Fredericksburg, Virginia, October 14, 2013

Fredericksburg, a very charming colonial town established in 1728 (although the site of a fort dating from the 1600s), was named for Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of George II and father of George III. He was estranged from his parents...his mother called him an ass, a liar, the greatest canaille (lowest class) and the greatest beast in the world! Frederick died just before his 44th birthday after being hit in the head from either a cricket ball or a tennis ball. The wound abscessed, burst and he probably died from pneumonia.

Our hotel, the Courtyard Marriott, on Caroline Street, was built on the site of a tavern, The Indian Queen, 1771-1832. They served meals off a pearlware in a willow pattern which strongly resembles our blue willow ware. The hotel is very comfortable and very well situated.

At 10:30 we take the 75 minute trolley tour of Fredericksburg. The guide tells us the history of the town, a colonial ocean port, even though about 100 miles from the Atlantic. Ships came up the Rappahannock River delivering goods to the colonists. George Washington grew up here on a farm across the river called Ferry Farm because it was near the ferry. Much later he bought a home in town for his mother when he thought she was getting to old to live on the farm alone. His sister, Betty, had married a prominent business man, Fielding Lewis, and Mary's new home was near the Lewis home.

After the tour we walk several blocks over to the Monroe Museum. James Monroe, 5th president of the U.S., was a lawyer in Fredericksburg. He attended college one year at William and Mary in Williamsburg and got caught up in the movement for independence. He served in the Revolutionary War with George Washington at Valley Forge. He lived in Fredericksburg after the war. We enjoyed his museum very much. In it was the desk where he wrote the Monroe Doctrine.

After lunch we walked down George Street to the home of Mary Washington. She lived here from 1772 until her death in 1789 from breast cancer. It is October, breast cancer month, and pink ribbons are tied to every post on the fence.

After lunch we walk about four blocks to the home of Mary's daughter and son-in-law, Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis. Fielding had made a lot of money importing goods from England, but the trade stopped with the Revolution and Fielding eventually lost his fortune. He gave everything he had for the Revolution. He owned a factory where they made muskets for the Revolution and when his exporting and importing business dried up, he exhausted his own resources to keep the factory going.

Above is a diorama in the Visitor Center at the Lewis home that shows the town of Fredericksburg as it was in the 18th century with the river in the foreground and the prominent Lewis home in the background. The home is called Kenmore, but it was not named that until a couple of owners later.

It was about a 20-30 minute walk back to our hotel where we rested briefly before walking the several blocks to a lovely French restaurant, La Petit Auberge, on William Street. I had a wonderful crab dish made with coconut curry, served with jasmine rice, black beans, steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Bob had Hawaiian fish, walu, served with crab and vegetables.

 

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