to England aboard the Magdalen
and insults for
threats
tops
Tread,
harrow
Com-
of the port
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg:
Occupation: Royal governor
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg: June 1775
(
Williamsburg), August 1776 ( Virginia)
June
daily
outspoken
ber 1771
until
of Williamsburg
comptroller
Wheat:
Williamsburg
remain
adjourns
member
Council;
mon
Gather
cart to town; gather and husk; clear
new fields; plow fields for next year
Arrived in Virginia/ Williamsburg:
1749
Occupation: Merchant; treasurer of the
Arrived
than
more
troops
Corn:
Miller
Place of Birth: Scotland
Date of Birth: 1730
in Boston.
General
like the
John Murray, Fourth Earl of Dunmore
Place of Birth: Scotland
victory, although
24:
Mary; private
listed
and Mary
Departed Virginia/ Williamsburg:
1775
day.
Tobacco: Worm, sucker, top, cut and hang;
strike and strip at night; tie in hand at
night; pack and prize; hoe hills for next
year and sow seed
and
Date of Birth: ca. 1730
and
and
War
British
General Howe' s forces
College of William
tutor
ones
Arrived in Virginia/ Williamsburg:
1770
Occupation: Professor of moral philosophy
Hill is fought and
June
Occupation: Professor of natural philosophy and language,
more
the
advertisements
AUTUMN FARMING
January
Date of Birth:
unity, Congress
George Washing-
accepts
in Virginia/ Williamsburg:
1770
Samuel Henley
Lord
June 17: Battle of Bunker
a
Arrived
in the Virginia Gazette.
above
Gwatkin
Date of Birth: 1741
in chief of the Conti-
commander
proclaimed
Crown,
the
IN 1775
Place of Birth: England
rejects
military
to
MONEY
Place of Birth: Hereford County, England
residents
some
loyalists ( induding
posted
shown
from
proposal.
of his
had caused
allegiance
more
below)
indications
as
Assembly
conciliatory
the
ton
and
Vr-
alarms
departure
recent
General
June 15: Because
to
their
British invasion is imminent.
a
10:
in
and
North Carolina,
New Bern,
A. M.
Yorktown.
at
Fowey
angers
2
about
Virginia
security of the mother country. Whether the
reasons
were for their own safety or to main-
interpret it and Governor
who
that
family
Thomas
increasing
of the colony to remove themselves from the
hostile environment of Williamsburg to the
the
on
ever-
1775.
HARDCASTLE.
LOYALISTS
between
discontent
9,
Colony
the
jO=HUA
r....
SIP.
I4w>lsoao,
mfIF• 23
2
Tra1E
of
1,
4-
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4MERIGf.
L
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6
Autumn
Al
r
t.
j
s.
INTERPRETATION
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i
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INTERPRETATION
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4
2005
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4; ,
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This page has been developed to suginterpretive
some
gest
The
consider.
ideas
interpretive
opportunities
the
and tension
conflict
for
of 1775
autumn
for
to
v
4
create
Will We Ever See This Again?
s'r
Fall 2005
in this community as the thirteen colonies
became more embroiledin the economic
Companies
Consequences
of impending
time
and
conflict
moved
we
helpful.
this
to
consider
for
with Great Britain.
colonies
The removal
more helpful to you.
Frank Megargee, Kathleen
Today
by
Willis]
by
Life in
Named
and Chief of Continental
Army
Affect of the Association
on Family Life
Concern for Future of Personal Safety and
Economic Well Being
September Hurricane
Enlistments
Destruction
of Family
for Vir-
Members
ginia
of Military Action and Conditions in
the Camps
Fears
egates
from Williamsburg
Political Choices and Consequences
crimination
Substantial Military Presence
Patrick Henry
with
in Town
no
Proclaims Martial Law
Dunmore'
s
and
Proclamation
surprise,
great
in chief of Vir-
commander
ginia forces and colonel of the First Virginia
Regiment. In the fall, Virginia delegates,
replaced
George Washington
command
other
had
who
he took
when
forces, and
of the Continental
from the 12
delegates
colonies
again
tradesmen,
mid-
in Philadelphia.
convene
dhing
Jefferson,
Thomas
including
families,
yeoman farmers,
Americans all were af-
and Unrest
events
accelerating
September through November
of
Dur-
1775.
fall, Lord Dunmore and his follow-
the
raided up and down
the
of
waterways
life in the drama
to
and social
of the American
time,
life,
into
the
homes,
ems,
Declaring The Colonies In Rebellion
is
are
in trade
woven
tav-
shops,
wor-
ship, and government buildings.
Military
tured
of African
contributions
Revolution
in the American
icans
Columbus
during
Brothers- in- Arms. The
fea-
Weekend'
Day
week
first
s
of No-
step back to 1774 to bring the
and Virginia
to the first congress
vember,
we
delegates
to the city for The Revolution
Comes Home. Veterans' Day weekend will
merchants
include
the
out
town.
In
third
the
week
patriots are outraged
Dunmore' s Proclamation
offers
vember,
of NoLord
when
freedom to
belonging
servants
masters.
These
in
few
a
examples
and
extraordinary
during
Williamsburg
1775. All will
Mines?
Concern
With
and
engage
of
everyfall of
the
challenge
our
guests to compare and contrast this place
and period in history with their own.
Autumn 1775
Longer
1I••••••
in the
in
I
•
in
Companies
•
UII
with
Town
Patrick Henry's Presence
Marching Up and Down the Streets
Forming of the First and Second Regiments at College
Camp[ 1, 100 To 1, 200
Men
What Opportunities Were There For Slaves
In This Conflict?
Concern
For Protection
Dunmore
And Safety Of
Family Members
Is My Master A Loyalist Or Patriot?
What Opportunities Were There For Slaves
lb Get News?
Actions Of The Committees Of Safety
Activities
News
Of The Slave Patrol
Of Dunmore' s Proclamation
Slaves' Reactions To The Proclamation
To Run Or Stay?
Challenges And Consequences For Family
Members
How Can I Get lb Norfolk?
Dunmore's
Demands
From
Slaves
Who
Bear Arms
Consequences If Captured On The Way lb
Of Slaves
1
•••••••
•
Imprisoned
Or Sent To The
Affect Of The Association
uring
On Trade Pro
n
Securing Raw Materials
•
Demand
For More Finished
Goods
Smuggling
Actions Of The Committees Of Safety
•
MIMI
Demands
•
Of The Troops
And War On Cer-
tain Trades
Filling The Needs Of The Troops
Wartime Opportunities For Trades
Culpeper Rifle Battalion Arrives in Town
Being Fortified
Committee Committee of Safety Actions Against
Interpreters
Trades
Men]
Magazine
American
Lead Mines?
Wil-
liamsburg
Independent
And
How Do Slaves Define Freedom?
Fate
111111•••••
Interpreters
is No
Peace
Recruiting Troops And Purchasing Supplies
in the Look and Feel of the Town
Governor
Maintaining
Order In The Colony
Future Fate Of Slaves In Norfolk
Community
A Royal
Of Rebel Masters
Difficult Decisions:
just
are
both
events—
day—
and
apprentices,
rebel
to
dom To Slaves
through-
encampments
military
Declares Martial Law
Dunmore' s Proclamation Offering Free-
African
Amerare
Dunmore
Slaves Deserting Masters: Gaol Or Lead
same
quarters, places of
slave
Reaction To King George's Proclamation
work, slavery,
and leisure
experiences
Dunmore's Actions In Hampton
to
political,
At the
day- to- day
religion,
so
in the midst
change
Revolution.
of
aspects
family
of
Dunmore' s Raids Along The Rivers
Norfolk
II
Destructive Force of the Hurricane
mounting conflict in the East.
