The Hoggatteer Experience - THE HOGGATTEER REVOLUTION

CWTI: The Smiths, Silver and Black

9/30/2022

Silversmithing is an interesting craft. It is something I would love to be able to perform myself, but I realize it takes a very steady hand to engrave the intricate designs onto the products. Silver sets were not only a symbol of status to visitors in a person's house, but the pieces could actually be spent or traded for merchandise or cash. One large bowl in the smith's place is valued at over $10,000.

More practical and less precocious products are the ones being produced in the blacksmith's workshop. Piles of black coal are shoveled into the furnace to heat the metal. But don't let the blacksmith's perspiration and coal-smudged countenance fool you: he works hard and invests sore muscles to get his products to the common man. Whether your need is nails, horseshoes, or tools, the blacksmith has something interesting for most of the folks living in and around Colonial Williamsburg.

Quote: Intentions

9/29/2022

"Life is simpler when you plow around the stump."
(Unknown)

CWTI: Let's Make a Harpsichord

9/28/2022

My two new history sisters, SHARON and JANINE, and I took a moment to visit the carpentry shop and found that the laborers there were constructing harpsichords. A harpsichord works in a different manner than their piano cousins, creating a sound by plucking the strings rather than striking the strings with hammers.

SHARON asked for permission to sit and play, and was soon cranking out the hits - not just the one in the video here, but also Linus and Lucy (The Peanuts Song) and Wrecking Ball, somehow making each sound elegant and Victorian in nature.

With shorter keys and unfamiliarity with the instrument with a very different feel when pressing down on the keys, SHARON made some little mistakes, but it still sounded better than what I could have produced, and I was so proud to be in her company as others sauntered by to see the carpentry.

One must appreciate two talents in the room - the hands that made the instrument and the hands that played it.

Bible BreakDown: Luke 1:8-10

9/27/2022

Too often, we rush and we fail to slow down and consider the common sense of a Bible passage - in context.

Like a learner in a reading class, let's break down
a passage to see if we can comprehend it better.

Luke 1 (NASB)

8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Some Questions:

Who is the he in these verses (He is identified in previous verses)?
What was this man's profession or role in the community?
How did he come about this role?
What was a duty involved in his job?
What is the mood of the area? What are other people doing?
What is the purpose of burning incense?
Why is admission to the temple reserved for certain individuals?
How many people comprise a multitude?

Let's Think:
Only the priests could enter certain area of the temple, so Zechariah must have been quite respected individual to have been given this special role of burning incense for the people. The priest was an intermediary for the people and God. He must have taken his charge seriously and with much reverence to all parties involved. It is a serious matter to be responsible for the prayers and offerings of the people - to make sure they are presented appropriately to God.

Not much really happens in these three verses, but perhaps Luke is still establishing the setting and characters of his account. The reader still wonders why this man is being selected for attention.

CWTI: The Public Gaol

9/26/2022

The Public Gaol (or Jail) is just down from Virginia's colonial capitol. It is the location where some of Blackbeard's crew were held for trial, and out back is a structure that resembles a gallows of sorts. Don't let the little white fence fool you though: in spite of it, the brick exterior and steel crisscrossing bars on the windows are a harsh contrast to the quaint houses up the hill on Duke of Gloucester Street. The entire feeling to the structure is different than that of the courthouse, the capitol, or the governor's palace.

Here is where actual pirates were kept, where they mingled in the yard if allowed the privilege, and where they met with their legal teams (or did they?). It is the last bed and breakfast for many some prisoners - not just pirates, but also people accused of witchcraft and others with more pedestrian offenses.

Inside, one is struck by the raw wood and metal. Color doesn't exist in the gaol - only the sepia tones of days gone by. Chains on the wall. Braced metal bars on the windows. Steel locks and shackles. Heavy doors. Large bolts and nails holding it all together. And steps rising to a hole with a removable lid (Do we wonder at the purpose?).

Bible Accuracy & Impact: The Culper Spies

9/25/2022

The following is the third lesson in a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!

Washington's Culper Spy Ring

George Washington (Code name: 711) is one of the United States' favorite generals. He was the first commander-in-chief. In continued studies of his effectiveness as a military leader, we find one of Washington's strengths to be his acceptance and strategic use of a spy network. Five spies, in particular, risked everything to serve the cause of liberty. Major George Beckwith, Chief of British Intelligence during the Revolutionary War, remarked, "Washington really did not outfight the British; he simply outspied us."

One primary source we could consider is the Culper Code Book. Mount Vernon's website also provides a more readable copy. Washington's spies had to be acquainted with the code in order to communicate secret information within the network. Try your hand at writing a letter using the Culper Code.

How is this like translating one language to another?
What makes this task difficult?
Do languages get in the way of nations?
When were languages confused in Scripture? What was the reason?

Bible Languages

Introductory Questions

Why might someone be required to obtain a background check?
What might a background check reveal about an individual?
Are there different types of background checks that may be required?
What happens when someone "fails" a background check?

Today, we are compelled to conduct background checks of our own on varying Bible translations. For what are we searching?

Words, Thoughts, and Phrases

The Big Questions

Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class.

How did we we get the Bible?
Is the Bible accurate and dependable?

Guiding Questions

In this lesson, we delve into more recent translations of the Bible with a discussion of Chapter 17 in How We Got the Bible.

What considerations are important in choosing a modern English translation of the Bible?
Is it more important that our preferred translation be easy to understand? Is it more important that it convey the intent of the Spirit? Is there a way to balance the two?
Do you have multiple versions of the Bible? Do you use different translations for Bible class, worship, and personal study? Why?
Have you found any versions that fail to pass the test? Which ones? Why?
Why didn't the Holy Spirit just write the Bible in English in the first place?

Analyze the chart (right). Look for details.

What do you notice?
What inferences might be drawn from the information presented?
What does this piece make you wonder?

