My favorite period in history is the American Revolution, partly because I see this as a pivotal moment in history…exactly what Patrick Henry discussed on this visit.
Patrick Henry: our government serves the people
Before 1776, the people were servants of the government.
After 1776, for the first time, a government was the servant to the people.
Yet it’s not a democracy, which has always failed.
Patrick Henry: legislative branch most powerful
Our government is a democratic republic with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The branch with the greatest power is the people’s branch, the legislative branch.
Patrick Henry: describes 18th century stimulus packages
A question was asked about today’s stimulus package put out by the government.
Because history is cyclical, Patrick Henry explained one only needs to look at the past to see the future.
He told us about the stimulus packages of his day, known as the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and the Tea Act.
Patrick Henry: 17 children and 77 grandchildren
Did you know that Patrick Henry had lots of kids?
He had 6 children by his first wife and 11 by his second wife.
He had 77 grandchildren.
Then he thundered, “If some scoundrel in the future decides to portray me, he will meet at least one of my descendants every week!”
His presentation was standing room only and he had us all laughing throughout.
Colonial Shopping
After lunch, went to the colonial nursery to purchase a sourvenir for my new Virginia garden.
Finding a bleeding heart, I knew that was perfect. I’ve always loved them at the rare locations I’ve seen them, but haven’t been able to grow them in my Texas garden.
My Virginia garden has a shady area that would be perfect for it.
I also got some sensitive plant seeds that are a lot of fun to play with.
When you touch the leaves, they close up.
Then we went to the Mary Dickinson Store where they sell colonial patterns that are more authentic than what I have from the fabric store.
Although my kids really wanted me to buy them now, I told them I still need a new sewing machine. We’ll be back!
Then we went to the Prentis Store and my son found a Rosewood Fife.
We’ve learned that the junior fifers start with the maple fife like my son currently has. When they graduate to the senior corps, they earn the rosewood fife.
Next we visited the milliner who was trying to equally pleat a petticoat to a certain measurement.
Printer
Walking down the street we headed down the stairs to the Print shop, where we found the printer hanging up sheets to dry.
While chatting about the circulation of the gazette, he compared the population of Williamsburg to the larger colonial cities of the time.
He asked us which colonial city was the largest. My daughter said “Boston”. Correct!
Then he asked for the second largest colonial city. My son said “Philadelphia”. Correct!
Next he asked for the third largest which was between the other two. When no one else answered I said “New York”. Correct!
Finally he asked for the fourth largest colonial city, south of Williamsburg. Once again no one else was answering, so I said “Charleston”. Correct!
Whereas these larger cities had a daily gazette, Williamsburg had a weekly gazette.
He showed us how he prepped the ink…
…applied it to the typeset…
…pulled the press…
…peeled off the paper…
…to reveal one side to the gazette!
Creating a flourish with a quill
Curious about a special progran at 1pm, we walked upstairs to the post office to see a demonstration on the use of quills.
The gentleman wrote my daughter’s name on a card with a flourish underneath, then it was her turn to do so.
Then it was my son’s turn.
The gentleman made comments with both of my kids because they write with their left hands.
He told us that in his day, everyone writes with their right hand!
Then I had a turn and left out the swirl underneath my name.
He told me I needed that because someone else might come along and add something else that I didn’t want underneath my name.
Street Theater
We went to sit on a bench in front of the Kings Arms Tavern and listened to the tavern owners banter back and forth with each other across the Duke of Gloucester Street.
One of the actresses got some Service Berries from the garden and shared them with us.
I never heard of them before. Although they looked like a purple blueberry, they tasted a bit sour. They were delicious!
The oppressive heat of the day must have caused the dark, ominous clouds in the distance and the threatening rumble of thunder.
The warmup program began with music and dancing!
After the horsemen arrived at the capital, my son ran over to take pictures.
Then the fife and drum corps arrived leading us to the meaningful reading of the Declaration of Independence.
As the fife and drum corps played and marched out, we were told to gather for a major announcement.
Benedict Arnold
As the gent told us about the major victory at Saratoga, which caused France to decide to support our cause, he encouraged us to huzzah!
Then he told us to give three cheers for that selfless patriot who made the major victory at the Battle of Saratoga possible…Benedict Arnold!
Those expected huzzahs from the crowd were lame, since we knew Arnold’s future.
Sure enough, the gent figured out Arnolds’ future too when he arrived at the Capital as a Redcoat officer.
(Because of the lightening and thunder in the distance, the horses were not used.)
On cue the storm moved out when Benedict Arnold left.
The sun began to shine when Generals Washington and Lafayette arrived to assure the citizens of Williamsburg that victory is close at hand.
The British are surrounded at Yorktown and the French have arrived by sea and land with men and provisions.
