Hello all,
All this talk of Patrick Henry and fiddling made me think of an
interesting newspaper excerpt that is often cited as the first
documentation of a fiddle contest in colonial America. For a specific,
recent citation, try Chris Goertzen,
"Balancing local and national approaches at American fiddle contests" in
American Music, Fall, 1996. He, in turn, cites the Virginia Gazette of
November 26, 1736. Here is the quote:
"We hear from Hanover County, that on Tuesday next, (being St. Andrews
Day), some merry-dispos'd Gentlemen of the said County, design to
celebrate that Festival, by setting up divers Prizes to be contended for
in the following Manner, (to wit) A neat Hunting Saddle, with a fine
broadcloth Housing, fring'd and flowr'd &c. to be run for (the Quarter,)
by any Number of Horses and Mares: A fine Cremona Fiddle to be plaid
for, by any Number of Country Fiddlers, (Mr. Langford's
Scholars excepted:) With divers other considerable Prizes, for Dancing,
Singing, Foot-ballplay, Jumping, Wrestling, &c. particularly a fine pair
of Silk Stockings to be given to the Handsomest Maid upon the Green, to
be judg'd of by the Company. At Page's Warehouse, Commonly call'd
Crutchfield in the said County of Hanover, where all Persons will find
good Entertainment."
Goertzen finds the connection to St. Andrew's Day suggestive of perhaps
a Scottish fiddle contest tradition. At any rate, it looks like P.
Henry had some local fiddle players to emulate.
Gregg
Gregg D. Kimball
Director of Publications
and Educational Services
Library of Virginia
804/692-3722
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-----Original Message-----
From: Katharine Harbury
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 10:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: VA-HIST Digest - 7 Sep 2004 to 10 Sep 2004 (#2004-114)
Thank you for your kind comments. You might like to look up the report
I wrote about Hanover Tavern since it does have a section concerning
Patrick Henry and his music, etc. As I recall, I think it was a fiddle.
A copy of the report is located in the library of the Department of
Historic Resources in case you want more information.
Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Anne Pemberton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 9:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: VA-HIST Digest - 7 Sep 2004 to 10 Sep 2004 (#2004-114)
I love the stir of comments on Patrick Henry that have been shared since
I said hubby said he was boring, but the best yet is Kathy's post
indicating he played the fiddle. I think that is going to make its way
into the story, tho I'm not sure that playing a fiddle in a church yard
is appropriate.
Does anyone who where in Richmond Patrick Henry could meet the student
to work on the speech before walking to St. John's Church and delivering
the speech. Someone mentioned a Veranda and lemonade, but where would
that be? Was there a boarding house near St. John's where Patrick Henry
may have stayed, or did he stay in the home of friends? Would the
friends have a veranda on their house, a front stoop where they could
drink tea or hot chocolate, or a small garden in front or back? What did
Patrick Henry prefer to drink in the morning, coffee or tea? What type
of sweet rolls were available?
Thanks to all who have written the list or privately, with information
and suggestions to make this story more exciting and engaging for
students.
Anne
Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/stevepem http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Katharine Harbury" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: VA-HIST Digest - 7 Sep 2004 to 10 Sep 2004 (#2004-114)
Patrick Henry was not boring- he enjoyed playing his fiddle and mixing
with the crowds while he worked at Hanover Tavern, for example. His
famous "Parson's Cause" speech electrified his audience and made them
realize that there was much more to the man than they realized. His
personality also comes out alive at Scotchtown, his home in Hanover
County, with stories given about him by the staff there when I last
visited the place.
Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: John Shroeder [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: VA-HIST Digest - 7 Sep 2004 to 10 Sep 2004 (#2004-114)
In a message dated 9/10/2004 11:59:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes: I'd welcome any suggestions of some
action that could be added especially before working on the speech.
Hubby suggested that other than his speech, Patrick Henry was a pretty
boring guy. Anyone disagree?
Anne
He defended persecuted Caroline County Baptists in the courts in
Alexandria and I have noted that a number of them, including my
ancestor, John Acuff, located on Leatherwood Creek adjacent to his
Franklin County property. It seems logical that they may have followed
him there tho' I have no evidence of that. John
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