The
community of Williamsburg
economic,
women,
gentry, and Native
fected by the rapidly
importance
could be applied
resources
of
Fears
Randolph' s
But Adjourns For Lack Of Quorum
frontier
to
conclusion
of the utmost
was
slaves,
Americans,
ers
Randolph' s Death
Orientation
as
ing
Dunmore
Slave Runaways
came
Henry
African
and Dis-
Authority
s
This
already apparent. During their
the delmeeting in Richmond,
to the Virginia Convention elected
Patrick
Dunmore' s Absence
Committee of Safety'
proclaimed
war was
summer
now
Regiments
of August, King
that subjects
of his
English- speaking provinces of the North
were
mainland
American
in a state of
for
Commander
of
Committee
third week
the
rebellion.
British Continues
the
Washington
In
George III
Stresses in Family and Community
the Autumn of 1775
fled the palace in
the reins of government
family
June, abandoning
to the hands of the Virginia
Safety.
Interpreters
Siege of Boston
and his
Dunmore
peaceful
limited
brought
School and Groups
Change
unrest
that
angered many. The governor' s offer to pay
for the powder did little to appease them.
this
make
Peyton
General Assembly Meets October 12, 1775
negotiations
continued with limited
nations
A
success.
feature of Becom-
areas.
Williams and Anne
Peyton
Since the spring, events bode
of North American
reconciliation
with Indian
the
Americans
Submitted
George
ber of 1775.
Roads. Meanwhile,
Hampton
of gunpowder from the Magazine
by the
royal governor Lord Dunmore shocked and
to
suggestions
topics
critical
We hope you find
Please contact us with your
interpretive
under
ing
organized
life
to
of September, October and Novem-
events
ill
to Revolution.
closer
have
We
brings
Williamsburg
sacrifice?
Consider the power of the times that radically changed the lives of all Americans as
Of
Death?
look and feel in this
of Virginia
With
1, 200 Men
armed c
conflict wilthh Britain. How did
capital
Town
Seizure Of The Norfolk Gazette Press By
andunmore
Fall 1775- The Sword is Drawn
the
in
Patrick Henry
Regiments At College Camp With 1, 100 Tb
`
evident
was
Independent
`
t
a -
many
us
that
f
to
you
offers
M
Was
ill
Problems Getting Labor
Concern
In
Over Slaves Leaving From Dun
more' s Offer For Freedom
Declares Martial Law
Dunmore' s Proclamation
Site Interpreters
Domestic
Changes
in
Life
Daily
For
Families
MENNEMME•
and
N
Citizen's Eco-
on
Across
Well Being
Who is in Charge Now?
nomic
Life
Changing
Patriot
Family
or
Loyalist?
And Enlistments of Hus-
Members
bands, Sons and Fathers
Concern
Of
Fears
Over Length
Conditions
of Enlistments
in
About
for Families
Anxiety About Slaves and
Concern Over
Complicated
vs
Virginia
and
With
14 Second
22 First
s
Actions
of P
in
Troops
the
Public Site Interpreters
Continental
Congress
Meeting in Philadelphia
Who is in Charge Now?
Conflict of Patriots
Who
What
reinforcements
the
and Loyalist
Continuation
i
E I
in the Town
of Interpretive
s
Proclamation
makes this
virtually
Suggestions
where
the
there
freedom
for
slaves
of
these
an
excellent
occasion
corpse
Christ
at
solemnity
ful
proclaims
Oct. 24, 1775)
of
Church,
sermon
on
the
mourn
carried to the burial
was
and deposited
in
a
till it
vault
as shadow
4 Editor of
on
8 Dunmore'
to
of
con-
s slaves
on
could
not
for peace
pleas
from
Williamsburg
join this
after
there
regiment
gunpowder
13 Supports
King' s
of
actions against
western
18 Plagues soldiers in
g
19 Editor of on of the
20 Murrays find
21 Under
the
siege this
Virginia Gazettes
three
refuge
America
army
field
on
board
summer
it
was
interred
the
request
of
his
beneath
Chapel
the
Aunt
uncle
and
able
to
counselor
whom
and
he
one
was
father,
of their firmest
patriots."
Viir 91 nia
Purdt ]
Gazette[ Purdie], November
Submitted
by Nancy
Rowe,
Magargee,
Nancy Milton,
Phil Shultz,
Lorena Walsh, Bill Weldon,
Kathleen Williams, Pete Wrike
Production:
at the
a
Frank
Rose McAphee,
There
College of William and Mary. "Every spec
tator payd their last tribute of tears to the
memory of their departed and much honored friend . . .
Bob Doares,
Linda
at
Peyton'
Virginia Gazettes
three
1776
Contributors:
ground
be
can
Betty, Edmund Randolph escorted his
s body back to Williamsburg.
governments
the
march
i i This leader
In
landing
Anne Willis
after which,
preached . . .
was
Editors:
Margot Crevieaux- Gevertz
nental Congress)
s
Department
Philadelphia,
this
Burwell'
seamen to
is a publication of the
of Interpretive Training
veyed to Virginia." ( Journals of the Conti-
1 Locke philosopher
Becoming AMERICANS TODAY
The funeral was conducted with great
of Revolution
15 Commander
New Political Alliances?
MilitaryPresence
Boston
to
as
Warren,
stolen
Can Be Trusted?
are
in Norfolk
seizes this
shots
5 Volunteers
Second
for slavery
of Congress
professor
25 Mr. Speaker dies
3 Serve
of
justifications
impossible
2 Brings
Town
Effect
4
i
Death Continued from page 1
any here— the Loss must be very
great to Virginia in Particular and the Continent in general." ( John Adams to James
Down
y
of
Peyton Randolph
here
Patriot
President
26 Dunmore
Sl aves
of Slav
Presence
meets
24 Loyalist
Rivers
Dunmore'
Convention
10 In sort supply
12 Helps discredit
23 Dunmore'
Safety
ry
Supeision
9 Second
17 Sends
Camps
the
British Ships in Virginia
Increased
wind
7 Prodigious
16 Dunmore
Presence of Disease
Concern
1,
6 Halts trade with Britain
of the Committee of Safety Actions
Decisions
of Commitment:
Fear
',
4
I
Individuals
Affect of the Association
I~
N.
®••
29, 1776
Milton]
Print Production Services,
Copy editor
Diana Freedman, Production artist
m 2005 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
All rights reserved.
All images are property of
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,
unless otherwise noted.
j
�
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Becoming Americans Today
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<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 6, Autumn, 2005
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Autumn, 1775
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1
Volume 4 No. 7
November
1, 2005
November 1774
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPER
4
a..,
—
k,'`
i..:
See page 2
E
r-...
44.
fitl
A
7-
01
O.
Autumn
or
AkiSIIS
0 DAY
A
1 FOR
COLONIAL
jr,
WILLIAMSBURG
See page 2
1774
a
nI
1 I `
Virginia
Convention
Williamsburg. Newly
former
of
members
Burgesses
elected
and
of
House
the
II
and
slaves
and
1774,
the
i • ; T,•
tlm
First
I CIOj
1`
association called for " an end of the
importation of tea and other East India
goods
and
spices."
Con-
gress, which convened in Philadelphia
i
on September 5, 1774. The congress
strengthened
the Virginia resolution
11
f
Ili
Congress
saltpeter
decisions of the first Continental
of all
August
after
except
These ideas heavily influenced the final
5- October 26, 1774
Continental
Wk.
e' •,-
toy
um
10, 1775.
