Meeting Notes: March 19, 2025

The March 19, 2025, meeting was held in the Heilman Dining Center, at the University of Richmond. Members of the University of Richmond’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute also attended.

Due to unforeseen events, the scheduled speaker, Michael Aubrecht, was unable to make his presentation and will be rescheduled to a later date. The American Revolution Round Table of Richmond is fortunate to have a wealth of history experts who can be called on very short notice in such circumstances.

Dr. Bruce M. Venter came forward to stand in as the evening’s presenter.  Bruce is ARRT-Richmond’s former first vice president and is CEO of America’s History, LLC, a premier historic tours and conference company that offers tours of Revolutionary War battlefields and historic sites. https://americashistoryllc.com/ He is the author of The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear Guard Action that Saved America (History Press, 2015). The last was recognized as one of the 100 best books on the American Revolution by the editors of The Journal of the American Revolution. He is also the author of Kill Jeff Davis: Union Raid on Richmond in 1864 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016).

Bruce’s presentation focused on patriot Ethan Allen and was a glimpse into his upcoming tour on May 10. He spoke of Allen’s: (a) involvement in the New Hampshire land grants dispute; (b) later land-speculations; (c) formation of the Green Mountain Boys in 1770; (d) leading the Green Mountain Boys, in 1775, along with comrades from Connecticut and Massachusetts to capture Fort Ticonderoga (on the shores of Lake Champlain); (e) joining forces with Benedict Arnold for the fort’s capture and the exceptional importance of cannons seized; (f) capture during the Canadian Campaign and imprisonment in England; (g) parole when brought to New York City; (h) obtaining freedom as a result of a prisoner exchange; and (i) later military and political activities, writings, and second marriage adventures.

Fred Sorrell

Secretary

Shockoe Hill Cemetery Tour: May 17, 2025

Our tour guide will be Jeff Burden, Coordinator of the Friends of Shockoe Cemetery.  Check here for information about the cemetery, its history, and maps (under Visit tab).  While our emphasis will be the revolutionary residents, Jeff will present interesting stories from other periods.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS

1. The tour is Saturday, May 17 at 1 PM, lasting until approximately 2:30 PM.  Of course, you'll be free to stay and explore as long as you wish.
2. The cemetery is located at Hospital Street, between N 2nd and N 4th Streets, in downtown Richmond.
3. Cost - A donation will be collected that day.  Suggested $10.
4. Parking is inside the cemetery.  Enter at either the gate on Hospital Street or the gate on Bates Street.  Park on any available road.  Look for our group.
5. A restroom is available.  Bring your own water.
6. Tour goes rain or shine.  However, if a deluge, check your email for directions.
7. This tour is open to all members and friends.  Please spread the word.

REGISTRATION

Please email wmwelsch@comcast.net with the names of folks attending or any questions.  Please do so as soon as possible, to assist our planning.  Thanks.

Next Meeting: May 28, 2025

John Pagano will present "Battle of Sudbury's Farm, 1781."

Please note that this is a FOURTH WEDNESDAY date due to University of Richmond scheduling.

Col. Robert Goode's militia, with around 150 men, camped there, establishing outposts towards Petersburg, VA.  A major skirmish with Cornwallis' foragers known as the Battle of Sudbury's Farm, occurred on May 23, 1781, resulting in significant casualties. This event is considered Chesterfield County's bloodiest day of the war. 

 John Pagano, who was our third speaker in 2007, is the principal historian and advisor for Chesterfield County’s 250th Anniversary Committee and is an assisting advisor to Henrico County’s 250th Committee.  John has worked extensively in public history at various museums and sites and is now Historical Interpretation Supervisor at Henricus Historical Park in Chester.

John has written, advised, and consulted on approximately twenty historical documentaries, including a Revolutionary War Documentary video, “Von Steuben’s Continentals” that focuses on how Steuben’s tactics transformed the Continental Army at Valley Forge. He is also founder and an officer of a local living history organization, the “Virginia Line” which does programs portraying Virginia militia and Continental soldiers in the American Revolution.

Shockoe Cemetery Tour

Bill Welsch is working on scheduling a tour of Shockoe Cemetery on May 17, 2025. Please look for the April and May newsletters for further details.

Next Meeting: March 19, 2025

Michael Aubrecht will speak on "Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom."

Michael is an author, historian, and producer who has written multiple books and has published many articles for print and online magazines including Patriots of the American Revolution and Emerging Civil War. He hosts the YouTube series "The Naked Historian" and manages the Facebook page "Today's History Lesson." His talk will be on his new book, Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: Faith and Liberty in Fredericksburg, which discusses Jefferson's time in the city and the background for Jefferson's writing.

This in person meeting will be in the Heilman Dining Center, with dinner beginning at 5:30 and the meeting starting at 6:30. Please note, we will NOT be meeting as usual in the Westhampton Room, but rather downstairs in the lower dining room.  People will be available to direct you, after you get your dinner.  There are elevators.

Here are directions to campus and a map.  Click on Campus Map near the bottom.  We will meet in the Heilman Dining Center.    

May Meeting Date Changed

Due to scheduling at the University of Richmond, the date of our May meeting has been changed from May 21 to May 28. Please mark your calendars!

ARRT-Richmond Preservation Partners

Five dollars of each members' dues are earmarked for preservation purposes. The recipient of our annual preservation donation is recommended and approved by the membership. We just completed our tenth year of annual donations to worthy recipients. They are:

2013 - Battersea - $300

2014 – Library of Virginia - $400

2015 – Campaign 1776 - $400

2016 – Museum of the American Rev - $400

2017 – Campaign 1776 - $425

2018 – Menokin - $465

2019 – St John’s Church - $455

2022 – Washington Crossing Park Association - $250

2023 – Wilton House Museum - $360

2024 – Patrick Henry’s Red Hill - $400

 Donations To Date - $3,855

Thank you to all of our members for your generosity!