Yesterday we journeyed to Scotchtown, home of famed American Revolution orator, Patrick Henry.
BACKWOODS HOME
Often saying that he lives in the backwoods, our GPS testified to that, as it adventurous-lee directed us through the backroads, winding through woods, going up and down hills, and traversing rippling brooks with small waterfalls.
The drive gave me a deep impression of the down-to-earth gentleman who fired up a revolution.
Fittingly, Patrick Henry’s plantation is simpler than the grandness of Mount Vernon, Monticello, or Montpelier.
From 1771 to 1778 Scotchtown was home to Patrick Henry, his wife Sarah, and their six children.
BASEMENT TOUR OF WIFE’S MENTAL ILLNESS
His wife died in 1775, from a mental condition that rendered her dangerous.
Not able to bear admitting her to the Publick Hospital in Williamsburg, Henry renovated the basement and whitewashed it for her to safely live.
Visiting her every day he was home, there were bars to keep her inside or else she’d run away.
Hearing this shocking story may leave one impression, but visiting in person this space was not a dirty, dark, dank basement.
Instead, it was clean, whitewashed, and fresh.
QUILTS
A more lighthearted part of the tour took us to the bedrooms, decorated with lovely quilts.
Our tour was not rushed, but casual and longer than most, about an hour in which we were free to ask questions about all the things we saw.
HISTORICALLY ACCURATE CLOTHING
It was nice to see the tour guides in historically accurate clothing.
One of them had an 18th century pocket laying in her basket, to embroider in her free time.