September
f
i
w
May 27, 1774, by the 89 members of
the dissolved House of Burgesses; the
r, ` ,
7;'.
November
after
exportation
r
m
goods to Great Britain
i` ' , '
i
by drafting an association forbidding the importation of British
1,
1,, /'
S
Intolerable
the
protest
in
meets
Acts
goods
protest against Britain's actions. The
Virginia delegation carried with it the
outline of the association adopted on
3=
August 1- 6, 1774
First
During the first Continental Congress,
the colonies acted together in powerful
S l In e
J` J
meets
by adding saltpeter and medicines to
the list, thereby stopping the imporration of all British goods, including
7
in Philadelphia.
slaves, by December 1, 1774.
Peyton Randolph is elected president.
Delegates
from
Lee,
Henry
Patrick
Virginia:
George
Washington,
Richard
Henry,
Harrison,
Benjamin
Richard
Bland,
Edmund
and
Pendleton.
1774
October
erected
Pole
in
Williamsburg.
October
Court
for
cancelled
the
10, 1774
Col.
Andrew
Augusta
the
Shawnee
In-
Chief
under
Cornstalk
in
of Point Pleasant
Battle
mouth
of
Lewis
defeats
County
dians
of the Great
at the
Kanawha.
Chief
of Camp
Charlotte
War.
mores
Terms
Lord Dunmore
in
claims
accedes
ending Dunnegotiated by
Virginia' s
recognize
the
Neat Y
to
Upper
Ohio
do
arrive in
not
Dunmore'
s
Williamsburg,
because
convene
of
absence.
town
Tea
into
chests
York
the
in
Some
their
be published;
Williamsburg
tinental
Day
a
Proceedings
whole
of the Publick,
entered
into
by
that
august
Association
in
Memorial
nies,
to
Inhabitants
the
laid before
are
We his majesty'
of the Colo
our
Allegiances to his
afflicted
and most
with the deepest
alarming
from
River
by
John
John
the
Prentis' s
and
and
delegates
at the
We will, in our several stations, encour
age frugality, economy, and industry,
and
and promote agriculture, arts, and the
therein,
dis
manufactures
of this
it
to
which
his
civil
Hostility
Principles,
against
Colonies, whenever
the
free
a wicked
qualified to vote for the representatives
in the legislature, whose business it shall
of His Majestys Subjects
we
are
of the
and Non-
Con-
be to attentively to observe the conduct
Opinion
of allpersons touching the association.
exportation
Agreement,
faithfully
[
Journal of the Continental Congress, Vol. 1]
adhered to will prove the most speedy, effectual, and peaceable Measure.
Signed PEYTON RANDOLPH,
Williamsburg' s
President
Virginia Gazette, November
3, 1774
Purdie)]
Meetingof Merchants
ovembMSBURG,
November 10
ilh
I -
Milk
4__ • -
1
This
the
chants
at
present
in this City, supI
t%
_ ' ';
posed to be between
i
4
and
commit-
w
f
A
,,
r=
c
H`
able
waited
Honour-
PEYTON
RAN-
DOLPH, Esq., and the rest of the Delegates
f'
+
500,
the
upon
of safety.
of this Colony assembled at the Capital, and
VIRGINIA
fil
4011
TODAY
1
SNAPSHOT
i
"'
1
f
j,
f
y1:,
r
y
y
t,
our Conduct has received the Approba-
tion of your respectable Body, and you
may be assured we shall on all Occasions
endeavour to move on the firm Principles
of Justice and the Constitution. The
1
Y4y =•. 1
i
been
Tea
or
Ireland
Inhabitants
informed
manded
by
Half
Slaves
of
that
Howard
York
the
after
having
Virginia,
Esten, had
on
corn-
Board
of Tea, shipped byJohn
PP
Norton, Esq; and Sons, Merchants in London, by Order of Mess[ res].
Prentis and
two
Chests
Company,
Imported
P
Advantage this Country will receive from
your union with them, and they consider
TEA DUMPED AT YOTOWN
The
East India
To which they
9
delegates are verysensible ofthe great
What will YOU do without?
of Great
ADDRESS. . . .
It gives us great Satisfaction to find that
">
i'
and Wares
an
Gentlemen
,
NO IMPORTATION!
Goods
presented
received the following ANSWER:
q
The Continental
Association Takes Effect
December 1, 1774
Britain
afternoon
whole Body of Mer-
ii_
i
25, 1774
James James CityCountyelects
tee
and discourage
K
That a committee be chosen in every
that a Non- importation, Non- consumption,
itol.
November
and
country . . .
we will discountenance
i
s
Cap-
*
other
congressional
wholly discontinue the slave trade.
establishingan
1763, evidently calculated for enslaving
present
Randolph
any slave imported after the 1st day of
sapation, especially like horse racing, all
kinds of gaming, cockfighting—
with
and Property
in North America:
Colony Administration, adopted
by the British Ministry about the Year
Con-
Peyton
We will neither import nor purchase
every species of extravagance and dis-
of
ernes,
System of
M0
ercha
December next; after which time we will
which threaten Destruction to the Lives, Lib
at those
anent, that the present unhappy Situation
our
Affairs is occasioned by a ruinous
wilt
or
oure
county, city, and town by those who are
obtain Redress
else
whole
*
Ministry shall choose to direct them.
of
gather
the
sign
of the
the State
the
western
wares,
and
Protestant
Anxiety
Apprehensions
the
on
goods,
Prejudices, to dispose the Inhabit-
to act
ants
avowing
Affection and Regard for
Government
influence
the
ancient
dutiful and loyal
our
Fellow Subjects in Great Britain and
where,
by
most
border
to
as
any
day, import any east India tea from any
couraging the settlement of British Subjects in that wide- extended Country, thus,
them. . . .
s
so
arbitrary
Address to the People of Great Britain, and
Deliberation
merchants
to
Quebec,
Frontier of these Colonies,
import
part of the world.
Bay, and
also an Act for extending the Province of
will
Body
in
lha1
and illegal Trial beyond
a new
not
as shall have been exported from Great
Britain or Ireland. Nor will we, after that
of Boston and the Massachusetts
Behalf of all North America, with their
the
Subjects,
American
De-
1sto daym ofrin
will
any such goods, wares, or merchandise
have been
in America,
several late, cruel, and oppressive
Acts, have been passed respecting the Tbwn
Associa-
the
Revenge
the
after
we
h
e,
disc whatsoever, or from any other place,
Seas . . .
two, soon
or
half-
Williamsburg.
400- 500
directing
was
two
of London,
to
this
and in the Meanwhile, for
satisfaction
9, 1774
November
in
headed
was
from
York-
Shipped
and Sons
Norton
delegates
the
a
and
next,
S OCIATION
British America from Great Britain or
Ireland
by Jury, exposing their Lives to Danger, by
Majesty' s American subjects are oppressed,
and having taken under our most serious
throw
deck of Virginia.
of
Esq.;
r
Sys
many Instances, of the constitutional '
of
Irate
Party."
citizens
BLAND
Gentlemen left Philadelphia
Grievances and Distresses with
7, 1774
Yorktown "
RICHARD
of which
Acts of Parliament
various
passed for raising
for depriving
the
Chairman
HARRISON,
break up in
to
which
after
Majesty,
1774
Burgesses
store
expected
River
Valle .
Y
Colonel
Esq.;
tern,
Honour-
the
24th of October, and the Congress
the
Subjects...
