Image courtesy of Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

"How Naval Architecture Saved the American Revolution": November 19, 2019

On November 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., Dr. Larrie D. Ferreiro will speak at the Society of Naval Architects (SNAME) Hampton Roads section on “How Naval Architecture Saved the American Revolution”. 

Hampton Yacht Club
4707 Victoria Blvd
Hampton, VA 23669

Non-SNAME members can attend.

For more information or to register:
https://www.sname.org/hamptonroadssection/home

Meeting Notes: September 18, 2019

"Delaware's John Dickinson: The Constant Watchman of Liberty," John Sweeney 

Pre-Guest Speaker Notes:
ARRT-R’s next meeting is scheduled for 11/20/19 at Heilman Dining Center at the University of Richmond – dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m. – the speaking program begins at 6:30 p.m.

Guest Speaker – John Sweeney – Editor – Delaware’s John Dickinson: The Constant Watchman of Liberty
 
This book is a collection of essays and lectures published by the Delaware Heritage Commission. It explores the life and career of John Dickinson, whose influential role as a colonial patriot and statesman of the early Republic earned him the nickname “Penman of the Revolution”.

The publication features contributions from former Delaware governors J. Caleb Boggs, Charles L. Terry Jr. and Russell W. Peterson; former Delaware Supreme Court justices Randy J. Holland, Richard S. Rodney and James M. Tunnell, Jr.; historians Jane E. Calvert, Milton E. Flower, John A. Munroe, J.H. Powell, Frederick B. Tolles and Edwin Wolf II; Harold L. Rubendall, former president of Dickinson College; and Gloria Henry and Vertie Lee of the John Dickinson Plantation.

The book was commissioned by the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion, a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to the extension of knowledge about Dickinson and the preservation of his historic home, now a state museum. The book was produced as a joint effort of the Friends, the Delaware Department of State and the Delaware Heritage Commission.

“John Dickinson – The Most Important Founder You Have Never Heard Of”

After several years of legal training in London, Dickinson returned to the colonies. In 1760, he was elected to the Delaware legislature. Over the next fifteen years he would serve in both the Delaware and Pennsylvania legislatures. The fact that he owed property in both colonies allowed him to serve in both at the same time. 

Dickinson was appointed to represent the Pennsylvania colony at the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. He defended the proposition that reconciliation was possible if the King and parliament could be brought to see colonial opposition as an expression of the time–honored English principles of political liberty. His arguments were encapsulated in his Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, a series of essays that gained him recognition as a man of principle and reason.

Dickinson served as a representative to both the First and Second Continental Congresses.
Dickinson’s continuing belief in reconciliation led to a terrible relationship with John Adams. Adams attempted to minimize Dickinson’s role in the Continental Congress. In fact, Dickinson's belief in reconciliation led him to refuse to sign the Declaration of Independence.

However, once the revolution began, Dickinson served as both an officer and enlisted soldier in the American Army. In addition, during the Revolution, Dickinson served as governor of both Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Dickinson was an early foe of slavery. He was born into a slave-owning family but became 
an abolitionist. Dickinson freed all of his slaves at the time of the Revolution, and in 1785 sponsored a bill in the Delaware Legislature abolishing slavery in the state. That bill failed, but the Legislature did encourage slave owners in the state to free them. In addition to freeing all of his slaves, Dickinson also provided for their education, shelter, and food, and gave them paying jobs on the plantation. It took another eighty years and a Civil War before Delaware’s Legislature joined the nation in freeing all slaves.

Dickinson Notes:

Dickinson married Mary Norris. Norris was the daughter of a successful politician. She was 
highly educated and one of the richest women in the colonies.

Dickinson was the first person to use the phrase “American People”.

Dickinson is the namesake of Dickinson College.

--Noah Rogers

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

6th Congress of American Revolution Round Tables: November 9, 2019

The Congress of American Revolution Round Tables will meet in Philadelphia, PA on November 9, 2019.

