Colonial Williamsburg
Table of contents: 
Table of contents…..pg.1
Introduction…..pg.1
What made Williamsburg?.....pg.1
Williamsburg’s government…..pg.2
The Public…..pg.5
Different perspectives…..pg.6
Conclusion…..pg.7
Introduction
Walking up and down the streets, the happy people of colonial Williamsburg talk about
politics and new wig deals. The beautiful colony of Williamsburg is a busy place, bustling
with all kinds of enjoyment. The people that live here are happy with their decisions. This
report answers all questions that you might have about colonial Williamsburg. If you keep
reading, I can assure you that most of those questions will be answered.
politics and new wig deals. The beautiful colony of Williamsburg is a busy place, bustling
with all kinds of enjoyment. The people that live here are happy with their decisions. This
report answers all questions that you might have about colonial Williamsburg. If you keep
reading, I can assure you that most of those questions will be answered.
What made Williamsburg?
It all started with Jamestown. In 1699, the statehouse of Jamestown burnt to a crisp.
They needed a new place to meet, so they moved to Middle Plantation, a place where it
wasn’t swampy and prone to disease . At the time, only a few people lived there, but then
the government placed their statehouse there, and attracted more citizens to settle there.
When more people came, they gave it a new name: Williamsburg. They named it after
King William III of England.
They needed a new place to meet, so they moved to Middle Plantation, a place where it
wasn’t swampy and prone to disease . At the time, only a few people lived there, but then
the government placed their statehouse there, and attracted more citizens to settle there.
When more people came, they gave it a new name: Williamsburg. They named it after
King William III of England.
The burnt down statehouse of Jamestown
King William III of England
Williamsburg’s government
Who was the governor?
The Governor was a very important and respected person. He was as overpowering as a lion.
He was chosen to represent the king! He had this fancy house called the governor’s palace.
He had a big garden, a lot of rooms, and huge parties for only rich people. He was treated
like royalty! Sometimes, researchers wonder if the same conditions are given in other parts
of the country. Maybe in Plymouth, Governors don’t get big, fancy palaces….
He was chosen to represent the king! He had this fancy house called the governor’s palace.
He had a big garden, a lot of rooms, and huge parties for only rich people. He was treated
like royalty! Sometimes, researchers wonder if the same conditions are given in other parts
of the country. Maybe in Plymouth, Governors don’t get big, fancy palaces….
Governor’s palace
How did Williamsburg’s laws work?
Let’s start with lawbreaking. First of all, if people broke the law, they ABSOLUTELY had to
be punished. In colonial Williamsburg, people were very sensitive about this kind of stuff.
If it was something minor, they would probably be put in the pillory or the stocks. They
sometimes put in the stocks for saying a bad joke! The pillory was a wooden stand where
you would put your head and arms in holes in wooden boards, putting you in a very
uncomfortable position and embarrassing you. You might see these things in movies, so
you probably remember that some other citizens throw tomatoes at them either for fun,
or hatred…….Then, there’s the stocks. The stocks are where you put your two feet in holes
in wooden boards, also embarrassing you. Not really a severe punishment, if you ask me.
be punished. In colonial Williamsburg, people were very sensitive about this kind of stuff.
If it was something minor, they would probably be put in the pillory or the stocks. They
sometimes put in the stocks for saying a bad joke! The pillory was a wooden stand where
you would put your head and arms in holes in wooden boards, putting you in a very
uncomfortable position and embarrassing you. You might see these things in movies, so
you probably remember that some other citizens throw tomatoes at them either for fun,
or hatred…….Then, there’s the stocks. The stocks are where you put your two feet in holes
in wooden boards, also embarrassing you. Not really a severe punishment, if you ask me.
If it was something more major, they would put you in the Gaol (pronounced “jail”)
to wait for a trial. Sometimes, they’d keep people in there for months before the trial
begins!
to wait for a trial. Sometimes, they’d keep people in there for months before the trial
begins!