November
but
with
Berkeley, two
Colony. These
Lion
Cornstalk
Congress,
BENJAMIN
the
October 19, 1774
tea
thereof,
and
October
General
Empire: In the Prosecution
arrived in Town,
Sunday Morning
the
ThatThat from
A
ADOPTS
CONTINENTAL
Colonies, and with them the British
these
PEYTON RANDOLPH
able
fall.
the
Last
from
10, 1774
General
November 3
Williamsburg,
Liberty
CONGRESS
THE REVOLUTION
C OME S FlOME !
Merchants in
sembled
at
went
Board the
on
waited
of the
some
10
o'
Clock
Williamsburg,
this Morning,
as-
and
had taken this Matter under Consideration.
A Messenger
inquire for
a
was
the
sent
Letter from the
returningwithout
hoisted
then
one,
on
Shore to
Meeting;
but
theythem
immediately
Tea out of the Hold and threw
it into the River, and then returned
Shore without
doing Damage
or any other Part of her Cargo.
to the
to the
Ship
theyRevolutionaryVirginia: The Road to Ind en
9
Time for the Determination
dense, Vol. II: The Communities and the Second
Meeting
same
Ship,
P
where
of several Members
House of Burgesses
in
Williamsburg,
of the
who
it
Convention, 1773- 1775( Charlottesville:
Uni-
versity Press of Virginia,
164.
1975),
as
very
ga
ng
Interest,
meritorious
that
you, disre-
the influence ofyour commercial
with
generously concurredwth
in the the g
great
for Liberty.
Strugglely
Such Unanimity, we trust, will convince
an inimical Administration of the Im-
prudence of their Measures, and produce
Effects so salutary as to make us reflect
with Pleasure on the Part we have taken
i
in
the Support of American Freedom.
Virginia Gazette, November 10, 1774
Purdie&
Dixon)]
�2
Summer and Autumn 1781
MONEY
FORUM
t
tI:
It N . .
4 \.
I,
- . \; ,
Ii
L.
I •,
SHIPPING
I
The majority of items exported are tobacco, grains( corn and wheat), and lumber
and shingles)
staves
g1 ) in the colonial coastal
and
trade
bean,
Virginia' s
trade. The
are
more
and
the
coastal
ners
that
Yr
I
that
are
a
t_
i _ ,
t ?
I'
T \\
schoo
worn
Ot
I R
I
1.
T
c
``
it°.„'
U
I
ginia tobacco
October: Wheat from Virginia is exported
k
t
s'
gos exported
R, " -`
southern
royal
mittees of safety of inspection, of merchants,
T
l'
to
Whatever
mittees of different sizes and names-- com-
to
4
tempers.
called for new political organizations. Com-
r
'
I
s.;,,,,
car-
their
meetings that sometimes attracted thousands
of aroused colonists endorsed resolutions and
I
t
r',
for grain
Europe
market
out
governments from the bottom up. Mass
West Indies
October—
June: Prime
principles, but repeated ex-
fury, attempted to put together new popular
yam
c / ,`
October: Convoyof
imported
P
goods arrives in Virginia from Britain
and later returns to Britain with Vir
1•,\`
71
I . ' ' /+
I
September—
p
the
`
provoked
Many local communities, with a freedom
they had not had since the seventeenth cen-
I
M
1774
authority was left in the colonies dissolved.
o;,
K,"".`
of
pressions of English arrogance had finally
4
,-
A
usually carry less than 100 tons.
VIRGINIA' S TRADE
CALENDAR
the Americans'
T1CI
p
ti_
tiw,'. ,
Acts
abuses of the English government aroused
r
Y _ '
j
carry
for
_
Coercive
open rebellion in America. Not only had the
y
1
rfl
carriers
and Caribbean trade
The
p"
Wine Islands
and brigs
generallyships
P
g
than
150 tons, whereas
INDEPENDENCE
4%. ,
for the transatlantic trade
carriers
APPROACH TO
l l i.
r
Carib-
transatlantic,
Mediterranean,
t
r
7
y
G:: 1. i ,,
z;
n
n,
t
of mechanics— competed with one another
I
for political control. In the various colonies
royal government was displayed in a variety
-,
tt
tr t.
p
Y'
of ways, depending
t
r
t
on how extensive and
personal previous royal authority had been.
Number of Ships entering the Lower Chesa-
In Massachusetts,
where the crown' s author-
r
40
vember
Number
sty
Ships cleared
of
from
ity had reached into the villages and towns
through the royally appointed justices of the
wtc
Q
v•
Lower
the
peace, the displacement was greater than in
Virginia, where royal influence had scarcely
Chesapeake: September, 20; October, 40;
P
November, 28
ntouched the control of the counties by the
TRANSPORTED
1765-
of the members of
biographies
following
Virginia' s delegation
to the
first Continental
180 Slaves [ 71 from Africa]
Congress,
1766:
445 Slaves [ 425 from Africa]
to
1767:
155 Slaves [ 87 not identified]
1768:
311 Slaves [ 207 from Africa,
through 1774. It is interesting to
of the delegation were
members
90 not identified]
held in Philadelphia September 5
October 26, 1774, describe
Virginia' s gentry and
their
note
lives up
that all
of
members
slaveholders.
1769:
363 Slaves [ 324 from Africa]
1770:
740 Slaves [ 691 from Africa]
RICHARD BLAND ( 1710- 1776)
Place of Birth: Williamsburg
Education: College of William and
1771:
738 Slaves [ 0 from Africa]
1, 761 Slaves [ 1, 560 from Africa]
1773:
57 Slaves [ 52 not identified]
Qualified for
1774:
36 Slaves [ 0 from Africa]
Recognized
1775:
13 Slaves [ 0 from Africa]
AND THE
bar in 1746
the
as
Mary
an
authority
ber of factors
propose
sure,
which
led colonial
the
abolishing
about
concerns
widespread
belief
liberty
constitu-
num-
to
lb be
and
institution
the
in
was
collapse
corn-
emerging ideals
offered to chattel
that
challenge
rights
slavery to raise serious doubts about its future.
Yet, as W. E. B. Du Bois argued in 1896, the
most
immediate
ning
further
issue
of
imports
business- minded British
the
bargaining
ment
not
was
iniquitous
once
government
Du Bois
traffic;"
against
an
although
wrote, "
it undoubtedly had a strong
it was primarily a temporary
The leaders of the Virginia
to
The move-
again. "
great moral protest
a
force
might
slaves
the
table
fact that ban-
the
was
moral
were
resistance
particularly prominent in pushing the end to
the slave trade, resolving in August of 1774
We will
that "
neither
slave
purchase any
were
Continental
against
sures
1774,
first
responded
a
body' s
Richard
Continental
declaration
mea-
Henry
on
October 12
Day
of December next;
after
will wholly discontinue the
Slave llade, and will neither be concerned
which Tune,
in it
nor
we
ourselves,
sell
those
our
who
nor
are
the
agreement,
appears
the
citizens
we
rest
of the
beginning.
or
of the
to
hire
our
Vessels,
Manufactures to
in it." This dause,
concerned
along with
the
will
Commodities
non-
importation
have been upheld
new
nation,
In Norfolk,
for
at
by
least in
example,
the
committee
publicly censured a mernamed John Brown who had imported
Po
vigilance
chant
slaves from Jamaica on several occasions.
