The morning of February 21, 2009. Our first program of the day starts at the old Gaol, an original structure.
You may recognize this building if you've seen “John Adams.” It was the jail in the scene when Adams visits Captain Prescott and his men.
The guide at the Gaol was a delightfully cheeful fellow.
The program is called “God Save the King” Here we're waiting to be let inside.
Some interpreters and other employees were joining us for research purposes.
Inside, we are told the story of Joe and Dick, two slaves caught running to ousted Royal Governor Lord Dunmore to join the British fight against the Patriot rebellion.
Waiting to be let inside. A large school or tour group had entered prior to us. The program only runs from 10-12. The rest of the time the Gaol has its normal tour schedule.
Our guide introduces us to the captured.
Dick was fiercly committed to seeking his freedom by joining Dunmore, and blamed Joe for his capture.
Joe missed his family, and did not trust the British to keep their word. He left his comrades and was caught while returning to his master, Edmund Ruffin.
Dick wanted his freedom just as his master did, but staying with Ruffin meant that would never happen. Joe was supposed to rendezvous with him at the boat, but never came. He wasted valuable time, and was caught while adrift in the boat near Mulberry Island (Fort Eustis today).
The other four slaves they were traveling with apparently made it to Norfolk and Dunmore's protection.
The program director for the weekend's events met us outside, and advised us of other programs that would be happening throughout the day.
A quick stop by the windmill on the way to the Palace Kitchen. I remember climbing into that as a youngster. It's been closed to visitors for some time.
Berries on a tree in the Palace Garden.
There they are! I knew you could visit the cellars of the Palace but always seemed to miss them.
If you've been to Monticello, it's similar. These were storage areas, not for unused crap like today...
...but for spices...
...and wine. You'd have to be pretty serious about wine to build your storage unit out of brick today.
On the way out, you can clearly see the division between new brick at top, and original early 1720's brick at bottom. It is literally built right on top of old foundations.
The exit. I thought the vertical handrails were interesting.
We learned that this odd building was not dairy or food related, but a bath. Apparently how it was used is not clearly understood yet.
Food storage outbuildings.
We came to the kitchen to drop off our beer bottles, and spied Jim working with cocoa beans to make chocolate.
Barbara was stoking the fire, creating an impressive tower of sparks.
Apparently chocolate was mostly drunk in the 18th Century, but was also used for treats. These kids each got a bean, but their parents were warned not to let them eat it, lest they want little Energizer bunnies.
A quick stop at the Wheelwright, since we haven't been there in a while.
Their shop is in a carriage house, inaccurate for the 18th century, but convenient for the 21st. The tools are familiar to woodworkers and carpenters.
They were working on a new wheel (on bench) for a large wagon, very similar to an 18th century bus. The vertical wheel at rear is a flywheel for the lathe.
No heat in this building. We were told that on the coldests days, they shiver instead of work, and there isn't much to see.
Back to Market Square to wait for the next program, we caught a Fife & Drum march.
Waiting for our next program: “The Examination of Joe and Dick, Black Loyalists”
You can just make out Dick, center of the picture, being escorted to the Courthouse.
Joe arrives, and the guard warns the crowd to “stand down”.
Dick is next, and fighting the whole way.
The justices arrive...
And we wait to enter.
Inside, the justices of the Committee of Safety hear the pleas of Mr. Ruffin, and testimony from both Joe and Dick.
Ruffin (just behind the paneled box) wants his property back, and the committee decides to let Joe return to his plantation. No doubt he would suffer punishment, but not from the committee.
Dick on the other hand, informed the committee that he would like to kill each and every justice on the bench.
That didn't sit well, and there were calls for his hanging. Actually, this guy wanted to hang them both as an example.
The committee decides to keep him in custody and decide his fate later. Probably not hanging, but perhaps a lifetime of toil in the sugar plantations of Antigua.
This was just as good as hanging, really, as he would survive a matter of years if that happened. Joe is released, and Dick is removed from court. This whole sequence of events was really emotional and sad, which is the point, of course. It reminds me that CW can be more than a carefree vacation for those who want more out of it.
Ruffin has to settle his debts with the committee, including the costs of Joe's capture and imprisonment. At this time, we can "hear" Dick being beaten by the guards.
A justice, who a few seconds later remarked to his fellow committeeman that perhaps they should send Dunmore to a similar fate as Dick.
Joe says goodbye, and prepares to leave.
Outside, we learned that Joe returned home, and Dick died while in captivity and was never sent to Antigua or anywhere else. The other four slaves were eventually caught, but on their way to the islands were recaptured by the British and sold back into slavery.
