The Welsh and American Slavery
Places to visit - Williamsburg and Jamestown
History of Williamsburg
Virginia's centre of government moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg in 1699 and it became capital of Virginia until 1780. It was in this town that Goronwy Owen taught when he first moved to America.
Around the end of the War of Independence, the capital was moved further away from the sea (and British soldiers) to its present location at Richmond. As a result, many 18th century buildings in Williamsburg remained unchanged and in 1926 there was an idea to turn the remaining buildings into a living museum – Colonial Williamsburg.
"Slaves" working inthe fields in Williamsburg
"Slaves" in Colonial Williamsburg
Half the population of Williamsburg at the end of the 18fth century were of African descent, with less than ten per cent of them living as free men. The museum tries to reflect that. As you wander around Colonial Williamsburg there is an opportunity to talk with "slaves", namely interpretation workers in period costume who try to portray the lives of the slaves, either toiling in the fields or serving in the houses. The Great Hopes plantation has been recreated on the outskirts of Colonial Williamsburg to portray life on a medium sized plantation with about ten slaves.
"Settlers from the 17th century"in Jamestown today
Jamestown
Interpretation workers in period costume is one of the ways in which the history of Jamestown is presented too, just a few miles down the road. They portray the lives of the first settlers at the beginning of the 17th century, in a recreated village near the site of the original town.
In 2007 a number of events will be held to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the establishment of this town, where the first slaves on the American mainland were sold in 1619.
America Gaeth a'r Cymry © S4C 2006