Enslaving
Married
Elizabeth
inson, Caroline County Court, age 14
Clerk of Vestry to St. Mary' s Parish, age 16
Virginia Resource Book)
to
law
practice
Sarah Pollard
Married
Lawyer,
planter,
and
slave-
holder
of
the
peace,
Prince
George
Continental
first
Congress,
first Continental Congress, which convened
in Philadelphia
Planter and
Public Service: Burgess,
first
' \‘'
Burgess,
COMES
the
to
Continental
first
Congress,
COLONIAL
the
County
Common School till
age
1721- 1775)
NOVEMBER
Sarah Shelton, 6 chil-
1733
Elizabeth
Harrison
and
slave-
Burgess,
Vestry, Louisa County, 1766
1765- 1776
Delegate
to
age
Service:
first
Continental
1774
General:
Judge
Congress,
President,
admiralty courts, 1750s
Virginia
Committee of Cor-
first Continental
Place of Birth: Westmoreland
Education:'
Tluors
County
and Wakefield Academy,
Yorkshire, England
Family: Married
died
Planter
f' S
Hear the enslaved
residents
of
and fears for future relations with Great
Britain
as The Revolution
Comes Home to
older
Martha
Editors:
Margot Crevieaux- Gevertz
Custis, 2
step-
Anne Willis
Contributors:
Bob Doares,
Kevin Kelly,
Rose McAphee, Nancy Milton,
t
Linda Rowe, Phil Shultz,
Production:
Colonel
Beth Lawrence
Court,
of
Virginiailiki
forces 1755, 13ur
Burgess
to
Continental
greys,
and
Justice of Fairfax
County
slaveholder
Public Service:
age
Boston.
Public Service:
Pinckard
Delegate
Married
Surveyor, planter,
and slaveholder
Married Mrs. Anne
and
father
children
1768)
Occupation:
by
Occupation:
Anne Aylett
to gather provisions
and money for the relief of the people of
Becoming AMERICANS TODAY
is a publication of the Department
of Interpretive Training
half- brother
Family:
town as they attempt
Westmoreland
Taught
Education:
the Liberty Pole. Speak with ladies of the
Congress,
1774
Place of Birth:
this
Colonial Williamsburg' s Historic Area.
1773
GEORGE WASHINGTON ( 1732- 1799)
1794)
in
with local politicians about their hopes
38
RICHARD HENRY LEE ( 1732-
town' s residents
upheaval might mean for their lives. Talk
1748- 1766
vice
respondence,
of the
time of revolutionary tension and conflict. Witness the raising and dressing of
Williamsburg interpret what this political
1748- 1775
of
Chairman,
holder
Public
Justice of York County
Board of Visitors, College of William and
Attorney
events and represent the reactions and
opinions
Called to the bar, 1743
Burgess,
planter,
1- 6, 2005
ers will bring back to life many of these
ca.
and
Burgess, 1748- 1774
bar in 1760
Lawyer,
WILLIAMSBURG
During the week of November 1- 6,
2005, Colonial Williamsburg interpret-
Mary, 1752-
father
dren
Occupations:
HOME!
HISTORIC AREA,
Lawyer, planter, and slaveholder
Public Service: Vestry, Bruton Parish
PATRICK HENRY [ 1736 to 1799]
1754: Married
A
NOVEMBER 3- 10, 1774
Occupation;
Qualified for
Revolution:
Mary,
Family: Married
by
The American
THE REVOLUTION
1739- 1742
1749- 1776
48
10, then tutored
1774.
History( New York: Modern Library), 47- 48
County,
S. Wood,
Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London,
slaveholder
Continental
Place of Birth: Hanover
in September
Gordon
Place of Birth: Williamsburg
Education: College of William
Education: English
licenses,
1745
PEYTON RANDOLPH(
to
issued
to a general congress of the colonies— the
Place of Birth: Berkeley, Charles City County
Education: College of William and Mary
Family: Married Elizabeth Bassett, 7 children
Delegate
taxes,
and the newly created provincial congresses
BENJAMIN HARRISON( 1726?- 1791)
Occupation:
levied
governors stood by in helpless amazement
as new informal governments gradually
grew around them. These new governments
ranged from town and county committees
Congress, age 53
64
Family:
debtors,
and supervised or dosed the courts. Royal
for Essex
Delegate
Burgess, 1742- 1774
to
and
Deputy Attorney
1752- 1774
Delegate
Committees manipulated voters, directed
appointments, organized the militia, managed trade, intervened between creditors
1752- 1774
County
age
Virginia
in
regulating various aspects of American life.
Caroline
slaveholder
Public Service: Vestryman
age
Courts Martial,
By the end of 1774, in many of the colonies local associations were controlling and
Justice of
Blair( died 1775)
Planter and
Occupation:
Justice
Benjamin Rob-
Clerk of Caroline County
age 19
for new men to
County,
Martha Macon ( died 1759)
non-
Congress
this
nor
First
within
provision: " We will neipurchase any Slave imported
induded
the
the
well
as
in favor of
resolution
and
with
import,
after
a
delegate
or
In September
trade.
slave
Virginia
proposed
which
Congress of that
the
importation,
ther
any
of November
place." It was the Virginians
the instigators and leaders
other
Lee
by
either
who
of
imported
slaves
the
after
next,
the
or
nor
person,
day
from Africa, the West Indies,
other
any
import,
ourselves
ere there
auuthoriythat
transfer
General
children
backing,
measure."
war
to
Public Service:
Pothyress ( died
Anne
Married
1758), 12
leaders
revolts
economic
and natural
a
trade.
slave
slave
that the
imminent danger of
bined with the
were
County
Education: Apprenticed
Occupation:
on
Married
1775, there
Place of Birth: Caroline
County Courts in 1741
Married Elizabeth Roy( died 1742)
Family:
tional law
Family:
ASSOCIATION OF 1774
In 1774 and
fundamental
assert themselves.
1721- 1803)
EDMUND PENDLETON(
Licensed
1772:
SLAVERY
a
opened new opportunities
The
1765:
of
was
TO
1775
VIRGINIA
landowners.
powerful
OF VIRGINIA DELEGATION
BIOGRAPHIES
OF SLAVES
NUMBER
42
first4tIV
Con-
gess 1758- 1774
rs
and
Mary Ann Williamson, copy editors
Diana Freedman,
graphic production
0 2005 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
All rights reserved. All images are property of
The Colonial Williamsburg
otherwise noted.
Foundation,
unless
1
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
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Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 7, November 1, 2005
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
©2005
Description
An account of the resource
November, 1774
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/9b5601d88e742b5c23e9069f1b1fc917.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=isoudtURQycdJfEmspF%7EH2mZMVMcc6kLiWOQUBzq7fDnqwWG11ivj3tjGyJd0z%7Et6FnA09qTXfsl-oqB05ET5EZvhdxPrpI7-BPr%7EXZvjgL9rgwOO13rrzrujA4ZgDGx3fpp2zNbPTEOeHDDT1KwVUwO76RUyCkl-bT4M1H-wZSbOA6f7szcxn%7EGGM9bxBqYIeDQNIKkM3hg%7EKiGRN2khgnCzJtqQ6F8zHhXILrFaLIhGVhocv28H2%7EPQOvh-xPtnEtSbfADm6YiCFfudME%7EZk7Fmaax2fdssTshzlZYvY-4wejrbIkP0UL-ErqO9l6Df9aFwNSXqkNE%7EQjmkOPV%7Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
c630120aa1f1d40a3eb56451b8b56f47
PDF Text
Text
Christmas 2005
Volume 4 No. 8
Christmas 1770s
THE INTERPRETER' S NEWSPAPER
Holid.