While the authors of the Bible are Spirit-inspired, translators into different languages are not, and as such translations are subject to error. A wise student refers to multiple versions of the Bible seeks to understand the shortcomings and strengths of each version considered.

Translation Variables

Chapter 17 of the Neil Lightfoot book, How We Got the Bible, is titled "Modern Translations of the English Bible". It begins by presenting some of the "weaknesses" of the King James Version. Let's discuss these as they are presented in the text.

Other translations are also presented in this chapter, with distinctions being necessary between British English and American English. What from the text stands out for each of the following?

Tyndale - King James Tradition

1885 - English Revised Version
1901 - American Standard Version

1952 - Revised Standard Version
1990 - New Revised Standard Version

Other Available Translations

New English Bible
New American Standard Bible

New International Version
Revised English Bible

New King James Version
Good News Bible

Paraphrases

The Living Bible

The Message

Any More?

The third edition of the book we are using was copyrighted in 2003, and author passed from life in 2012, so newer presentations of Scripture (including the English Standard Version) have and will continue to be made available from booksellers. Still, our list is fairly complete, and our standards for selecting a version of the Bible remain steadfast.

What are some of the variables in play when people, publishers, or groups decide a different or new translation is needed?

Word-for-Word, Literally

Understandably, we hope to know God's Words as God intended. It would seem that translating the original language into our language would be as simple as changing the Greek words to English words, period. However, there are nuances in the Greek that simple do not smoothly translate into the nuances of English.

The late Hugo McCord (1911-2004) provides some commentary concerning a literal, word-for-word approach to translating the Bible. "Is a literal translation possible?" he asks.

The thought of a word-for-word translation initially appears attractive, but right away the idea has to be discarded. Immediately, as one begins such, he retreats. For example, Matthew 1:18 would look like this:

of her having been betrothed to the mother of him of Mary to Joseph before to come together them she was found in womb having the Spirit Holy.

Not only awkward but confusing is a word-for-word rendering of Luke 3:14:

They were asking and him and soldiering saying, what shall we do and we? And he said to them, none shake through nor figshine, and be satisfied with boiled food bought of you.

A word-for-word translation of 2 Corinthians 9:10 is unintelligible:

The one and chorus-leading seed to the sowing and bread into food a chorus he will lead.

...A literal translation, no matter how much admired and desired, would be unintelligible.

McCord introduces the need for paraphrasing (as he calls it), in which the translator changes the order of the words or yields to more of a thought-for-thought approach in order to salvage meaning from the text. Where McCord calls this a paraphrase, another translator terms as smoothing. McCord:

All translations paraphrase...

Paraphrases conveying the thought of the Greek are not wrong, but sometimes the thought is changed: "Easter" (Acts 12:4, KJV); "Drink ye all of it" (Matthew 26:27, KJV); "horses' bridles in their mouths" (James 3:3, ASV); "women" instead of "wives" (1 Timothy 3:11, ASV); "deaconess" (Romans 16:1, RSV); "layman" (Numbers 16:40, NASB); "you are Peter the Rock" (Matthew 16:18, NEB); "the word was a god" (John 1:1, NWT); and "sinful nature" (Romans 8:3,4,5,8,9,12,13, NIV).

For this reason, a strict word-for-word approach is confusing and makes the Bible virtually unapproachable. As we will soon learn, at the other end of the scale, a paraphrase may mislead a student altogether.

Vocabulary Issues

In efforts to render as accurate a translation as possible Hugo McCord eliminated some of the common vocabulary that has found its way into so many versions that came before his. Let's divide our group and conquer two of the common words that he eliminated: church and baptism. The readings for two words (taken from McCord's Everlasting Gospel) may be downloaded in the file here (right).

McCord on Translating
File Size:	57 kb
File Type:	pdf

Compare and Contrast

We now shift gears away from the conservative, word-for-word approach to the more liberal paraphrase approach to the Bible. An online blogger built a short list of comparison verses between a paraphrase and the word-for-word and thought-for-thought versions of the Bible. Pondering this list of examples reveals some important issues for the Bible student who wants to read what God intends.

New American Standard Bible vs. The Message

Psalm 24:1-3
2 Thessalonians 1:8
1 Corinthians 11:7-15
Galatians 3:24-26

Ephesians 1:11
Ephesians 2:8f
Colossians 2:9

King James Version vs. The Message

Proverbs 16:29
Matthew 7:21f

Romans 8:28
Romans 10:13

English Standard Version vs. The Message

John 14:22f
Romans 3:28f

Romans 9:15f

Application Question

How important is it?

Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity.

We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:

textual claims
origins of the text
extrabiblical history
the faith of martyrs
logic

archeology
geography
geology
astronomy

biology
chemistry
physics
mathematics
and more

So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God?

Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence?

Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.

CWTI: This Old House

9/24/2022

The Powell House is not on the regular tour at Colonial Williamsburg. Mr. Powell was a building contractor, and he actually built the first mental health facility in the American colonies. While in and around the Powell House, we had to consider the differences between the lives of the Powell family and the lives of the enslaved people working on the property.

We often think of the enslaved as working on large plantations, but here we were in a relatively small house - not a mansion - on a relatively small property - not a plantation. Yet, there would have been a number of enslaved people owned by the family, and they would have worked in some very hot, very cold, very miserable conditions doing some very difficult jobs.

The Powell family, on the other hand, would have spent a lot of time entertaining. After their meal, they would have cleared the room for some dancing. Some of the teachers tried their hand at some 18th Century disco.

In other pictures here, you might notice a couple of irons for smoothing out clothing, one of which is heated in the fireplace and inserted into a cylindrical piece. Delicates are then carefully drawn over the cylinder to iron out the wrinkles.

We also got to look at both mattresses on a bed, the upper of which was filled with feathers, and the lower filled with straw.

