We see the Marquis and other fun things

Friday October 4, 2013
Colonial Williamsburg

 

 

 

After doing my civic duty as a judge, we walk up to the corner of Duke of Gloucester Street to the Geddy House.

 

 

If you missed the post on our activities earlier this day including the trial, you can read it here.   Mr. James Geddy is a merchant, a well to do merchant but still in a class lower than the gentry of which Mr. Wythe is a member.  While Americans are in the beginnings of the idea of freedom from crown domination, they are still a very classed society with the royal governor at the top, and the gentry, meaning large land owners, the “ladies and gentlemen”, next in line.   They are followed by the “middling sort” a new class made up in this country of tradesmen-blacksmiths, cobblers, milliners, printers and silversmiths.  Members of the “middling class” also worked as “professionals” – lawyers, doctors and merchants who owned stores.  Mr. Geddy is a silversmith.  His property contains his home and his foundry, gunsmith and silversmith businesses.

 

 

 

As we are ushered into Mr. Geddy’s retail store which is on one side of his home, this lady is patiently waiting outside the house for Mr. Geddy’s return.

 

 

In Mr. Geddy’s shop there are some beautiful pieces of silver - flatware, belt buckles, trays, candlesticks, pitchers and bowls to name a few. 

 

 

 

Mr. Geddy’s daughter Anne is playing the spinet in the dining room and we are invited to come in and listen.  What a beautiful instrument, both its cabinet and the sound of the music.   She’s an excellent musician.

 

 

 

Miss Geddy tells us about the instrument which is new to the colonies and  apologizes for her father’s continued absence She encourages us to go out into their extensive vegetable garden.  It appears that every house in town has a large kitchen garden.  I love to see these gardens.  They remind me so much of the large raised vegetable beds we grew for years.  Looks delicious and so fresh.  I am missing the fresh produce on the road.

 

 

 

 

We walk back to the foundry and gunsmith shop but see there are many people in line to pick up or place orders so we resolve to return another day.

 

 

 

Across the street we notice the shoemaker’s shop is open.

 

He is certainly well prepared for the coolness of fall with his split firewood supply.

 

 

 

Mr. George Wilson is hard at work and has quite an array of shoes hanging all around his small shop. 

 

 

 

 

He explains that he is a trained shoe MAKER, not a cobbler who is a shoe repairman with 5 years less experience than he.  

He points out the foot forms against the wall and tell us that his shoes are made for either foot but within a short period of time the wearer’s feet will shape them to fit for only right or left.

Mr. Wilson also explains that he is a maker of boots and shoes for men.  He makes the shoes and others supply the buckles.  Others like Mr. Geddy.  Gentle women’s shoes are made elsewhere often of cloth, silk or brocade, to match their gowns.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither of us is in the market for shoes today so we walk on down the street passing other shops and taverns. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are passing the armory when we hear the drums and then the fife.

People stop their talking and hurry along toward market square where the local militia are gathering to march in review and be addressed by their general.  We hurry along too not wanting to miss the show.

 

 

 

This was one of Carrie’s favorite parts of a trip to Colonial Williamsburg and I wish I could find the picture we have of her in costume skipping down the street after the fife and drum.

 

 

 

 

 

They look very impressive as they march along and while standing and waiting for the troops.

 

 

 

 

And then the little militia arrives.  Oh my, there are far more drummers and fifers than militia.  I wonder if we can win the war with so few as these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the general arrives, we understand. 

 

The French have come to help us.  Thank goodness!!  It is the Marquis de Lafayette who rides in and delivers a fiery address which has everyone cheering.

 

 

As the general of the branch of the army at Williamsburg, he has important business and charges off the field leaving the troops to their practice maneuvers.  War is on the way.

 

 

 

There is a lot of talk among the crowd and some of the ladies leave before the loud maneuvers begin.  Dainty ears??  :-)

 

The troops practice with their muskets

 

 

 

with their bayonets

 

 

 

 

and with the canon.

 

 

 

After the maneuvers, they march in an orderly fashion off the field.

 

 

 

 

This is our signal.  It’s been a long and full day here in the 18th Century. 

 

We head toward the car and are surprised to find that a 21st Century party is going on at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street in Merchant's Square.  There is a stage at one end and folks have set their chairs up waiting for the music to begin.

 

Others are circling their wagons.  For them it seems not to be about the music.

 

 

Apparently this is the 85th birthday of Merchant’s Square and they are having a birthday party complete with discounted food from local restaurants.  The sun is getting lower and lower in the sky.  After a long day of walking, it looks like dinner to us.  So we get in the line which is not too bad yet. 

 

 

 

 

 

We make it into the tent, select our food and finally find a bench where we can sit and eat it. 

 

 

As we leave, I find Mr. Jefferson still hard at work.  He is just writing and writing.  I give him a good luck kiss and hope he makes his deadline and is not still here tomorrow when we come back again to visit Colonial Williamsburg.