Christmas
I
0
Pro gr. .• ming
MI
i i
4114% ib1f'
S
W
c
/
1I
,
a
i
19_
666471"
i/
P, \
//%//
1•
MIS
DAY
1
1, ,
ropz.
0i
See
111 ~='',,., :_,
kv
\
The Christmas Season
Day.
Christmas
and
first
day
of four
duringthe
times
withgood
And
with Mirth
so
A
martyr.
December 27
of Christmas
number
ebrated
from
in the
day
this
annually
as a
of
insignia
group
their
wearing
order
lia, which
Afterward,
dinner and ball
of
the
were
town
they hosted
which
to
a
our
1
January
and her
1
January
as
adopted
colonies
first
the
of
day
the
in
not
the
of
time
a
colonial
the
1774 adorned the Jan-
year
uary calendar with
I wish
to
lines:
these
being
CHRISTMAS
myReaders
Both Health and Wealth,
Meat, strong
And all Things
dear;
good
Heart to
By
church
Night.
Oxford English
The
to
Dictionary identifies Twelfth Night as
Day eve, the evening before
Twelfth Day ( Epiphany, January 6).
word
ment
or
the
usage
and,
in " to make a
the
with
eyes
of
the
debaucheries
authorities
control such
who
different
But
other
use
beliefs
"
as
all know, it
we
original
Puritans
a
I
and James
in the
for Englishmen
the
in with
never
were
in England
fires
The
dates
derived
feast of
commemorates
the
birth of Jesus
the
the
of
to the eastern
6),
January
Rowe'
The Interpreter
Although
Day, and
noted
not
most
Virginian,
I;
the
23,
No.
1.]
Note
.
r.
tis
for cold, sing
care
Vi
best loved
From
English, and thus
followed the
fit that
we
away;
small beer dine.
the Virginia
1769
entertainment at the capitol, given by the
Gentlemen
of the Hon. House of Burgesses
to his Excellency the Governour, his Majesties'
Council,
and
the
Gentlemen
and
Ladies of this city, who were chiefly dressed
in Virginia clothe, and made a genteel
appearance.
The
capitol
was
illuminated
Virginia Gazette, Purdie&
Dixon,
Dec. 14, 1769
In
Christ' s
and included
some
LAST Tuesday [ Dec. 26] his Excellency
the Governour [ Botetourt] gave a ball and
elegant entertainment at the Palace to the
Gentlemen and Ladies of this city.
Virginia
g
Gazette, Purdie&
Saturday
Christmas
of today'
s
Dixon,
Dec. 28, 1769
other
mass."
for
music
WILLIAMSBURG, Dec. 28
com-
carols.
25 [ 1773]
I was waked in the morning by Guns
fired all round the House. The morning
is stormy. . . . Nelson the boy who makes
shoes,
does
errands &
c.
Gazette in 1766
He made me a vast fire,
blacked my Shoes, set my Room in order,
and wish' d me a joyful Christmas, for which
who makes the Fire in our School Rooms,
crops
a similar
were
'`
t'
from
a
fell at this time.
vacation
Virginians
8i
were
noted for hos-
Christmas and Twelfth Night
Visiting kin and
especially festive.
neighbors
together for dinners,
thronged
was
fox
hunts,
and
day
Wit' s Magazine,
foods
from
1784.
dances.
TYaditional
England (
roast
holi-
beef
and
goose, plum pudding, and mince pies) were
supplemented
by such Virginia delicacies
for balls, parties, and wedpopular festival, Twelfth Day was
occasion
a
that
at
tertaining
il
Virginians thought Twelfth Night
Colonial
good
so
probably followed
School terms were ar-
pitalit Y throughout theyear, but their eng
"^
a
schedule.
Colonial
t
wild turkey, duck, fish, and shellfish for
was
Yuletide
the right
Feasts. December
as
dated back to the Middle Ages.
meats
for slaughtering, so they had fresh
of all sorts, as well as some seafood.
feastingand
genof the
Then
as
Twelfth Day ceremony was the Twelfth Cake.
This was a very large cake baked with a bean
holds
the
festival
It included
And may they who there repine,
On brown bread and
on
14,
Last night there was a ball and elegant
upon this occasion.
religious
sermons.
was"
secular
plentiful
was
liberty
and
service
English
inferior only to Christmas. The alleged object
was to do honor to the three wise men and
Should feast and sing, and merry be;
Keep open house, let fiddlers play,
fig
for their
celebrations
scripture,
the
words,
it,
eral merriment.
A
Magi
complied.
religious
munion,
ranged
in
s article
6,,;,
Ci
9..-
comes, '
December
of the land. Townspeople
Christmas Gambols
w`..:
Now Christmas
are
cal-
celebration
of the Anglican Church, with
canons
r;,
1`
a
i
i`;,,,..;.
n;,
1;.; .
r' :
G l.,;,'
f! '°*`
drie
the
piety, Virginia Anglicans were expected to
attend their parish churches
on Christmas
i
dings. As
f%
The Interpreter 23, No. 1.]
shirt and Breeches!
their
from Linda
Taken
Taken from Linda Rowe' s Article in
is Epiphany
arrived at
other
the
when
of making the Cake"
already harvested, but it
not yet time for spring plowing and
was
sowing. Planters, farmers, and their laborers could take a brief respite from matters
p
magi
and
frankincense, and myrrh.
gold,
a Ball the next year...
The Lady
that draws the Queen has the trouble
Bethlehem.
ule:
of
his birthplace bearinggifts
p
at
fedde
season
is the
course,
of the birth of Christ; the
(
out of a
with
my fire, blacks my
Epiphany
manifestation
or wise men via a new star
arrival
the
bracketing
The first, of
endar.
in
then
from two feasts of the church
i
the
nor
houses of Kecoughtan"
smoke
a ticket
was early in my Room, drest only in his
with quotations
from the
10th century onward. Inthe Chris
year,
merrie,
sought
claim
tian
the Indians,
gives
Virginia Christmas:
more
is one
merrymaking,
excess).
January 6
The Epiphany/ Twelfth
Day. The OxEnglish
Dictionary states that
ford
Epiphany and Twelfth Day are the
same day— January 6 and backs up
the
a
that this
time draws
traditional
customs—
in his
I went
He that draws the King has
the Honor of treating the company
who
more
warme
and
changed.
from the time: " All
complaint
1640s
control of Parliament,
Wee
better
was
in England
gained
snowed
It seems
6]
hat. . . .
with
brought
plenty of good oysters, fish, flesh,
wild foule, and good bread. Not never had
from this group
of New England came.
settlers
Christmas
in the
Elizabeth
under
Englishwomen
World
games,
first record of
on
favored
changes,
music,
us our
holy
how
about
Christmas
Smith,
actively
But this dualthe
and
New
the
and trimming with greens. Captain John
of
and at
ways
in
English
leadership
radical
more
Back home
of making the eves of
feasts the occasion for sec-
revelries (
them their
nativity as a joyous feast
who
called Puritans,
dissenters,
successful
tradition
ular
the
their
the same
enormously unpopudoubt overjoyed when
restored in England in 1660.
was
with
as
no
were
Englishmen
of all holiabolishing special observance
days, including Christmas. They were un-
sug-
consistent
tide
the
supported
in enjoy-
night
as
reveling"
religious
to
this
of it." This is
night
the
spend
to
gests, "
in
night
held
celebrate
day.
Twelfth
The
such
traditions
were
are
Puri-
The
use."
wrote
following manner: A large rich cake is
provided and cut into small pieces and
handed round to the company who at
spir-
Charles II took the throne and Christmas-
16th century, the time of Refwithin
factions
the
Christian
the
ormation,
5
Twelfth
lar— people
and profane— characterized the celebration
of Christmas for hundreds of years before
English colonists came to America.