I, of course, took to looking at the details of the floors, the minimalist furnishings and considered the open windows as a very light breeze attempted to sweep through from east to west. I had to appreciate the brickwork, looking for the literal fingerprints of enslave workers who must have thrown clay into molds to form them.

Apply the Word: Stick to the Facts

9/23/2022

There are references written that help us understand the Bible; there are talented men with a talent to connect portions of the Bible, showing it as the seamless Word of God; and there exist men who preach the truth of God’s Word with eloquence and sincerity. These men and books are apparatuses to help us comprehend any complexity that may exist in the Book of Books.

However, there are men and women for whom the holy, inspired Book of God is not enough. For most of these, even though they haven’t read the Bible, the Bible is simply not enough. They look for signs that God is real. They continue to search for miracles, today. They watch for symbols of the Christ.

Some search for archeological and scientific evidence (and isn’t it nice when these support the case for our beliefs?), but others look for modern prophecy, healings, and gifts, and for direct conversation with God.

Television preachers have propagated this idea with their claims of God coming to them to give them a message outside the Word, changing the Message of the gospel to fit their own agendas; on the radio, callers conclude that if you become ill and don’t receive immediate healing, your faith is weak. Even in our own community, there are those who claim a special anointing, and to prove it they showcase their own talents for the congregation for applause.

This is nothing new: in fact beliefs held by some are based in legends from the olden days. Some believe that the Bible doesn’t provide enough proof for its own infallibility, that nature and history are, in fact, superior to the Bible itself in proving the existence of God. Let’s ponder a few examples:

Lion Cubs
We know, from observation, that many animals are born with their eyes closed. One legend has it that lion cubs are actually born dead, but come to life on the third day when the daddy lion breathes life into them. Is this a sign from God to prove the story of Christ’s resurrection after His third day in the grave?

Donkeys
You’ll recall Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Some people have noticed a cross-shaped mark on the shoulders of donkeys, which they say, is a symbol that this is the breed that carried Jesus, that day. Nice story, but is it true?

Robins
It is said that a robin picked a thorn from the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, during His crucifixion, and a spurt of blood dyed the bird’s breast red. The robin still sports a redbreast today. Some people have vivid imaginations to make up such tales.

Dogwood Trees
Of what kind of wood was the cross of Christ made? There is no reference to the wood itself in the Bible, but some people have made up their own answers to the question. One camp claims the trees growing in the American West, known as “quaking aspens” quake in shame because the cross was made from aspen wood. Some others believe the wood was from dogwood trees, the official Missouri state trees. They allege that in the past, dogwoods grew as tall as oak trees, but after the crucifixion, the trees never grew tall again. Now, the trees (out of shame, apparently) grow low to the ground with narrow, twisting branches that could never be made into the beams of a cross.

Dogwood Blooms
Some look to the blooms of the tree to strengthen their faith. The white flower has five petals, each tipped with red, allegedly illustrating the blood on the two feet, the two hands, and the head of Christ at His death on the cross.

Redbud Blooms
Supposedly, the blooms of the redbud tree are red either from shame or from blood. It is maintained that the blooms are red because it is from a redbud tree that Judas hanged himself after betraying Christ. In fact, Oklahoma’s state forestry officials had to convince ladies’ garden clubs this was not the tree of Judas before making it the official tree of the state, pointing to the fact that it grows in North America, and not in Israel.

The list continues: people find they need these “signs” and “symbols” in order to keep their faith alive. Clearly, they do not realize that the Word of God is proof of itself. It is the record of miracles and prophecies that can’t be disputed. It is a record of scientific knowledge. If only we would study the facts, our faith will be more firmly established. If we only work to better realize the timeline of Biblical history, our faith will be strengthened. If we only spend time in the Word, wrestling with the Message, our faith will be supported and reinforced many times over.

To establish and support my faith, I don’t need anything other that the Word of God. I love what Paul writes to Timothy in his second letter. He writes, in chapter 4: "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…" (emphasis mine).

We could not truthfully deny that what Paul says is true. These verses tell us that Paul was able to fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith himself, because he did not pursue futile avenues of strength. Having his ears tickled was not his method of being ready in and out of season. Giving in to his own desires and not following the will of God was not how he remained sober, doing the work of evangelism. Turning to myths and legends was not how he endured hardship and fulfilled his ministry. In a nutshell, Paul practiced what he preached.

On the one-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our nation, the Pick Three lottery numbers in New York were nine, one, and one. You may have been a part of the water cooler conversation about that coincidence. Are we to read into that happenstance that God is sending us a sign? Perhaps this was a sign that He, too, mourns the loss of life? Perchance He wants to remind us He is still with us even in stressful times? Maybe he wants us to do more gambling?

We build our patriotism by looking on the symbols of the flag, and the Statue of Liberty, and that’s appropriate. It’s also appropriate for us to build out faith, by looking to the Bible, by looking to the proof of prophecy, by looking to the life, the cross, the tomb, and the ascension of Jesus Christ. Just the facts.

CWTI: History Mystery

9/22/2022

Well, here we go. This is the closest thing to a break-out room that Colonial Williamsburg offers. Later in the week, our teacher institute group was treated to a "History Mystery". We were led into the back side of a building and separated into groups to visit various rooms and hallways. Each group was provided with a clipboard with a prepared graphic organizer for notes.

Our group - one from California, one from Kentucky, and one from Southwest Missouri - all took to an upstairs hallway where we had to look over a rail into a room. I used my phone to reach in and peak around corners, as well as to enlarge items that were too far away to see the details closer.

There were multiple beds, a fireplace, and a dressing table. One bed, nicer than the other, was a four-poster. Clothes and toiletries were laid out in various locations, including a red coat on the bed in the left corner, just out of clear view.

A tour of the rest of the building showed other bedrooms, and there was even a bed in the hallway. Personal items from the boarders were left in places, dinner plates, scientific equipment, stationery items, and more. It was difficult to see the correlation between rooms. This was not a family house, but it didn't seem like a restaurant either.