Williamsburg public Gaol
How to get in to Gaol:
- Do a normal bad thing
- Embarrass other people
- Be impolite
- Tell a bad joke
Lawmaking in Williamsburg was very important. The capitol was a building that held
Williamsburg’s government. Like ours, it had two houses. One of them was the House Of
Burgesses. This is where all of the citizens held meetings. They voted about the things that
people thought were right for the colony. Another house was the Governor’s council. The
Governor’s council represented the will of the king; they decided if the laws were what the
king of England wanted. They were also the “supreme court” of Williamsburg. Honestly, to
have prevented war, they just should vote for everything themselves, not wait for the will of
the king. Now I see why there were so many wars….
Williamsburg’s government. Like ours, it had two houses. One of them was the House Of
Burgesses. This is where all of the citizens held meetings. They voted about the things that
people thought were right for the colony. Another house was the Governor’s council. The
Governor’s council represented the will of the king; they decided if the laws were what the
king of England wanted. They were also the “supreme court” of Williamsburg. Honestly, to
have prevented war, they just should vote for everything themselves, not wait for the will of
the king. Now I see why there were so many wars….
The way that the representatives were chosen for the House of Burgesses was simple.
They were elected by property owners able to vote. You could only vote if you were a white,
property owning man (Luckily, they changed that law later on.). With both of the houses
put together, Williamsburg could make a lot of laws.
They were elected by property owners able to vote. You could only vote if you were a white,
property owning man (Luckily, they changed that law later on.). With both of the houses
put together, Williamsburg could make a lot of laws.
The Public
What were trades?
Now, you’re probably wondering how all of these buildings, clothes and other things
were made without jobs. Well, in colonial Williamsburg, they had these things called
trades. Trades were basically jobs run by tradespeople who were willing to be paid.
Although Williamsburg made a lot of things by itself, goods were often imported from
England . I think that because of global warming, we should stop importing and
exporting things. IF we want to save the world. If our markets run out of stock, we
could always go back to self.
were made without jobs. Well, in colonial Williamsburg, they had these things called
trades. Trades were basically jobs run by tradespeople who were willing to be paid.
Although Williamsburg made a lot of things by itself, goods were often imported from
England . I think that because of global warming, we should stop importing and
exporting things. IF we want to save the world. If our markets run out of stock, we
could always go back to self.
Normal trades of colonial Williamsburg:
-Apothecary: a person for prescriptions and medicine
-Gunsmith: a person who masters in forge and wood.
-Blacksmith: a person who makes tools and homes for people
-Historic farming: farming
-Brickmaker:a person who makes bricks
-Milliner: a person who makes clothes
-Carpenter: a master of wood and building houses
What is he Williamsburg Gristmill?
You’re probably wondering what a gristmill is. A gristmill is a windmill used to grind grain.
Grinding corn was extremely hard to do by hand, therefore, the gristmill.
Grinding corn was extremely hard to do by hand, therefore, the gristmill.
Imagine a windmill. Now, imagine a pole with a wheel on it coming out of the door.
When the miller takes down the ladder, the miller can steer the gristmill so it faces the
wind. The wind turns the gears inside the gristmill, and the gears grind the
corn. Many think that the Williamsburg gristmill gave ideas to the factory people
of today.
When the miller takes down the ladder, the miller can steer the gristmill so it faces the
wind. The wind turns the gears inside the gristmill, and the gears grind the
corn. Many think that the Williamsburg gristmill gave ideas to the factory people
of today.
A newer picture of the Williamsburg Gristmill
What was The Magazine?
The magazine was built in 1715 by Governor Spotswood. The English army wanted to have
a place for guns and other weapons. It was made because Englishmen wanted a place to
store all of the precious weapons they imported from somewhere.
a place for guns and other weapons. It was made because Englishmen wanted a place to
store all of the precious weapons they imported from somewhere.
They wanted to protect it. So, the colonists made a brick house (the most
impenetrable source they had) to protect them all.
impenetrable source they had) to protect them all.
