This past weekend, on 7 December 2024, I participated in the annual Yuletide program in Annapolis, Maryland. It does not go unnoticed by me that 7 December is also the anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
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The assembled company
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The year is 1774. We are working our way up to 1776 (2026) for the 250th anniversary of America declaring independence from Britain. The assembled players, above, enjoyed a small gathering with Mr. Paca with His Excellency Governor Eden as a special guest.
We had guest participation of museum educators from Historic Annapolis in the form of Sarah the cook, and Denby who was Mr. Paca's personal manservant in the 18th century.
An interesting topic of discussion was the fire that had just happened in Annapolis by the docks, the burning of the ship Peggy Stewart, and the Eighth resolution put out just after the first Continental Congress met on 5 September to 24 October of 1774. The Eighth resolution, along with all 14, put restrictions and gave instructions on what people were to do and not do since the breakdown in communication with Britain after the Boston "massacre" in 1770, and the reinstatement of the tea act in 1773. There were many things going on to stir up the colonists resentment.
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Maryland Gazette, 3 November 1774
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Maryland Gazette, 1 December 1774
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The other interesting thing here is that Governor Eden had just returned from a trip to London when this was taking place, and he came back to what seemed like a peaceful Annapolis.
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Mrs. Ogle, Mrs. Johnson, and Mr. Paca
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Mrs. Carroll, wife of the Barrister (me)
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Mrs Carroll, wife of the Barrister and Mrs. Carroll whose husband is of Carrollton - we are playing a child's alphabet dice spelling game instead of cards
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| Sarah |
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| Denby |
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Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Paca
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Governor Eden and Mrs. Ogle
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Mrs. Carroll (Carrollton), Mrs. Calvert, Mrs. Carroll (Barrister), Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Ogle
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Mrs. Carroll whose husband is of Carrollton
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Mrs. Lloyd
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Mrs. Calvert, Mrs. Brice III, Mrs Carroll and Mrs. Johnson
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Mrs. Carroll whose husband is the Barrister
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Mrs. Lloyd and Governor Eden
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All photos should be attributed to "Elizabeth Bersche on behalf of the Annapolis Living Historians".
My gown is by Midinette Costuming via Etsy, shoes by American Duchess (best for indoor wear), jewelry and fan is from my shop or personal collection, and my wig is from K. History Wig Design on Facebook.