Little did anyone know, if you put a Californian, a Kentuckian, and a Missourian in the same room, they become the resourceful types. While we were upstairs in our original room, we had availed ourselves to a peek through the hallway window. Behold, we were in a building that faces Duke of Gloucester Street, and out front, was a sign denoting that this is a tavern - a boarding house of sorts, a bed-and-breakfast. It was interesting to learn more about tavern life.

In some locations sat fancy dishes, full meals presented on expensive platters. In other places, leftovers reflected cheaper tastes. A sign on the wall displayed prices. Apparently, wealthier guests could afford to keep a room reserved all year long, as well as nicer facilities. Poorer classes of people could probably afford a place on a bed, but not an entire bed, for a night.

Other materials included astronomy equipment, a formal meeting room, in-progress card games, and bottles of ale. One fireplace hearth still showed signs of names carved into it by 18th Century guests.

Clearly, alcoholic intake was a portion of the profits in the tavern. The two photos here show the closed liquor cabinet. Someone could serve the alcohol through the window, but when the gate was closed, alcohol could not be purchased. Gates like this are the source of the term bar, which has stuck with us over the centuries. On this day and at this time, the bars were closed.

Enslaved people would have worked the kitchen and garden areas of the tavern. As hot as it was on the day we were there, we could only imagine how much hotter it would be with fireplaces lit and cooking.

Not only that, but take the time to also imagine the smells of cooking meat, vegetables, and unwashed perspiration. The long-gone sounds of pots clanging, fire crackling, voices barking orders, grunts of effort, as well as laughter may have been prominent. I imagine that it could be quite loud during the busiest times of day.

What if the mirrors in this building held their images from the 18th Century. These weren't original to the tavern, but it helps to keep one in the moment.

Outside once again, I wandered further from our group to explore beyond the main building. Storage buildings, a small garden, and even a chicken enclosure, netted to avoid bird escapes, served to supply a working tavern.

Later in the day, our view of the the tavern took on the appearance that most people see (Not everyone gets to go inside.). This tavern is leased to Colonial Williamsburg for educational purposes by private owners.

Rarely was information presented directly to us during the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Instead, we always seemed to be presented with mystery objects, locations, people, and situations and made to use the powers of observation and prior knowledge to develop our own conclusions about those items. This one was no exception.

Those powers of observation and prior knowledge are common to many areas of education. They are apparent in science, mathematics, and most certainly in literature and comprehension.

A Rainbow of Density

9/21/2022

The Hoggatt Institute of Math and Science at Neosho Christian School was really busy, last week, experimenting with density. The first pictures below show students collecting different colors at different levels in a straw by using a variety of salt levels. Students were amazed with the results, and it was one of those times when the teacher could see the light come on above their heads as they realized their success.

Earlier in the week, Mrs. Hoggatt did a demonstration of density using the following media, listed in the order of increasing density and pictured from top to bottom:

Lamp Oil
Rubbing Alcohol (colored red)
Vegetable Oil
Water (colored blue)
Dish Soap
Milk
Maple Syrup
Corn Syrup
Honey

The next step was to insert solid objects - bolts, a game die, popcorn kernels, beads, and a ping pong ball - to the mixture to see at which levels they would land. They settled where their densities determined they would.

CWTI: Additional Agriculture

9/20/2022

One of the activities included in the day of "historic trades" included a visit to the farm where they grow tobacco, cotton, and corn. I reported about tobacco separately because of its centrality in supporting the growth of the area, but one also needs to feed and clothe one's family, so other crops are also vital to the support of the Virginia Colony - not to mention these crops were additions to the overseas trade, as well.

CWTI: Tobacco Suckers

9/19/2022

Most of us have no experience with growing tobacco. It is, in fact, an interesting process, and most people, generally speaking, love the aroma of a pipe with modern tobacco burning in its bowl. That's not the case, of course, with modern cigarettes and cigars, which only serve to burn our eyes and pollute our lungs.

The process of growing tobacco, on the other hand, is quite fascinating. The plant itself - the leaf, the stalk and all, is very sticky due to the tar being produced, and in handling them, the cultivator's hands become extremely sticky, as well. This would make for a very dirty day of working as everything would cling to the hands and clothing of the cultivator (We're talking about enslaved people, of course.).

During the Colonial Williamsburg Teachers Institute, when we visited the farm, we were instructed that it was our job to pick the suckers off of the plants. I think most of us assumed the term suckers referred to the worms that might be crawling around, munching on the leaves of the plants. While we were to be on the lookout for caterpillars, suckers actually refer to something else altogether.

The top portions of the tobacco plants are cut off at a certain point, tricking the plant. The plant, still makes enough nutrients for the entire plant, but with three feet cut off of the top, all of the nutrients are concentrated in the leaves remaining, making for a richer, more flavorful, harvest. At the same time, there are so many nutrients that the plant tries to use them to create new leaves. That's a no-no. These new leaves are called suckers, and as they form, they must be pinched off, keeping the nutrients focused into the larger, more desirable leaves.

Eventually the leaves are harvested and hung in a warm, dry barn to dry. Later these are ground into flakes that can be used in habit of smoking.

CWTI: Racism Hits the Fan

9/18/2022

Participants were introduced to these two worksheets as examples of teaching the trade-economy from the 18th Century. The second worksheet was quickly labelled controversial with two or three people in our group. Notice the title: "Colonial Resources: Where Do They Come From?" Then notice that just under Tobacco in the left column is Enslaved People. Finally, notice the second and third columns which refer to the resources listed as It.

What ensued was one of those conversations that makes most people uncomfortable. I, like others, was amazed that Colonial Williamsburg could ever be accused of unfairly misrepresenting Black people. In fact, Colonial Williamsburg usually leans to the left in advocating for today's social justice causes, but this worksheet was felt to be presented in a manner that some felt was racist and demeaning.

