The theme for this week was "Context". According to
Oxford, the definition is context is: "The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood." Another source defines "
historical context" as "the social, religious, economic, and political conditions that existed during a certain time and place. ... In analyzing historical events, context can help us understand what motivates people to behave as they did."
So, putting something in "context" is something I try to do when I write these blog posts. Not only am I trying to write about the "theme of the week" and about my own family history, I also try to share some of the "circumstances" of the lives of the persons about whom I write. I like to share documentation of events and families, photos of people and places, family positioning, location and actual stories, when they are available. I think the hardest part of sharing "context" is learning about and sharing the historical context at any one point in history. Since I am not an historian, I find it difficult to have a good grasp of the events of the times in which my ancestors lived.
While living in South Carolina, I was privileged to visit several battlefields and reenactments of French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and Civil War conflicts. Historic sites and reenactments are a HUGE deal in South Carolina, so there are events surrounding the anniversaries of many of the battles every year.
One such place was Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, where there are the remains of an old Anglican Church, a fort, cemetery and the footprint of a thriving town on the Ashley River, about a mile from where we lived in Summerville, SC. Here are some photos of the area:
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| Layout of the town of DorchesterPersonal Collection |
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Historical Marker information about the Parish Church of St. George, erected in 1717.
Personal Collection |
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| Remains of the Bell Tower, Personal Collection |
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| Historical Marker about the Fort, Personal Collection |
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| Part of the fort wall, Personal Collection |
I attended the Fort Dorchester Sate Park Colonial Days event in 2015 where there were military demonstrations from the French and Indian War Period.
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| Personal Collection |
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| Personal Collection |
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| Colonial Days 2017 - Personal Collection |
Here are the men marching with the uniforms, fire arms, and artillery demonstrating the life of the soldiers. At these events there were also medical and cooking demonstrations, along with items for sale that are created today with the methods of the past. One particular Settlor, as the merchants are known, are David and Renee Gillespie. David is an internationally recognized miniature portrait painter, a stone carver of grave markers and reenactor of the Colonial Period. Renee makes incredible fabric items and makes her own indigo dye. She also creates amazing paper marbling items. They also teach many of these skills. Here is a link to their website where you can learn more:
http://www.pumpkintownprimitives.com/index.html.
I am sure that I have ancestors and their families who participated in the French and Indian War, but I cannot, with any confidence, name any of them. But, this event really gave me a sense of context of what life must have been like in the years 1756-1763 during that War.
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
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