Williamsburg Virginia - Shelley Beatty

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia! Huzzah!!

March 17, 2012 by shelley

In Colonial Williamsburg’s 301-acre Historic Area stand hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city—black, white, and native American, slave, indentured, and free—and the challenges they faced.

Map of Colonial Williamsburg Virginia.

One of the highlights was the drum and fife parade.

Drum and fife corp.

With the onset of war in 1775, Virginia began to train an army to defend against a British invasion. Fifers and Drummers were an important part of the 18th-century military. Just as Virginia enlisted soldiers and stockpiled arms and ammunition, it also trained fifers and drummers to work with soldiers in the field. In the 18th century, fifers and drummers tended to be boys ages 10 to 18. Today, in the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg, members of the Fifes and Drums are boys and girls ages 10 to 18.

In 1778, Virginia needed soldiers to protect the Capitol City of Williamsburg. The General Assembly established the Virginia State Garrison Regiment, which served in the Tidewater area of Virginia, stationing troops at Hampton, Yorktown, and Williamsburg. Fifers and drummers served with the enlisted men of this regiment. According to the Williamsburg Public Stores accounts, the field musicians numbered some 22 players.

: Drum and fife corp.

: Map of Colonial Williamsburg Virginia.

: Becca in front of restaurant where we ate the first night.

: Walking down the street in Williamsburg.

: At the restaurant.

: The tavern The King’s Arm where we ate lunch.

: Lunch at the King’s Arms.

: Adam and Henry.

: Becca in the printer’s shop and post office.

: Printer’s shop and post office.

: Becca in the pillory.

: “Big” Becca in pillory.

: At the wigmaker.

: Wigmaker.

: Wigmaker.

: Big bustle at the millinery.

: Becca trying on a colonial hat.

: Colonial militia.

: Jen and colonial “spokesman” in magazine.

: Gun rack in magazine.

: Guns in magazine.

: Becca.

: Becca.

: Becca and Jen in the magazine.

: Guns in magazine.

: Courthouse.

: Governor’s Mansion.

: Becca, Jen and Becca.

: Guns in foyer of Governor’s Mansion.

: Foyer of Governor’s Mansion.

: Governor’s Mansion.

: Heading up the staircase Governor’s Mansion.

: Bec and Bec.

: Nanny’s bed in Governor’s Mansion.

: Bedroom Governor’s Mansion.

: Ballroom of Governor’s Mansion.

: Dining room of Govern’s mansion.

: Dining table Governor’s Mansion.

: Govern’s Mansion.

: Rug pattern Governor’s Mansion.

: Serious heating in Governor’s Mansion.

: Chandelier Governor’s Mansion.

: Smoke House at Governor’s Mansion.

: Actual food prepared at Governor’s Mansion.

: Cooking fireplace at Governor’s Mansion.

: Cooking kitchen Governor’s Mansion.

: Food at Governor’s Mansion.

: Garden at Governor’s Mansion.

: Desserts prepared at Governor’s Mansion.

: Marzipan ram’s head.

: Sugar treat for Governor’s mansion.

: Horse and carriage.

: Gorgeous tree in Williamsburg.

: Peyton Randolph House.

: Peyton Randolph House.

: Becca at coopers.

: Cooper.

: Cooper.

: Creek that runs under the furniture makers house.

: Furniture maker.

: Furniture maker.

: Becca playing harpsichord.

: Becca at the furniture maker’s playing handmade harpsichord.

: Serenade.

: Harpsichord.

: Furniture maker.

: Creek under house of furniture maker.

: Creek by the furniture maker’s house.

: Warning of tar and feathering.

: Carl and Becca at Green Leafe restaurant.

: Adam at Green Leafe restaurant.

: Green Leafe Restaurant.

: Capitol building, chair in the House of Burgess room.

: Guide in capitol building.

: General Court Room Capitol Building.

: Conference Room in Capitol Building.

: Council Chamber Capitol Building.

: Beautiful molding!

: Court room Capitol Building.

: Capitol Building.

: Becca and Henry.

: Becca and Henry.

: Becca and Adam at the Apothecary.

: Bec, Adam and Jen at the Apothecary.

: Bec and Hen at the Apothecary.

: Apothecary.

: Back room of apothecary.

: Weaver.

: Jen and Becca at the weaver.

: Looking at Williamsburg.

: Horse and carriage.

: Adam, Jen, Carl and Becca.

: Henry, Bec, Adam and Jen.

: Oxen.

More pictures here.

Playing at a school playground, while watching out for ghosts!

March 17, 2012 by shelley

We decided to take Becca and Henry to play at a playground in Williamsburg and found one at the Matthew Whaley Elementary School. We soon learned it it is suppose to be haunted. It is believed to be haunted by Matthew Whaley the son of Headmistress Mary Page Whaley. In the year 1696, a teacher named Mary Whaley gave birth to a single son and named him Matthew Whaley. Mary taught her child in the backyard of their home, but unfortunately at nine years of age, the little boy died…leaving Mary and the father with no children. Mary Whaley, shortly after her son’s death, opened a school for the poor and it was known throughout the Community of Williamsburg, Virginia as “Mattey’s School”. Following a period of a few years, Mary Whaley lost her husband and he was buried beside Mattey in a church’s cemetery located in Williamsburg. Mary left the country and entrusted her school to the church’s wardens.

Through different buildings being erected and torn down over the past three hundred years, there is now a fairly large brick building used as an Elementary School and named in Matthew Whaley’s memory that stands on Scotland Street. It is said that Mattey’s ghost has been seen on the school grounds, more than once. However, many people claim that because this is not the actual site of the original school, his ghost is actually seen in front of the Governor’s palace in town…at the spot of the original schoolhouse. Others claim that they have experienced sightings of two young black boys, playing in the yard of the Elementary School. Rumors have spread that they are the ghosts of two young black boys who were killed by anti-desegregation assailants in the 1960’s. Still other people say that the ghosts are of Mattey Whaley and a little black slave boy who was his friend while he was still alive.

It is ranked in the top 10 haunted schools.
Whatever one believes, it was fun playing on the playground.
We enjoyed a beautiful day with no ghosts.

Matthew Whaley Elementary School Williamsburg Virginia.

Spring Break!!

March 16, 2012 by shelley

We decided to celebrate spring break this year, with a visit to Williamsburg Virginia. I flew to Raleigh Durham to meet up with Jen/Adam and family. From there it is about a three hour drive to Williamsburg. Becca, along with Bear, traveled by train to meet up with us. Carl caught up with us when he got back from the school sponsored ski trip (he was in charge of planning it). Our first night we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge. It is an experience in and of itself. And of course Bec and Henry Long loved the water park.