Now, if the truth be told, had the organizer of this worksheet left Enslaved People off of the worksheet completely, there would be another controversy over that. A solution could easily have been offered, and we could have moved past the controversy, but instead, we hashed and rehashed the complaint with no solution presented. I doubt this lesson will be in the teacher resources after this session, which is a shame. It really reflects the 18th Century opinion that Africans were considered property that could be bought and sold. I suppose the controversy comes in that we did not have the whole lesson before us, but only the worksheets as if we were students in a classroom. The lesson itself may have covered the idea that this was a list of assets or resources from an inventory, which would have included Enslaved People. While the practice of racial slavery is a shameful, ugly part of American history, it is not something we should shy away from. The continuing shame comes when we do not choose to have respectful conversations that offer solutions, but rather allow anger to dictate our behaviors.

I will admit, it is not a page that I would use in its unmodified state. I would not want the paper to be taken home to parents who did not hear an entire, respectful lesson that contained the proper empathy and understanding of the lesson. The paper taken out of context could deliver the wrong message to families and cause the same type of controversy to "hit the fan" for me as a teacher. That could easily be avoided with a few changes to the approach.

Accuracy and Impact of the Bible: Plimouth

9/17/2022

The following is a part of a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!

Art Appreciation

Analyze the painting, shown (right). Check out the details.

What do you notice?
What do you think is happening?
What caused the scene in the painting?
What might happen after the scene shown?
What does this piece make you wonder?

"Religious Nutters"

What kind of people were the Pilgrims? Explorers? Pioneers? Rough and tumble politicians and soldiers? Not any of these.

Most of us have learned about the Pilgrim's landing at Plymouth Rock, but the Mayflower Compact is the important part of the story. The agreement is a foundational part of the American government.

Let's look more closely at that document and discuss what it means.

The Mayflower Compact

Describes the Plimouth Plantation website:

When the Pilgrims left England, they obtained permission from the King of England to settle on land farther to the south near the mouth of the Hudson River (in present-day New York). Because they chose to remain where they landed in New England, they needed a new permission (called a patent) to settle there. On November 11, 1620, needing to maintain order and establish a civil society while they waited for this new patent, the adult male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact.

In 1802, John Quincy Adams described the agreement as “the only instance in human history of that positive, original, social compact” and it is popularly believed to have influenced the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Text of the Mayflower Compact

An additional source for worksheets that aid in the analysis of this document and the events surrounding it may be located at this link: Coming to America.

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together in a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.

What is significant about the Mayflower Compact?

What do you notice? What do you wonder?

To the left, you will find a copy of the Compact in William Bradford's own handwriting. The original, signed document no longer exists, but according to the town historian, the document was signed by 41 of the male passengers – all but one of the freemen, three of the five hired men, and two of the nine servants.

The Big Questions

Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class.

How did we we get the Bible?
Is the Bible accurate and dependable?

Timeline of the English Bible

We are familiar with the King James Authorized version of the modern English Bible from 1611, but many people would be surprised to hear that this version was really not the first. Timelines posted online can become quite tedious and distracting, so let's stick to our text. Neil Lightfoot, in Chapter 16 of How We Got the Bible, gives us a simple timeline that serves our general understanding. We'll get to that timeline, but first let's consider some questions:

For the longest time, the struggle was whether or not to put Scripture into the hands of the common man. Why would that be the case?
Who benefits from maintaining Biblical ignorance in the general population?
Is Biblical ignorance still an issue in the 21st Century? Explain and discuss why?
Why is it important to read the Scriptures for yourself?

Portions of Scripture were translated into English, or Anglo-Saxon, as early as the first millennium. The year 1066 is a turning point in world history. Many of the world's conflicts, especially involving Europeans, were a result of Holy Wars waged in the name of "Christianity". These conquests, inquisitions, and crusades brought the Bible's lack of availability to the masses into question.

Still, the English language was different in those days. Translating was complicated and access to Hebrew and Greek sources must have been limited. It is not difficult to understand the origin of the term Protestant, especially among the period of the Renaissance and the Reformation. Discuss this vocabulary along with the added terms of Restoration and Revival.

The video above does an excellent job of describing the historical background from which the British colonies in America would emerge. We still feel the effects

Under the chapter title "The English Bible to 1611", Neil Lightfoot provides the following dates in How We Got the Bible. Let's dive into each as we review Chapter 16.

c. 1382 - Wycliffe translation from Latin (Learn more beginning on page 175.)
1525 - Tyndale's New Testament from the original Hebrew and Greek (Learn more beginning on page 176.)
1535 - Coverdale
1537 - Matthew's Bible
1539 - Taverner's Bible and the Great Bible (revisions of Matthew's Bible)
1560 - Geneva Bible (the Bible carried by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower; Read more on page 181.)
1568 - Bishop's Bible (revision of the Great Bible)
1611 - Authorized Version (Learn more beginning on page 182.)

Eighty percent of the King James (Authorized) Bible is a preservation of the Tyndale translation from 1525. Lightfoot wrote, "William Tyndale is truly the father of the English Bible."

These accounts may do little for your faith in the trustworthiness of the Bible. They do, however, show the lengths that people have gone through to get us to our point in history. Undoubtedly, throughout the ages - through the Renaissance, Reformation, Restoration, and Revival, the New Testament church did and does survive (in spite of the major historical record).

Anticipatory, Guiding Questions

In the next lesson, we will delve into more recent translations of the Bible with a discussion of Chapter 17 in How We Got the Bible.

Do you feel that your preferred translation is an excellent representation of God's intention for life on earth?
Is your preferred translation "good enough to get by"?
How important is it for you to understand a translation?
How can we be certain that we have everything we need and that our Bible is accurate?
Have there been mistakes in translation that will affect our salvation?

Application Question

How important is it?

Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity.

We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:

textual claims
origins of the text
extrabiblical history
the faith of martyrs
logic

archeology
geography
geology
astronomy

biology
chemistry
physics
mathematics
and more

So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God?

Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Or is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence?

Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.

CWTI: Haunted Williamsburg

9/16/2022

I have not participated in other ghost tours, so I don't have a reference for comparison, but this was basically a storytelling event that could be replicated just about anywhere.

One of the evening offerings at Colonial Williamsburg is a little tour called Haunted Williamsburg. It is the one evening performance that is less historical than the others. I was especially happy to see the fire baskets and candle-lanterns as the only light.

Misspellings XV

9/15/2022

What we have here is a
failure to communicate!

Find the misspelled word(s) in each
of these pictures. Write and correct each word on your paper.

Find more on the Misspellings page.

CWTI: Walking from the HIstorical District

9/14/2022

The Visitors' Center at Colonial Williamsburg is walking distance from the Woodlands Hotel. For that matter, just about everything is walking distance - that is, if you like walking long distances. Our Teachers Institute group were transported to designated locations on dedicated busses, and we could easily catch one of the shuttles back to the hotel when our programming was complete each day.

I knew, however, that there was a way to walk. Utilizing the Colonial Williamsburg app on my phone, I was able to find the scenic route - past a school, and a couple of fantastic bridges that crisscrossed the highway.

This trail goes past the Great Hopes Plantation, an area depicting rural farm life in the 18th Century. It is one more area that I did not get to enjoy due to it being after hours.

Soon, however, I found myself on the bridge to the Visitors Center. I had seen this bridge in a video prior to my visit, so I felt some bit of familiarity to the area. I will present the photos below in their proper order. Traveling from the Visitors Center to the historic area, the first embedded marker is the one below. Its display sets up the remaining markers.

From the Visitors Center and walking toward the historic blocks, the plaques display Walking Back in Time. When a person walks as I did, in reverse, the plaques highlight History Makers. See both sets below.

No longer do most people walk this bridge. Most of us ride the convenient shuttles rather than take the long walk to some point along the Duke of Gloucester. I realize that these embedded markers don't have historical value, but I was pleased to at least have theopportunity to enjoy them. I enjoyed reading each of them and considering the messages displayed on their faces.

Apply the Word: Runt of the Litter

9/13/2022

An acquaintance of mine toyed with the idea of visiting a beach in the Caribbean, perhaps during Spring Break. He relished the idea that he could relax, have a few drinks, do so dancing and bar hopping, and take in the sights – not so much the sight of the blue waters or the landscape, but the sights of the undressed college coeds. He indicated that it would be fun to watch the uninhibited MTV-type bar games and challenges for a few days. He would take pictures and bring them back to show his friends and family.

I asked him why. Why would you want to do something like that? His answer was, it’s nice and warm down there. I said, It’s warm in Hell, too, but I don’t want to go there.

Another friend overheard our conversation and put in her thoughts. She said, Yeah, but I just want to dip in my toes.

I relate this story because both of these individuals claim to have good relationships with God. Yet the image they project is one of hypocrisy. The people around them believe they are Christians – that it’s acceptable to worship God on Sunday morning and indulge in lusty behaviors the rest of the week.

I guess that’s where my pet peeve comes in. You see, I can’t stand it when these people undermine the efforts of the church. I tell my students at school that when they misbehave, they make me look bad. I make sure they know that I take it personally when they go messin’ with my reputation. That’s exactly what these Sunday morning Christians do to us every time they engage in these worldly activities.

It’s not just the drinking and carousing that I’m talking about. I’ve heard, first-hand, as people forsake the assembly because, they claim, that the people in that church are hypocrites. The people in the world may be blind to many things, but they hold us under a microscope. They study us to see if we practice what we preach, and when we don’t, they label us – deservingly so – as hypocrites.

One week, a Christian visited a farmer and invited him to come to worship. The farmer answered the Christian, saying, I don’t want to go to that church. I know brother and sister so-and-so, and they’re no better than I am. With all that I’ve seen them do and heard them say, I’m just as saved as they are. The Christian, toppled by the farmer’s response, excused himself from the farm, but returned a couple of weeks later.

On the return visit, the Christian asked the farmer if he had any pigs for sale. The farmer told him a litter of little pigs had just been weaned and that he could have his pick of the litter. The Christian looked over the litter carefully and finally settled on the runt, the smallest, puniest, sickliest piglet of the bunch. Holding the pathetic animal in his arms, he told the farmer he would be sure to tell everyone he met that he had gotten the pig from the farmer. The farmer pleaded with the Christian to take a different piglet. Please take one of the others, he begged. I don’t want everyone to think that the only pigs I have are in such terrible shape. That pig doesn’t represent the level of quality my farm has. The Christian moved in closer. He leaned toward the farmer’s ear, and he whispered, If it’s good enough for the church, it should be good enough for your farm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the 1800’s writer and philosopher, said, What you are speaks so loud that I can not hear what you say.

CWTI: First Baptist Church Archaeological Dig

9/12/2022

It was a quick visit after hours, but I did find the archaeological dig that is currently taking place at the First Baptist Church location in Colonial Williamsburg. This is not only an important place for the history of the Baptist Church in American history, but also has deep ties to Black history. in another location, I found the historical marker that honors Gowan Pamphlet (left).

There wasn't much to see as, on this very hot day in July, all of the scientists had already tarped the dig site, parked their wheel barrows upside down, and clocked out. Perhaps the next time I visit, the actual building, which had been moved to the College of William and Mary, will be repositioned in its historical location.

Accuracy and Impact of the Bible: Jamestowne

9/11/2022

The following is the first lesson in a historical and faithful study
beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings.
at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership
PLEASE JOIN US!

Introduction and Purpose

Does God intend for us to read His Words and accept them at face value? Or does He build in proofs that His Word is His Word? How could we possibly know that the Bible is inspired, that It is correct, and that It is complete? This study takes us there, guiding us into the knowledge that our faith does not have to be blind.