Cheer.
January
harmless
ordinances
settled
repressed pagan traditions.
P
P g
ism— the sacred and the secular,
Beer
else the
tan
the
coincided
merry gambols,
which
the
toiling
with
Virginia,
On
Creswell
of their annual Balls supported in the
the
and put out of
extinct
now
deplored
fathers
greens in the church. In
different times, church
good
a
gone,
New Year
all
the
friscols,
dances,
associ-
we
sport,
ploughman and labourer revived their
its and hopes for a whole twelvemonth,
day, but they found it impossible to abolish all pagan customs. Over
some of
the years they wisely Christianized
Virginia, but the Virginia Almanack
for
the
candles,
that
pagan revelries
Christian holy
celebration
in
sense
modern
that
symbols
Christmas:
early church
The
in his
Cake."
Nicholas
Last night [ Jan.
to the Ball.
harmless
and
the
when
solstice,
was
twelfth
a
7, 1775,
in Alexandria
gift- giving,
decorating with greens, and much merrymaking with food and beverages.
year ( instead of the traditional
March 25) beginning in 1752. New
was
with
ate
new
Year' s
17
and
dinner
journal, "
Romans
Saturna-
winter.
a
January
before
But
the
December
winter
to
comes
event that
religious
be returning as the days got
festival was the Roman
other
familiar
produced
England
Byrd II recorded
hours
year, Kalaends ( from which we get
word calendar). These two winter feasts
new
invited.
t,,,,
to
longer. The
ladies
the
a
of Jesus.
on
of the
seemed
sun
William
taming several people at Westover on
January 6, 1721, with dinner; after
dinner, the company " acted proverbs
and were merry till one o'clock. . . .
We danced country dances about two
came
secular
celebrated,
ever
began
celebration
cel-
colonies
both
had several holidays in the
walking
in the proper rank from the Lodge
Bruton
to
Parish Church for a
sermon.
was
a
day, January 7, that" Captn. Beale had
invited this family yesterday [ Jan. 6]
birth
the
Christmas
or
e.
Royle
25. The word Christmas
celebrates
ball
before we acted proverbs." In
1770, Landon Carter wrote on Sun-
from " Christ' s Mass,"
with great ceremony.
1770s
a
Back in Virginia, Byrd wrote of enter4.
customs
s celebration
December
and
and
and the
ancient traditions,
church'
local Ma-
show that
They processed
the
Lodge
Williamsburg
dinner
stem from the early
of the birth of Christ on
in England
of St. John the Evangelist
Feastsacred. Sacred
eigh-
diary attending festivities at Lord Per
cival' s in London on January 6, 1719.
4
Almanack,
customs
with
ample,
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
first Christian
Feast of St. Stephen,
celebrated
E
0, "
Joseph
by
1765
the
special cake and a drawing, sometimes
punctuated with playacting. For ex-
the YEAR.
The Virginia
December 26
of Freemasons
often
provide,
at this tide;
condude
home.
at
entertaining
of the
now
throughout
teenth century celebrated in the eveping on Epiphany ( Twelfth Night),
and beer,
wine
Secular observance of the sea-
included
sons
the pot,
on
in the colonial
in Virginia
elsewhere
Minutes
TWELFTH NIGHT
wash all down
Then
year when the Lord' s Supper wa celebrated at Bruton Parish Church and
son
hang
come,
Beef, pork, and poultry
To feast they neighbor
of the
through January
season (
one
period.
See page 2
WILLIAMSBURG
COLONIAL
Let spits turn round and ovens be hot;
December 25
The
jf.44,
4
rT
Virginians
is
Christmas
Christmas
41(110'
i
MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !
Ne w s l i n e
5),
1 FOR
NO.
page 2
e,
inserted, and
assembled
One of the features
when
the
drinkingand
cake
family
was
and friends
cut.
group to
reign
Happily,
got
called
by
the
until midnight.
the
holiday
season
counted
meat
beef, goose, ham, and turkey
holiday favorites; some house-
[
as
also insisted
on fish,
oysters,
from Lou Powers'
Past
(
coincided
sched-
poor Slave a Bit, & many thanks.
I was obliged for want of small change, to
sent the
put off some days the Barber who shaves&
dresses
two
s article"
November 1988), and her
article"
me.—
Bits. . . .
I gave Tbm the Coachman. . .
I gave to Dennis the Boy who
waits at Table half a Bit— So that the sum
of my Donations to the Servants, for this
Christmas appears to be five Bits.
Philip Vickers Fithian, while tutor to
Robert Carter' s children, December 1773
24. At home all day writing as yesterday— alone.
Christmas
and Present" in The Interpreter
Customs" from The Interpreter
with slack time in the agricultural
Clothes and Linen were sent in with a mes
sage for a Christmas Box, as they call it; I
mince-
pies, and brandied peaches.
Taken
drest very neatly in green, but almost
drunk, entered my chamber with three or
four profound Bows, & made me the same
salutation; I gave him a Bit, and dismissed
him as soon as possible— Soon after my
now,
were
Whoever
piece containing the bean was
King of the Bean" and was accepted
the
time
I gave him half a Bit.— Soon after he left the
Room, and before I was Drest, the Fellow
9
Christmas
16( Winter
1995- 1996).]
25.
Went
to
Washington
Pohick
Church
and returned
26. Went a hunting
with
Mrs.
to dinner.
in the Neck early.
Killed a Fox and dined with several others
at Mr. Peak' s
George Washington'
s
diary,
December
1771
�2
Christmas 1770s
io
I.
CHRISTMAS
r
INTERPRETATION
e
IH
Irk
Ii
7
MN
illiff
a
NI+'
..
CHRISTMAS FOOD
AND DRINK
Dinner offerings were surpassed only
by the variety and quantity of beverages.
Alcoholic beverages were plentiful around
the
table
households.
had
Others
could afford less. Rum
and
flip,
in
25
December
on
less
or
well- to- do
because
arrack
rum
syllabub
were
popular, as were
sherry, beer, ale, and Virginia
cider. Toward the end of the century eggnog
daimed
its place among holiday drinks.
French
brandy,
gave out portions of rum and
liquors to their workers at Christmas-
Slave
owners
other
partly as a holiday treat( one the slaves
may have come to expect or even demand)
and partly to keep slaves at the home quarter
time,
during
few days off work.
their
PUTTING SLAVIN' ASIDE
they
punch,
61;:.
y
Plantations."
been allowed to field hands more read-
in early Virginia. For some of
of the holiday
them, the religious
aspects
ily than to domestics; house servants had
more work than usual when guests were
whites
no
Christmas
probably
of course,
season—
and
With limited
prevailed.
material
know
in the house for extended visits or if the
incomes,
master and mistress
of the
manifestations
special
gifts,
decorations,
meals,
about
more
treatment
slaves'
of year because of letters, diaand other documents written by the
at this time
mainly gentry planters. A February 1726/ 7 law that established patrols to
guard against invasions and insurrections
in
FIRST COURSE
some
festivals.
Onion Soup/ Ham Remove
patrols,
Roast Beef
Beets
Cabbage
Potato
Pudding
days,
Roast Chicken
Indian
with
Meal
Carrot Puffs
Pudding
Pudding
they
Walsh'
days'
Mincemeat
for
Tarts
that
slaves
Oyster Loaves
Lemon
s
research
1774
Carter congratulated
Colonel Landon
on
plantaChesapeake
slaves'
I
"
Christmastime.
