Williamsburg

November 25-26
We enjoyed two full days at Colonial Williamsburg.  It was really crowded the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The view we woke up to in Miss Jim B

                  Patrick Henry-Was a very powerful speaker.  He talked about events leading up to Boston Tea Party.  That 1 out of 5 in Boston were British soldiers and that acts of parliment were taking away their rights.  Dec. 1-Continental Assembly decided collectively to put pressure on Britain to not purchase, consume or export to England.  PA, NY and SC hardest to convince.  Rutledge brothers from SC wanted to keep selling rice. Prayer and fasting coordinated with the closure of Boston Harbor.  Fun hearing his impressions of New England Men.  He hated Congreagationlists.  Didn't like their strict moral code, no horse racing, no theatre, no dancing but his opinion changed when he met Sam Adams and John Adams at the Continental Assembly.  He and John became good friends and kindred spirts.  John had to shout above the tapping of his stick when he got excited.  John also represented the British soldiers in Boston Massacre and changed verdict from murder to manslaughter. His famous quote: "United we stand, divided we fall" and Virginians "Dance or Die".

At the entrace to governor Dinsmore's home.

How is this for intimidation?

My colonial girl trying on hats

We vote yuck on colonial hot chocolate.

Thomas Jefferson-Very movning speech.  He expressed that acquiring knowledge is the inherit right of each man.  "An educated citizen will proove the injustices of an authorative power. The more educated, the more enlightened we become. The only role of government is to protect us from injurying one another. How can we legislate opinion, referring to how we worship."(This is in response to mandatory worship that was in place).  In regards to slavery, he said  he opposed it. It was more elaborate how he expressed this but I forget his words.

Militia practice




This is in the home of George Wythe.  We learned a lot about this man.  He signed the Declaration of Independence and he was at the Constitutional Convention.  He studied with his mother and at 10 years, he translated the whole Bible to Latin.  (As an adult, he said that the Bible was the most important book. ) At this point, his uncle took over his education.  He became a lawyer and mayor of Williamsburg.  He never would represent someone he thought was guilty.  He became a leader in the church and 1st  professor of law in US at William and Mary. Many assumed that he was a follower because he was so nice but he was the wing beneath the wings of shaping the early thoughts or government in our country.  He and his wife didn't have children but he was a favorite of young people.  Kids always were stopping by to talk with him.  Kind of reminds me of Pastor Singleton.  The  list of enlightenment principles in the constitution come from his ideas.  He became a teacher, 2nd father and best friend to Thomas Jefferson.   He liked to study  and encouraged people to think for themselves.  "Don't let books think for you" and he would never give answers to students.   He was fond of sharing his ideas of enlightenment and wanted students to observe the world for themselves and to gather their own information.  John Locke said, "some people are born better than others."  Wythe didn't agree with this. In the room above he had a solar magnifying glass.  There was a hole in the shutter that allowed the sun to come in.

picking cotton

trying hand at calligraphy at the Wythe house

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