Dr. Gary Crossland has put together the video below, and it happens to fit the purpose of introducing our study about the accuracy of the Bible.

Art Appreciation

Analyze the two paintings (below). Look for the details.

What do you notice?
What do you think is happening?
What caused the scene in the painting?
What might happen after the scene shown?
What does this piece make you wonder?

What's in a Name?

Jamestowne was named after the same King James who "authorized" the King James Version of the Bible. The video here (right) is a humorous presentation of the naming of new colony. The influence of a king in everyday life and in religion is an interesting topic to consider when studying the origins of our English Bible.

Jamestowne History, Archaeology, and Christianity in the New World

One's first vision of the Jamestowne church building does not show the original structure, but if you should venture around to the rear, the original church tower still stands. It is the only 17th Century structure still standing in Jamestowne today.

That is not, however, intended to say that this was the original religious center of the first successful American colony. Realizing that the colony was established in 1607 and this standing structure was built some time between 1660 and 1690, how might you think the colony felt about Christianity?

Actually, just to the right of the church tower, with a closer proximity to the James River, is the site of the first church structure, built in 1608. Incidentally, this was the location of the wedding between John Rolfe and Pocahontas.

In fact, the Christian religion (the English, or Anglican, church) was well known and promoted around the area much earlier than the construction of the church tower. One of the men buried in the Chancel was Robert Hunt, listed as a "reverend" and known to be the first Anglican minister to Jamestown. Another, Captain Gabriel Archer, must have also been a devout adherent to the faith as he was buried with a reliquary (See video, below), a silver box containing human bone fragments and a small container of liquid (thought to be oil, holy water, or the blood of a saint).

Outside of Jametowne Fort, a short way up today's modern road, is a location known as Glebe Land (above) - 100 acres of land along the river set aside for the use of the church and minister. Why do you suppose that land was reserved for this purpose?

If your answer has something to do with spreading the faith to the Indians in the area, you're on the right track. This was Indian hunting ground, and if there was any chance of getting the Indians to live peaceably with the white settlers, perhaps Christianity would be key.

It would be difficult to keep the many Indians, the working laboring class, and the gentry all in line through lean and desperate times. In fact, the famous (or infamous) Captain John Smith, governor of Virginia (1608), is known to have locked up food supplies and required men of every class to work to earn it or else starve. The political slogan, "He who does not worke shall not eate," was taken was 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (which would also make for a great refrigerator magnet in any household containing a preteen boy).

One point to be made is, Christianity was important to our nation, even 169 years before our independence from Britain.

Enter, the Christian Bible

While other printed Bibles were in use, at Jamestowne and elsewhere, perhaps the most well-known date of a Bible translation is from 1611. The Bible adopted for use by the new colonists would quickly become the one endorsed by the king as the leader of the English church. In this case, it was King James, which should sound familiar to most Christians today. Sometimes called the Authorized version, the King James has definitely established itself with grit.

Many will not accept anything else in worship or study. They often cite that it is the only "authorized" version, but I wonder if they really understand who authorized it and for what purpose. Let's discuss this in person.

Begin with the Familiar

As we begin this ongoing study of How We Got the Bible, we will use the book by the same title, written by the late Neil Lightfoot. We begin in the final three chapters of the book: "The English Bible to 1611", "Recent Translations of the English Bible", and "'My Words Will Not Pass Away'". We start here rather than in the first chapters because we want to start with something more familiar. While Lightfoot kept his text approachable and readable, we would like to begin with some solid ground upon which most of us have some knowledge.

Until the next lesson, which will include information from Lightfoot's book, here are some questions to consider to establish our personal levels of understanding for this subject. Perhaps you don't know all of the answers to these questions. In fact, unless you are a scholar specializing in the subject of Biblical origins and manuscripts, you may not have accurate answers to very many of these questions at all. That's all right. In fact, that's why we enter this study.

The Big Questions

Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class.

How did we we get the Bible?
Is the Bible accurate and dependable?

Introductory, Guiding Questions

Let's start with what we know. Write down everything you know about the Bible (not specific accounts or figures, but the Bible itself).

From where did it originate?
When was it written
Who wrote it?
How was it written?
On what was it written?
With what was it written?

Where was it written?
To whom was it written?
Why was it written?
What is its purpose?
In what languages was it composed?
How has it changed through the millennia?

Application Question

How important is it?

Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity.

We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:

textual claims
origins of the text
extrabiblical history
the faith of martyrs
logic

archeology
geography
geology
astronomy

biology
chemistry
physics
mathematics
and more

So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God?

Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence?

Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.

CWTI: Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

9/10/2022

I quickly took a walk away from the historical area of Colonial Williamsburg to find the Art Museums. I arrived with very little time remaining before closing. Checking in at the front desk, I was asked to put the things I carried into a locker before proceeding to the museum.

I knew I would not be able to see both sides of the museum, so I selected the folk art side. Some of the contents on this side were purchased in the early days for the historical district, but they were inauthentic additions. That doesn't mean they lost their historic value; it just means they needed to be taken in a more authentic context.

The displays here are beautiful and eye-catching, but I really had to run and snap pictures to look at later. I could, for sure, spend a day in these galleries, finding treasures in every nook and cranny. That said, I did not even get a chance to enter the more practical side of the museum.

In the restroom, the instructions for washing hands were appropriate to the setting: "Wash your hands to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy!"

Afterward, there was a concert on the lawn by a Jimmy Buffet tribute band. I spent a little time there, but Buffet is not my musician (with literally every song being about drinking alcohol), and I needed to eventually get back to the hotel to cool off before another interesting evening activity.

History in Residence

9/9/2022

Introduction

Students in America’s public schools are desperately deficient in the area of our nation’s history. This is apparent in daily news reports and behaviors. Appreciation for where we’ve been, the stumbles made along the way, and how we got to this point must be taught in order to establish a more qualified citizenry. History in Residence is a unique opportunity to approach those needs.

