Colonial Williamsburg - Saturday October 9th

Entering the Alley Walkway

Plaque with my Ancestor
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller  

Saturday the 9th we got to Colonial Williamsburg a little before noon and stayed until 6 pm than on Sunday we were there from 10 am until 10pm. Let me say that this place is sooooo much bigger than we imagined. We have spent the better part of two days there and still have not seen it all. Towards the beginning of the first day, Kevin suggested I should get a hair to protect my head from the sun, I should have listened to him. But the colonial style hats we looked at were so much more than I wanted to spend that I did not listen to him. On Saturday after getting our tickets we walked from  he visitors center into Colonial Williamsburg this was probably about 3/4 of a mile. We when walked along the Palace Green which is in front of the Governors Palace. There we stopped and talked to one of the re-en actors his position was as Company Clerk. He kept track of the going ons of the company. We continued along the Palace Green looking at what the different re-en actors were doing. Some were cooking or finishing up their mid-day meal. We stopped at  Mary Dickenson's store,  where I tried on some hats, but didn't get one,. Then we went onto the Courthouse where they were getting ready for a Musket Firing by the Carolina Battalion. We continued down the street, Duke of Gloucester Street, looking for a tavern to get something to drink. But they were all closing up until dinner, we continued down the street and went into a couple stores bought a handmade wooden sauce spoon at Prentis Store. Then we went past the Post Office and into the Milliner & Tailor shop where we learned about what all would go on there in the 18th century. Next we went into the silversmith and the Golden Ball where I ordered a Jefferson 2010 cup engraved with my initials, we can pick it up on Sunday. We then past by the apothecary, coffeehouse, and Capitol on the way to Bassett Hall the home of John D. Rockefeller Jr and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. She is in my ancestral line, so this and the Abby Rockefeller  Museum  are two of the places I definitely wanted to go to. At Bassett Hall we watched a short film about Abby and John Jr. They contributed to many causes, especially the African American eduction, and to the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. After both Abby and John Jr had passed on the family donated the home to the Association for Colonial Williamsburg on the condition that it be used as a museum and that should any family members come to visit, they be allowed to stay there. The house is decorated with the same decor that was in it at that time. It was really awesome to go thru their knowing that one of my ancestors lived their and touched the same things I did. They even allowed pictures inside that some of the older home type museums will not allow or if they do it is without flash.

Then they had on the West Side of the Capitol, "An Audience with the Commander in Chief", where George Washington meets with us and the local citizens, to discuss the prospect of war in Virginia. With continuing shortages of food and smallpox still a threat, what will be the fate of Williamsburg?

Next on the South Side of the Capitol was, "A Dragoon Demonstration", where swift horses and able riders made the Light Dragoons the "eyes and ears" of the army. Bear witness to their practice, as they hone their skills with sabers drawn. They must always be ready to engage the enemy.

Then in front of the coffeehouse, "In Desperate Circumstances", Barbry Hoy, a local woman who followed her husband southward with the army, returns to Williamsburg. Her husband, Alexander was captured in the siege of Charlestown, and she now seekd work at the King's Arms Tavern. She tells the story of the war in South Carolina and of the American's grim defeats.

Next in the Backyard of the Coffeehouse, "The Court-Martial of Private Grant", an American solider stands trial for treason-- Attacking and mortally wounding his commanding officer. What drove him to do it? What will be his fate? still in the Back yard of the Coffeehouse was "Running to Freedom!". Here Lord Cornwallis entrenched at Yorktown, Eve and other enslaved people prepare to seek freedom with his army. Can Eve convince others to join the more than 600 former slaves who have left their "rebel" masters in the Carolina's to follow the British northward??

Finally, beginning on the West Side of the Courthouse and marching parade style to the Market Square behind the Courthouse "General Washington Parades his Troops". As the citizens of Williamsburg watch, General Washington reviews his troops as they are exercised in the manual of arms. He then encourages all to join in a "Patriotic" parade to Market Square for a tactical demonstration. While watching this I spotted a gentleman that was not in the reenactment, and went up and asked if I could have my picture taken with him, he said "Most Certainly". Afterwards Kevin and I talked with him for awhile, he was with the First Regiment from Maryland. He told us that they only held this reenactment that they were doing this weekend, once a year. So we were very lucky to have gotten here on this weekend. He also told us about what they call alleyways. they are brick paths between back yards with tall hedges. He showed us the gate along a fence that was the entrance to one of them. When we  decided to end the day we took the alleyway on the way back to the Visitor Center, it was a cool, refreshing place to walk.

Mary Dickinson's Shop

In Desperate Circumstance!

At the Silversmiths shop

Musket Firing

              

Musket Firing                                                

Bassett Hall  - home of
John  D Rockefeller Jr  and
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

On the steps of my ancestors home

Living room at Bassett Hall

Barbi on Staircase of Bassett Hall

Soldier with Whistle Flute

General Washington & Comte de Rochambeau

  

                

Musicians lead the march

  

Solider from 1st Regiment 

from Maryland

       

   Tactical Demonstration        

     

 Sitting around Camp

Parade 

General Washington and

Comte de Rochambeau 

Parade 

Parade

On the Alley Walkway