Just when we thought we had a handle on the history of the area, a new time frame is interjected. We went to Jamestown first. Turns out this was the first permanent American settlement. We think we remember that from high school American history but a lot more data has filled our minds so that piece of information got buried.
So, instead of the 1700s we learned about the 1600s. Starting with 1607. Do you realize that was over 400 years ago? We thought yesterday was mind boggling at 300 years. The history lesson was amazing. The first colony was established for trade purposes and the English were trying to out do the Spanish. There was unbelievable hardship and over half didn't survive.
Captain John Smith was someone taught about in history. It seems as though he wasn't well liked. It didn't appear he stayed in America very long. After an injury he went back to England and never returned to America. He was a prisoner of the Indians for a period of time and he did appear to do some surveying and map making.
Pocahontas, another name we recognize, married and English man and was sent to England for good will purposes. She died there just a couple of years later.
Jamestown was the first colonial capital but the capital was moved to Williamsburg because it was thought to be a safer place from the Spanish.
The first settlers came on 3 boats. There were replicas of them in the James River and we got to go aboard 2 of them. There was also a reconstructed Indian village and a fort that we explored.
If we would have done these towns in chronological order, we would have gone to Jamestown first, then Williamsburg but instead we just had to readjust our brains more. Good exercise for older people.
Last historical stop today was Yorktown. Have to go back to yesterday for a time. Williamsburg was a hub in the 1700s and we declared our independence in 1776. It seems the fight for independence started in 1775 and lasted until 1783. We'll, the turning point, when the American troops began being victorious over the British, was in 1781 in the battle at Yorktown. It was with the help of the French.
Remember in yesterday's blog George Washington used a house in Williamsburg to muster troops? He also met with the French at that time regarding Yorktown. Such fascinating history and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Weather wise it rained for about 20 minutes during the tour at Jamestown but the rest of the time was dry.
Went to the famous Whitley's peanuts store and tasted many kinds of peanuts, some being: salt and pepper, salt and vinegar, and maple bacon.
Church tonight at Calvary Chapel Williamsburg with a teaching from Job 22 - 24 on the long-suffering of God. Always good to hear from the word of God.
Replica of boat Godspeed