Program Explanation

With History in Residence, schools tap into the unique expertise of a professional, certified educator who is especially knowledgeable in the field of history. The program is unique in that the presenter leads students but also trains the teachers in the process. An initial meeting will be established for the teachers to meet with the master teacher, Dale Hoggatt.

Hoggatt brings his experience into classrooms for a week (approximately one hour per classroom per day). During this time, students learn history through the use of artwork, primary documents, classroom discussion, and engaging presentations. For the first two days, Mr. Hoggatt engages the class. For two more days, the classroom teacher will be called upon to “team teach” with Mr. Hoggatt. On the final day, the classroom teacher will lead and Mr. Hoggatt will observe. Mr. Hoggatt even leaves an additional set of lessons for the teacher to utilize after the residency concludes.

Not only does the class benefit, but the teacher also receives direct experiential training - not only as a demonstration, but through supervised practice and feedback in hopes that history, as a subject, does not continue to be marginalized or avoided altogether.

Units of Study

Possible units of study include First Colonies, Prelude to Revolution, Independence, Expansion, or National Parks. Others could be tailored to a school’s request.

Important Note: Materials and presentations during History in Residence address state standards and do not support a political movement or ideology. The focus is placed on artifact analysis, primary sources, and empathy and does not promote or deny modern, hot-button topics.

Experience

Dale Hoggatt invested 32 years as a classroom teacher in America’s public schools. He was recognized with:

The Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Apple Award
The School district’s Teacher of the Year
The State’s History Teacher of the Year

He has been trained on site at:

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia
Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York

He serves as a master teacher for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York City and recently wrote curriculum for the Lincoln Presidential Foundation in Illinois. He currently supervises student-teachers for Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

In addition, Hoggatt is Disney-trained as one of only 50 teachers honored at Disney World’s 50 Teachers Celebration in 2022, even grand marshaling the Fantasy Festival Parade at Magic Kingdom.

Logistics and Details

History in Residence utilizes engaging classroom discussion and academic rigor. All students are invited to enter the conversation in a non-threatening process, followed by hands-on creative response, which may even cross into other areas of the curriculum.

Mr. Hoggatt accommodates multiple classrooms in one school, ideally for five consecutive days. Charges for this professional development and engaging classroom program vary and are dependent upon number of classrooms, materials, distance and mode of travel, and other expenses. All charges include the pre-residency meeting and post-residency lessons. Hit the button below to get in touch with Mr. Hoggatt for a quote!

Contact Mr. Hoggatt

CWTI: 18th Century Educational Materials

9/8/2022

In one of our sessions at Colonial Williamsburg Teachers Institute, I had the chance to investigate some educational materials. Culturally, the language and stories of the 1700s is quite a bit different, but it would be interesting to try to teach from these types of materials.

In the final picture below, you can see an alphabet doll. There are cards to go with the doll to show the doll in positions to emulate the letters of the alphabet. I've seen these dolls and the cards before, but I didn't realize how they could be used to teach the letters. It is an interesting concept and could still be used today in much the same manner.

Inspirational Speaker & Professional Developer

9/7/2022

The teacher is now leading adults and groups outside of the classroom.

Book Mr. Hoggatt securely for your event through GigSalad.

CWTI: In the Vicinity of the Governor's Palace

9/6/2022

There are nooks and crannies within Colonial Williamsburg that I have yet to explore. While the tourism emphasis seems to be upon Duke of Gloucester Street, less centralized areas offer more history. In the area, one might locate the Thomas Everard house. Everard was not a rich man by any means, but appears to have been in the midst of much of the political action in the Virginia Colony, even taking part in selecting the men to represent the colony for the Continental Congress.

If you look at the main entrance to the Governor's Palace and then allow your gaze to drift to the left, your eyes might land upon the George Wythe house. This house served as headquarters for the more well-known George - Washington, that is. This latter-mentioned George used the former's house as headquarters before the decisive Yorktown Battle.

But George Wythe (pronounced like with) is more than the placard on the outside of his house describes. Not only was he a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but he also:

tutored Thomas Jefferson
was the first professor of law at William and Mary
was the second professor of law in the English-speaking world
introduced judicial review
was the only founder to free his slaves during his lifetime

We can't appreciate this man enough for his contributions to society and to this nation. Later in the week, we were introduced to Wythe, interpreted and portrayed by Robert Weathers. Pictured here, Weathers presents Wythe with a distinct and intricate vocabulary, tinged with political commentary that touches on both the large events of the 18th Century, as well as everyday life in the colonial capital. Much of his presentation speaks to our own current events and could be debated just as easily on talk radio, today.

Look to the right from the Governor's Palace, and you may notice the lovely wooden house pictured below. That is the Peyton Randolph house. Cousin to Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph served as the first and third president of the Continental Congress. He was also the last speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses. I returned to the backyard of this house, one evening, during a special "ghost tour" and heard some "chilling" tales of events that are said to have occurred in and around this house.

Speaking of chilling, if you're ever near the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg, keep your eyes peeled for this little guy. Don't let his small stature deceive you. This little demon squirrel has to the potential to eat your face! He came at me and wouldn't leave me alone for a few minutes, often approaching me on hind legs, ready to pounce at any second. I physically had to walk backwards and verbally instruct him to grant me my personal space. This Loyalist, tax-gathering squirrel wanted to put his hand in my pocket and abscond with my own hard-earned income. No doubt there were others, hiding in the trees, ready to massacre anyone they suspected of being Patriots against the king. All I say is beware...and be careful whom you trust.

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December 2012
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Checks & Balances

Links to external sites
on the internet are for convenience only.

No endorsement or approval of any content, products, or services is intended.

Opinions on sites are not necessarily shared
by Mr. Hoggatt
(In fact, sometimes
Mr. Hoggatt doesn't agree with anyone.)

Washington