Stranger in Williamsburg Page 14
Worship was important to most of the citizens of Williamsburg. But even if it hadn’t been, all white Virginians were required by law to attend church at least once each month. The official religion was the Church of England (Episcopal), and Bruton Parish Church was the official church of Williamsburg. Services were held every Sunday morning and on Christmas Day and Good Friday. These services included readings from the Book of Common Prayer and a sermon. Holy Communion was served four times a year.
African Americans in Williamsburg—free or slave—attended Bruton Parish Church also, but they sat in the gallery upstairs instead of on the red velvet cushions inside the high-walled pews, where Sarah and her cousins sat. At the time Sarah came to stay with her Aunt Charity’s family, there were an equal number of African Americans and whites living in Williamsburg. Most of the African Americans were slaves, but some, like Marcus, were free.
Williamsburg was a pleasant, peaceful place to live and carry on business—until the British government began to demand more and more taxes from the colonists. The colonists were not allowed to send representatives to Parliament to participate in making the laws under which they had to live, which they quickly began to resent.
The anger and resentment of the colonists started to show itself in the streets and taverns of Williamsburg as they discussed the latest indignities imposed on them by King George and Parliament. Colonial leaders were sent to talk with King George, but they found that, as Sarah’s brother Nate said, King George “danced to Parliament’s tune like a puppet on a string.” And Parliament was only interested in adding money to its treasury; they couldn’t have cared less about what the colonists thought.
Finally, Patrick Henry’s soul-stirring words rang out: “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Soon afterward, the Patriots of Virginia told the world they would be free of English rule, and the rest of the colonies agreed. The war for independence had begun.
The King’s Governor and his family fled to England for safety, along with other Tories (people who were loyal to the King of England). And Patrick Henry, the new Commonwealth (state) of Virginia’s first governor, moved into the Governor’s Palace.
The young colonies-turned-states did not have the chance of a snowball in July of winning a war against the best-trained and best-equipped army in the world. As the red-coated British soldiers marched toward them in perfect formation, the colonists soon learned to hide behind trees, rocks, and fences, and make every bullet count. Hungry, cold, and poorly equipped, many of them died on the battlefield with Patrick Henry’s words ringing in their hearts. But they prayed hard and often, and, in the end, the Patriots won. The United States of America was born.
Today you can visit restored Colonial Williamsburg and walk Duke of Gloucester Street as Sarah did. You can shop at John Greenhow’s store, and stand in front of the little house on Waller Street where she studied with the milliner, Gabrielle Gordon. Sample the delicious offerings of the bakery and the taverns. Stroll in the gardens of the Governor’s Palace. Sit on the bank of the canal, and watch the swans.
Then get ready for another adventure with Sarah, this time back in Kentucky at the fort at Harrodstown. Reunion in Kentucky will soon be available at Smashwords.com.
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About the Author
Wanda Luttrell was raised on her grandparents’ farm in Franklin County, Kentucky, on the banks of Stoney Creek. She and her husband John (her high school sweetheart) live on that same piece of property today, where they have raised five children and entertained several precious grandchildren.
An extremely accurate fiction writer, Wanda Luttrell’s foremost expertise is without question Kentucky and American history. She has meticulously researched the time period surrounding the Sarah’s Journey series, and skillfully blended that knowledge into an exciting adventure spanning five books that will be enjoyed by young and old alike.
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You will want to read all five of the books in the Sarah’s Journey series:
Home on Stoney Creek
Stranger in Williamsburg
Reunion in Kentucky
Whispers in Williamsburg
Shadows on Stoney Creek
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