Different perspectives
How did the women see things?
The women didn’t really get a lot of rights back then. They couldn’t vote, they couldn’t go
to school, there were a lot of things women couldn’t do. Men leaders just decided that
women didn’t need to do all of these “important men things”, and they thought it would
be better off if they just stayed home to take care of the house. They had these things called
dame schools in colonial Williamsburg. Dame schools allowed women to get taught things
that they need to know. Like this, for example: manners, church behavior, speaking, reading,
and maybe sewing. Researchers still wonder why people didn’t think much of women back
then.
to school, there were a lot of things women couldn’t do. Men leaders just decided that
women didn’t need to do all of these “important men things”, and they thought it would
be better off if they just stayed home to take care of the house. They had these things called
dame schools in colonial Williamsburg. Dame schools allowed women to get taught things
that they need to know. Like this, for example: manners, church behavior, speaking, reading,
and maybe sewing. Researchers still wonder why people didn’t think much of women back
then.
Of course, there was an uprising because of this after the American revolution, which
enabled women to vote.
enabled women to vote.
What about the Native Americans?
Well, earlier on in colonial times back to Jamestown, the Natives helped the colonists
a lot. In the first section, we talked about how the Williamsburg colony originated
from the Jamestown one. I bet that the Natives probably followed the Jamestown
colonists into Williamsburg to help with the farming and resources when it was still
being put together.
a lot. In the first section, we talked about how the Williamsburg colony originated
from the Jamestown one. I bet that the Natives probably followed the Jamestown
colonists into Williamsburg to help with the farming and resources when it was still
being put together.
But earlier, I think that the Natives were particularly annoyed by the colonists’ presence.
How would you feel if someone just parked in your front yard and started building a bunch
of houses on it? Of course, after Pocahontas, the relationship between the colonists and the
Native Americans softened. Researchers note that without the Pocahontas’ help, we might
still have a complicated relationship with the American Indians today.
How would you feel if someone just parked in your front yard and started building a bunch
of houses on it? Of course, after Pocahontas, the relationship between the colonists and the
Native Americans softened. Researchers note that without the Pocahontas’ help, we might
still have a complicated relationship with the American Indians today.
How did families live?
Living conditions for families in colonial times were similar but not still quite different to
our living conditions today. Let me explain. Children in Williamsburg slept in attics, while
the grownups slept downstairs. It was usually very cold up in the attic. Not the best
conditions for a bedroom, while the parents slept by the fire. Not very fair, if you ask me!
Every Sunday, they had to go to church. In 1660, the Bruton Parish church was built. It has
been there even before the government moved into the Middle Plantation. The Bruton
Parish church was a place where people got together and socialized (usually after church,
but mostly togetherness). Historians realize that we still have similar traditions today.
our living conditions today. Let me explain. Children in Williamsburg slept in attics, while
the grownups slept downstairs. It was usually very cold up in the attic. Not the best
conditions for a bedroom, while the parents slept by the fire. Not very fair, if you ask me!
Every Sunday, they had to go to church. In 1660, the Bruton Parish church was built. It has
been there even before the government moved into the Middle Plantation. The Bruton
Parish church was a place where people got together and socialized (usually after church,
but mostly togetherness). Historians realize that we still have similar traditions today.
Conclusion
Now you know why Williamsburg was so interesting. Historians now see colonial
Williamsburg as a very important place in America’s history. Why do you think Britain
sent the weapons to Williamsburg, not Plymouth? Why did the laws made always have
permission from the king? You see, Williamsburg was a place that someone looks up to.
People were proud of it. Is there any other town in America that was as significant as
Williamsburg?
Williamsburg as a very important place in America’s history. Why do you think Britain
sent the weapons to Williamsburg, not Plymouth? Why did the laws made always have
permission from the king? You see, Williamsburg was a place that someone looks up to.
People were proud of it. Is there any other town in America that was as significant as
Williamsburg?
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