Saturday my son and I drove to Jamestowne to see the reenactment of Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676 oft hailed as the foreshadow to 1776.
One hundred years before America’s thirteen colonies declared independence, Nathaniel Bacon led angry colonists against Royal Governor Berkeley because of his tyranny over taxation, poorly protecting the colonists from Indian raids, and dissolving the House of Burgesses.
GOVERNOR BERKELEY
In the afternoon, Governor Berkeley grumped about Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion.
Afterwards we discovered that some of the attendees were descendants of men involved in the rebellion.
DINNER
Since the burning of Jamestowne reenactment occurs in the evening, we had a rare opportunity to stay in the national park through the evening.
Near the water’s edge is a cafe where we shared a delicious sandwich served by Carrot Tree Cafe.
Eating dinner on the patio in the lovely afternoon, we anticipated the sunset at such a historic spot.
WALKING THROUGH THE RUINS
After dinner, we had over an hour for the program, so we walked among the ruins of the old town.
Memories of how the soldiers of the original fort had to keep watch for Spaniards and Indians.
Eventually Jamestown became a successful colony, a port for all the tobacco that was grown for England.
For many years it was the only allowed port in Virginia.
Here are the ruins of the 17th century town that built up around the port.
Ruins of the grandest of the 18th century homes on this land…
STUNNING SUNSET
Then we watched the magnificent sunset the interpreters promised us.
REENACTMENT
At dusk the program began.
As we listened to the speaker, guards surrounded us from behind. Uh oh. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Thomas Matthew narrated the story of the rebellion which occurred the year before.
As a guard stood nearby, we were led from scene to scene in the dark with the aid of burning, crackling cressets and Mr. Matthew’s lone candle in the tin lantern.
As we walked to each scene, we heard the story of the burning of the town from different perspectives.
While some sided with the governor, others helped Nathaniel Bacon burn the town due to their tyrannical governor.
Amid drum beats at various points in the reenactment the men surrounding us chanted to get their way…later firing their muskets into the air in unison.
In the end Bacon died, the rebellion died, and his supporters died.
Meanwhile, Governor Berkeley lost his position when he criticized the royal investigative committee.
As a result, he returned to England the following year, dying on July 9, 1677.
At the end of the storytelling, Mr. Matthew led us to the center of the field where we were surrounded by roaring, burning cressets representing the fires that burned down the town.
Mr. Matthew blew out the candle in the lantern, toppling it over, representing the fears that Jamestowne would likewise be forever burned out and toppled over.
Q&A AT VISITOR CENTER
Afterwards we walked to the Visitor Center where we visited.
I asked Mr. Matthews (who was then out of character) if that was indeed the end of the town.
He said no, it had been rebuilt.
The lady with the chicken said that the original foundations, from the burning of Jamestowne are under the ground, and the more recent ruins are from the rebuilding of the town.
However, a fire in the church caused the capitol of Virginia to be relocated to Williamsburg in 1699.
