George Washington to visit Colonial Historic Urbanna Courthouse to Celebrate our Nation’s 250th.
The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society will sponsor the visit of George Washington impersonator Andrew Packett to the Historic Urbanna Court House that has been preserved by the Middlesex County Woman’s Club on Sunday, October 19 at 2 pm. Packett will represent Washington in a dramatic piece entitled “George Washington, Your Humble Servant,” which focuses on periods of Washington’s Life from the end of the French and Indian war (1763) to the beginning of the American Revolution. Packett will draw on Washington’s own words from the 12 volume Writing of George Washington: Being his Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers (1834-1836) edited by Jared Spark and from Douglas Southall Freeman’s George Washington, a Biography (1948-57).
This visit to Urbanna, originally planned for Historic Rosegill may be a first for George Washington. There is no record in Washington’s papers of any visit to the Historic Courthouse or Historic Rosegill. Washington did, however, correspond with Ralph Wormeley (1715-1789) about matters of business as early as 1759. He convinced Wormeley to serve as a security when he appeared before the court for appointment as the guardian to his wife Martha’s children by her first marriage in 1761, and he joined with him and others in 1768 to form the Mississippi Land Company in an unsuccessful attempt to convince the King and Royal Council to grant 2.5 million acres of land west of the Allegheny Mountains. He entertained Ralph Wormeley at Mount Vernon in June 1769 and in September 1771 did so for Mr. Wormeley’s son, who shared the same name. One could well argue that a return invitation to visit Historic Middlesex is long overdue.
JoAnne Scott, President of the Middlesex County Woman’s Club will accept the very deserved Annual Preservation Award for the club’s preservation of the Historic Courthouse.
The Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society is offering this opportunity to enjoy fellowship and history at The Middlesex County Woman’s Club, located at 210 Virginia Street, Urbanna. Appetizers, wine and beer will be available. Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Sponsorship tickets are $100 and include the book Historic Buildings in Middlesex County, Virginia 1650-1875 and a private showing of historic county photos later. The tickets will be available at the door, online at middlesexmuseum.com, at the museum located at 777 General Puller Highway, by calling 804-758-3663 or at Bristow’s Store in Urbanna. Further details about Andrew Packett’s visit to the Historic Courthouse will be posted on middlesexmuseum.com
