St. Albans Historical Society: The Necessity of Independence: The 250th Anniversary Commemoration of Dunmore’s War

 The Necessity of Independence: The 250th Anniversary Commemoration of Dunmore’s War

Join us in St Albans, WV, for a significant historical event commemorating the 250th anniversary of Dunmore’s War, a crucial stepping-stone to the American Revolution.

When: August 24, 2024
Where: Angela’s-on-the-River Restaurant and St. Marks Episcopal Church, St. Albans, WV
Schedule:

The following schedule is currently proposed for the August 24 event:

Morning special presentations on the half hour:

10:30 am, Shawnee Sustenance, Spies, and Skirmishers:  How the Shawnees drew sustenance from the Kenhawa Theepee region and how they attempted to defend their sustenance from the land and waters here via military efforts, including the spies and skirmishers who watched and engaged the Virginian army as it approached Point Pleasant.

11:00 am, Speculators and Surveyors:  How the land warrant recipients from previous wars speculated on land deals and how their hired surveyors began parsing up the Kanawha Valley for the speculators.

11:30 am, Soldiers and Sutlers:  How did the Virginia militiamen survive the long march and livestock drive, and how did the sutlers serve them along the way?

12:00 noon, Settlers, Servants, and Slaves:  Who began moving into the Kanawha Valley even before Dunmore’s War was concluded, and what were some of the complex relationships between the heads of households and their servants and slaves?

Repeat special presentations in the afternoon:

1:00 pm, Shawnee Sustenance, Spies, and Skirmishers:  How the Shawnees drew sustenance from the Kenhawa Theepee region and how they attempted to defend their sustenance from the land and waters here via military efforts, including the spies and skirmishers who watched and engaged the Virginian army as it approached Point Pleasant.

1:30 pm, Speculators and Surveyors:  How the land warrant recipients from previous wars speculated on land deals and how their hired surveyors began parsing up the Kanawha Valley for the speculators.

2:00 pm, Soldiers and Sutlers:  How did the Virginia militiamen survive the long march and livestock drive, and how did the sutlers serve them along the way?

2:30 pm, Settlers, Servants, and Slaves:  Who began moving into the Kanawha Valley even before Dunmore’s War was concluded and what were some of the complex relationships between the heads of households and their servants and slaves?

Special History Alive! portrayal at the historic chapel of Saint Marks Episcopal Church beside the Post Office:

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Conflict without, conflict within:  Thomas Ingles, a man between two cultures.

Theme: Speculators, Surveyors, Settlers, and Soldiers

Learn about the vital role of surveyors and settlers in the Kanawha Valley between 1770 and 1774, driven by land speculators like George Washington, who claimed the land now comprising Saint Albans. Discover the tensions and conflicts that arose with local American Indians attempting to keep their land, and how Virginia’s Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, responded by sending an army down the Kanawha River to quell the violence.

Highlights:

• Living-History Interpreters: Experience the daily life and struggles of the original landowners and the early Virginia settlers and soldiers.
• History Alive! Performance: Witness a captivating portrayal of Thomas Ingles, a man who navigated between two cultures during this tumultuous period.

This event is a collaboration between the St. Albans Historical Society, the Mary Ingles Trail Blazers, appalachianlivinghistory.com, St. Marks Episcopal Church, WV Humanities Council, and the City of St. Albans.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to delve into our local history and its impact on the broader American Revolution.

Photos courtesy of Doug Wood, Dianne Anestis, & Kirk Sullens.