In
29th, " The hollidays
fancy that I
not letting my
part of Christmas."
strictness had averted
1786,
being
but
t
in
happy
on
People
Carter
keep
thought
Lou
Powers
Preserves
and
Adults
rebus
DECK THE HALLS!
Christmas
at
lent
during
of houses with
with displays
formed
evergreens
sprang from customs
prevaIn ancient
Roman festivities.
Romans celebrated
times,
into
Saturnalia
their
of lights and
hardy
and
sprays.
wreaths
is
a
children
or syllables
of
Print
on
and
Shop
earn the
Christian
with
evergreen,
houses
their
oak,
At
followed
the
English
panes.
been concentrated
of
rebus
Street. See if you
of
the words
at the
puzzles
can
save this rebus
to determine
their
own
best
Governor' s Palace-
1774: Last year before
the war. The Governor and his family
are reunited. Baby Virginia is born in
this *
your
211 ..}.
iv
s
staff. Everard
entertains
visits
Wythe
1774:
House-
home
from
George
Philadelphia.
Wythe
The
is
Conti-
is in effect, but it has
1774:
House-
The
focus
for
the
Cl4bp0O
f+
cc,
C
nd.
°+
CD + .
help,
has
Association
Randolph
1774: Peyton
House-
is back
from
Philadelphia.
is a strain in the relationship
QD + 4 -
their usual work in preparing
The
war
the
s+.
named
-_- -
1
Regiments— Battle
activities
to
of
the
Great
1774: Business goes on as
usual though some activities must be
Seek
Anne' Ss
and
Raleigh Tavern-
c/,.
for '
an
Bridge. ( Kid' s Holiday Weekend site)
As
have
inside buildings.
offers
guests
related
Virginia
Virginia
on
for the
o
to
intdhengages
cussions
Get
there
between
holidays.
to
and
Randolph
While
John and Peyton there is no permanent
rift. The slaves in the household have
r
will dilylli an
window-
to
yet
on the site. ( Kid' s Holiday Weekend site)
4
in
The
have a direct effect on the businesses
mistletoe
to
the inter
from his daughter and other relations.
religion.
nd.
hard will
Thin +
of deco-
seemed
volunteer
Geddy
Qb
Q
Q
with greenery
descriptions
bay
1775: Maintain
House-
pretation that is most familiar to the
rental Association
no
greens,greens, like a generous cluster of
in
hangingg from the center o the c
gs of hollyor
The
decorations
examples
some
shops
illustrations of Christmas decorations
sp
sites
year for presentation during the holidays.
Herewith are those sites and years.
site remains on family, education, and
eighteenth- century Virginia. The few contemporary English prints show very simple'
small
invited
vet to place a strain on the household.
Kid' s Holiday Memories program site and
Kid' s Holiday Weekend site)
solve
rosemary,
custom
rating homes and churches
for the holidays. We have
or
This year the programming team ( PHD)
Everard
and games. A
one
laurel, ivy, and mistletoe.
With evergreens
all around them, colonial Virginians very
likely
find
can
for
I611
greenery
and
holly, bay,
You
enjoyed puzzles
or symbols
pictures
/'!
reward!
atd!
churches
decked
AREA
HOLIDAY SEASON
2005
Weekend site)
4
ae(
18th century
Duke of Gloucester
rated for Christmas. Certainly for many
years before the seventeenth century, the
English
uses
words.
pagan practice. However,
have long been deco-
this
in the
that
puzzle
period, early English ecclesiastical councils
prohibited members of the church from
imitating
THE HISTORIC
early December. The Murrays are at the
rdefte4
Peach
Almonds
decking
from
The Interpreter, Fall 1999
BEST OF THE 70s
height of their popularity. ( Kid' s Holiday
Orange Peels
The
any
his
a slave revolt.
Source: Emma
over,
all at work, I rid
slaves]
Sabine Hall that year.
have been quite
at
celebration
can'
DESSERT
Candied
was
Naturally, what a master could give, he
could also take away. On the last day of
to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole
Pudding
it
freedom.
enjoy their temporary
allowed three to five
were
and the People [
Gingerbread
individuals,
away. Some
running
the
George Washington noted
example,
and
said, drank so much that they could not
usually exempted
in colonial
at
holiday
December
with Pudding
at Christmas
a few other occasions to keep slaves from
holi-
Whitsuntide
are
that slave owners actually
drunkenness
himself for his wisdom in suppressing the
management
shows
Rabbit Stuffed
encouraged
the
during
negros,
and
Easter,
wherein
Lorena
COURSE
Chicken Pye
others explained
from labour."
tion
Sweet Potato
of
concourse
-
fit and enjoyment. Frederick Douglass and
yearly
for the
part of the rationale
the legislators called to mind
unlawful
Balls
SECOND
main
As
Christmas,
Onion Pie
at the three
numbers
move
and not offered strictly for the slaves' bene-
usually congregated
slaves
special meals
men. This was a very manipulative
great danger [ that] may happen to the
from the
inhabitants of this dominion,
Pickled
with
Boiled
that
mentions
expected
and entertained during the holidays.
TYaditionally, slave owners allowed their
workers to have alcohol during the Christmas break. Some masters actually made
gifts of rum and other spirits to their bonds-
simply not possible.
so on— were
We
ties,
DINNER
1
respite must have
information about how poor
and free people of color celebrated
is
There
masters,
A SAMPLE WINTER
A Christmas
t
t+
>
curtailed
due to the Association. (
Kid' s
Holiday Weekend site)
Becoming
is
a
TODAY
AMERICANS
publication
of the Department
of Interpretive
st+ '
"
k
4
Training
Editors:
Margot
c
the '
9
}+,_
selling
It
`8.
2
`
worth the
Nt
S
11v°
trip
t '
Bob Doares, Rose McAphee,
Nancy Milton, Lou Powers,
Linda
Kristin
Rowe, Phil Shultz,
Spivey, Rene Willett,
Kathleen
11
The
the
clerk
ri
editor
graphic production
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
are
All rights reserved. All images
property of
unless
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,
otherwise
noted.
2005
was
married
1776:
Hannah
1776.
Though
in
her wedding took place in November
we have presented the program during
the holidays in the past. ( Kid' s Holiday
Weekend site) There will be general family activities in the morning as some of
the staff will be involved in the Kid' s
t
G
Production:
Freedman,
Powell
a
friendly
a+
Holiday Memories
tour.
Williams
Beth Lawrence, copy
Diana
Powell House-
Benjamin
1,
1
1770s: Third- person tour—The
1770s and the Road to Revolution.
I-
NI cor
Willis
Contributors:
r&
capitol-
of
n
s+ /'
M
f`
Crevieaux- Gevertz
Anne
04V'° II0Or,
the
Pur
+
f
the words
of Ha+
o
Ai.
.
a
I
j
or;
Il e S 5.
0
t,
y;
r,.,-•
A.
/
f^
4
w,
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today
Description
An account of the resource
<em>Becoming Americans Today</em> was a newsletter developed by the Department of Interpretive Training for interpreters. Presented in a newspaper format loosely based on USA Today, it was developed to support programming by providing interpreters with the news that would have shaped the thoughts and lives of Williamsburg residents during the years interpreted in the Historic Area. It was considered a training material that combined diverse historical information in a readable contemporary format, utilizing headlines as a hook that interpreters could use to draw guests into the story. It was published 2002-2008.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Becoming Americans Today, volume 4, number 8, Christmas, 2005
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
©2005
Description
An account of the resource
Christmas 1770s