9/21/2024
12:30pm - 1:30pm
“Forst Upon the Stadge:” The Interrogation of Lady Berkeley
Location: Memorial Church
Sit in on the “jury of inquiry” as one of the most prominent women in 17th c. Virginia — Lady Francis Berkeley — is challenged to defend her late husband’s actions by the widow of William Drummond, a rebel who was hung for his part in Bacon’s Rebellion. For several years, Drummond’s widow, Sara, has taken issue with how her family has been treated and now, she’s brought suit against Lady Berkeley in an attempt to recover losses from her late husband’s estate.
For many Virginians, the fiery destruction of Jamestown in September 1676 was the culmination of a long struggle to recover from the convulsions of England’s civil war and Cromwell’s 10-year rule. Looking deeper, we discover that long standing perceptions of class, partisanship, place, and self-determination were challenged during this pivotal time. This special program will expose those contradictions, interrogate legacies, and invite visitors to personally and powerfully engage with our history.
Included with paid admission to the Preservation Virginia portion of Historic Jamestowne.