Cracks in the Wall
By the autumn of 1770, serious cracks were appearing in the American colonies’ united front against unpopular British policies. More than six months after Parliament repealed the Townshend Duties (except […]
A Dramatic Scheme
Last month, I wrote about actress Nancy Hallam, who caught the eye of an Annapolis gentleman (most likely Rev. Jonathan Boucher, rector of St. Anne’s Church) at a 1770 performance […]
What’s The Story?
It is for a gentleman to whom I have done (as the Saying is) Ninety-nine good Turns…” I sometimes come across a notice in the Maryland Gazette that leaves me […]
Agreeable to the Association
In September 1770, more than a year into a partial economic shutdown, many Annapolitans were weary but still committed to seeing it through to an acceptable outcome. In the summer […]
In Praise of Artistic Genius
The anonymous gentleman was smitten. He had just attended the American Company’s performance of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, King of Britain, and he simply had to share his enthusiastic admiration of one […]
Melted Majesty
These days, most news stories about public statues consider them as objects of destructive rather than constructive acts, but 250 years ago, subscribers to the Maryland Gazette read about the […]
Warm Zeal in the Cause of Liberty
For the past few weeks, I’ve been looking at the dispute between Annapolis merchants Williams and Company and the local Committee of Inspection that played out on the pages of […]
First Notorious Offenders
In today’s technologically advanced and politically divided world, virtual skirmishes, battles, and full-blown wars play out in real time across our social media platforms. Response times between combatants are often […]
Take the Beam Out of Thine Own Eye
When the local Committee of Inspection published a harsh report against Williams and Company in the July 26, 1770 Maryland Gazette, the members must have known they would hear back […]
Such Despicable Characters
My June 11th blog introduced merchant Thomas Williams and his partners as new players to watch in the real-life drama of Annapolis 250 years ago. Back in 1770, Williams and […]
Sky-Rockets in Flight
My Fourth of July was a bit out of the ordinary this year. I’m usually at the William Paca House and Garden shortly after 6 am on Independence Day, getting […]
The Road Not Taken
No one knew it at the time, but on July 5, 1770, America was one day less than six years away from declaring independence. Looking back from 2020 with the […]