The agenda and additional information:

6th CONTINENTAL CONGRESS of AMERICAN REVOLUTION ROUNDTABLES
                                           PHILADELPHIA  -  2019 -   AGENDA

Friday, November 8th:  Early arrival Delegates and guests meet for dinner at 6:00pm. at Spasso’s Italian restaurant. http://www.spassoitaliangrill.com/ 
Saturday, November 9th:
09:00-11:00    Meet at Museum of the American Revolution (MOAR) for two-hour tour on own. 3rd and Chestnut Streets. First hour before open to the public!
11:00-11:30    Welcome and Opening Remarks:
·        David Reuwer (Congress Vision)
·        Scott Stephenson/ZeeAnn Mason, MOAR
·        Bill Welsch (Starting a Roundtable)
11:30-12:15    Roundtable Reports, Practices & Ideas (Established Roundtables in the order in which the States ratified the Constitution and admitted to the Union)
          Delaware       
          Pennsylvania            
New Jersey    

12:15-01:15    Lunch and Planning for the 250th American Revolution Anniversary
·        250th National Park Service representative
·        American Battlefield Trust representative

01:15-02:00    State Roundtable Reports continued.
          Georgia
          Massachusetts
          South Carolina
02:00-02:15    Break
02:15-03:00    State Roundtable Reports continued.
          Virginia
          New York
North Carolina
          Northwest Territory (Chicago, Illinois)
03:00-03:15    Break
03:15-4:15     250th Activities, Prospect Reports and Comments from other attendees
Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
Vermont, Florida
          Others
04:15-04:50    Open discussion
04:50-05:00    Next Meeting Host and Site discussion. Adjournment.
06:30-08:30    Dinner at City Tavern.

Sunday, November 10th.
1000-1200      Virtual Reality demonstration: Gaspee   Wyndham Historic District Hotel?
·        John Concannon
·        Adam Blumenthal
Touring/Siteseeing
·        Independence Hall, Carpenter’s Hall, Liberty Bell, etc. Touring on your own.  Information will be available at the Congress or check here.  https://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm 
If you wish to see Independence Hall, a ticket is required.  All details are here.  https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencehall.htm  It is strongly recommended that you obtain a ticket in advance, as per the directions.  Most other sites are either free or tickets can be purchased that day.

·        National Constitution Center.  https://constitutioncenter.org/
 
·        DO NOT purchase advanced tickets to the Museum of the American Revolution, as they are providing complimentary admission to Congress attendees.   https://www.amrevmuseum.org/ 

CONGRESS REGISTRATION FEE:  $25 covering Saturday lunch and copying costs.
CITY TAVERN DINNER, Saturday Night.  A City Tavern Menu is attached. Two dinner options are available. Delegates are responsible for their Friday and Saturday dinner costs.
ROUNDTABLE SWAG: Please bring brochures, handouts, small MOMENTO(s) of your ARRT and/or local Revolutionary War sites to give to your continental ARRT brethren from afar. 

Southside Revolutionary Virginia 1775 Tour: October 12, 2019

On Saturday, October 12, 2019, thirty of us traveled to the Norfolk area to tour Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Norfolk), Kemp's Landing (Virginia Beach), and the site of the Battle of Great Bridge (Chesapeake). The weather was great and our tour guides, Dr. Pat Hannum and Mr. Jon Stull, were equally extraordinary! Thank you! Following are some pictures of the day's activities (click on photos for larger versions).








Our 2019 Preservation Partner

Our members have chosen St. John's Church Foundation as our 2019 Preservation Partner.  Our check for $455 will be presented by Lee Ball at the Arnold Day events at St. John's on January 5, 2020.  Lee was the member who nominated the church.  Congratulations to the Foundation!

https://www.historicstjohnschurch.

Next Meeting: November 20, 2019

"Manufacturing Independence: Industrial Innovation in the American Revolution," Robert Smith

Meetings are held in the Westhampton Room, Heilman Dining Center (dining hall--building 34 on the campus map), University of Richmond, at 6:30 p.m. with dinner available for purchase beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Please plan on joining us!

University of Richmond campus map: 
http://www.richmond.edu/visit/maps/print/campus.pdf