We sat in the area that would have been the site of the original church and she explained the four graves that are located there that have been researched. She showed us several other sites on the island including where the kitchen was and explained the archeological dig there that is on-going.”
Getting back on the bus the group then went on a Jamestown Settlement guided tour led by Marc. They viewed a Powhantan Indian town where interpreters were demonstrating the various native crafts such as stone carving, tanning a deer hide, and making fire, then gathered inside a house and the items inside were explained.
They also saw the site where the three original famous ships landed in 1607 and were able to board a replica ship.
“It was very small,” said Moritz, “and taller members of the group had to duck and several bumped their heads.”
Next was a triangular wooden James Fort replica where they saw a cannon demonstration. The structures are re-created of wattle and daub with thatch roofs. The last stop at that site was the Anglican Church.
Supper that evening was at Roccos Smokehouse Grill in Williamsburg where they served traditional pulled pork and fried chicken breasts for sandwiches, coleslaw, green beans, mashed potatoes and a brownie for dessert.
“Boy, did we eat,” said Bob Bennett.
“We said we wanted more of the authentic stuff,” said Liz Bennett. Sandie, their guide, suggested the traditional way to eat the pulled pork sandwich was to put the coleslaw on top of the meat and eat the sandwich that way, which several people tried.
After checking into the Best Western in the Historic Williamsburg District, most of the group went on a mile walking tour called “The Hauntings of Williamsburg”, hearing stories about the early days in that city.
On Friday, June 14 the day started with 6:45 a.m. breakfast at the hotel and a 7:30 a.m. departure for Charlottesville, VA, which was an almost 3-hour bus trip.
“Who else is on a bus and on the road at 7:30 when they’re on vacation?” asked Bob. “We really were able to maximize our sightseeing time.”
The first stop was Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson (third President of the U.S.) that is a World Heritage Site. The group had about an hour to walk around the gardens and grounds and through the cellar passage before beginning a tour of the house. The tour guide was Edward Brooks.
“They really left it open for visitors to decide,” said Liz. “Whether he was a good man who owned slaves or not.”
“We entered the Hall, which served as a reception area and waiting room for visitors in Jefferson’s time,” said Moritz. “It is also a museum of American native history. Many items sent by Lewis and Clark from their expedition are on display here. His Great Clock that marks the days and hours with a pulley system is among his inventions we saw there. We also saw: the square room which his eldest daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph, used as a sitting room and office; the parlor, where they gathered to converse, play games and musical instruments; the dining room, where food served blended the French style and Colonial style; the study and bed chamber which Jefferson used that had his desk and a polygraph copying machine and bed in the alcove; the library that at one time had more than 6,500 books but Jefferson gave them to the Library of Congress because the British had burnt the Capitol; the north octagonal bedroom which was used most frequently by James and Dolly Madison who lived 30 miles away; two bedrooms upstairs; and the dome room based on the Temple of Vesta in Rome. Outside we took a group picture on the steps of the west front near the fishpond. We looked toward the Blue Ridge Mountains and then the dome of the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson. We had a little more time on the grounds before getting back on the bus. Some people visited a room with the story of Sally Hemmings and the gravesite of Thomas Jefferson and other family members.”
Lunch was at Michie Tavern. Built in about 1784, the tavern situated a ½ mile from Monticello served a Southern buffet fare of fried chicken, baked chicken, stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas, buttermilk biscuits and apple cobbler for dessert.
“As we boarded the bus and traveled to our next stop, we passed many vineyards,” said Moritz. “Thomas Jefferson 200 years ago imagined local wines that could rival the Old World. Now there are 33 wineries in the Monticello area. He grew grapes and made his own wine at Monticello.”
The next stop was Montpelier, home of James and Dolly Madison (fourth President of the U.S.). It is about 30 miles from Monticello but in their time would have been a two-day ride in a carriage. Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his role in drafting and promoting the United States Constitution and the United States Bill of Rights. He also co-wrote The Federalist Papers, and co-founded the Democratic-Republican Party. James Madison’s father built the mansion in 1760, and has 22 rooms. It has been owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1984. They are doing archeological investigations on the 2,650 acres, much of it about the slavery of African Americans.
After Monticello and Montpelier, the next stop was Ash-Lawn Highland, the plantation home of James Monroe (fifth President of the U.S.), who was famous for the Monroe Doctrine. The house is much smaller and was the family’s home from 1799-1823. The main house burned, but many of their original furniture pieces were on display because they moved to a different house. A lot of archeological digs are being done at this location. The College of William and Mary owns it.
“[In Jamestown,] they were really into archaeology,” said Liz.
Day three of the trip began at the Yorktown battlefield. The first stop was Redoubts 9 and 10, then the group visited Surrender Field, the surrender site where the British had to surrender to the Americans and French near the end of the Revolutionary War.
The group then visited the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, where they could visit special exhibits on Patrick Henry, the Stamp Act, George Washington and the Declaration of Independence as well as outdoor exhibits that included artillery firing, a farm, slave quarters and a Continental Army encampment.
“We grabbed a bite to eat there and then traveled to Endview Plantation,” said Moritz. “This is a small farm plantation with our guide dressed as a Confederate soldier. The owner had been a doctor and served a year in the Confederate Army. Items from both the North and South Civil War era were on display.”
Next stop was Colonial Williamsburg. They toured the Capitol, a wig shop, an apothecary and tavern. Supper was at another tavern, the King’s Arms Tavern on Duke of Gloucester Street. This is a reconstructed building, and waitresses in costume from the Revolutionary War served all of the food.
On the final day, Sunday, June 16, the group went into Williamsburg again where they toured the Governor’s Palace. Most of the group toured the cabinet-making shop, and some visited the foundry where they were making pewter spoons like the ones used in the tavern.
The final stop was at the Shirley Plantation, established in 1613 and still a working farm.
“It was one of the first plantations ever built,” said Liz.
“During the Civil War, Union soldiers were taken in and cared for in that house,” said Bob. “After that, it was considered neutral territory, and there was no damage to the house.”
Bob was referring to the Great House, which was constructed in 1723. The interior is original furnishings from the 18th Century. The 11th and 12th generations of the family still reside in the home on the third floor, according to the Bennetts and Moritz. Robert E. Lee’s grandparents were owners of the plantation at one time.
All in all, it was a very successful trip, and the Bennetts were pleased to have been able to lead it. While they had been to Jamestown in the past, most of this trip was new to them. They are planning on Boston for next year.
If you’d like more information on how to join one of the Bennett’s History Travels, visit https://sites.google.com/view/boston2020/.
