18th-Century People
The Foundational Story
Our nation’s origin story begins in Williamsburg. Here, in this capital city of Virginia, many kinds of people lived and worked together. Some had come by choice, hoping to find opportunity. Others were captured and brought by force. Indigenous people found their world upended by strangers. In Williamsburg, all kinds of people sacrificed, endured, and achieved. It was a community of aspiration and contradiction – and it became a crucible for revolution.
Story Collections
America’s Nation Builders
From recognizable names like Jefferson and Washington to people whose names did not grace your history book, meet the Nation Builders who helped shape their time and whose legacies continue to influence and inspire American ideals.
Ann Wager
Educator at the Bray School in Williamsburg
George Mason
Author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights
George Washington
Commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States
Gowan Pamphlet
Preacher and founder of Williamsburg’s First Baptist Church
George Wythe
Teacher of some of early America’s most influential minds
James Armistead Lafayette
Double agent during the Revolution
James Madison
The Father of the Constitution.
Jane Vobe
Successful Williamsburg tavernkeeper
Marquis de Lafayette
Washington’s trusted French officer
Martha Washington
The First First Lady
Patrick Henry
The Revolution’s most renowned orator
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence and third president of the United States
Stories of Women
Women played important and, at times, unexpected roles in early Williamsburg. Their stories, often hidden in the historical record, illuminate their rich contributions to eighteenth-century Virginia's social, economic, and political life. Join us as we celebrate and examine the experiences, lives, and relationships of these women.
Lydia Broadnax
Unheard Witness to the murder of George Wythe.
Abigail Briggs
An Indigenous Woman in a White Court
Judith Jackson
A Black Loyalist Flees Virginia
Margaret Bannerman
A Woman’s Struggle against Her Fraudulent Husband
Clementina Rind
The Widow Who Printed the American Revolution
Margaret Hunter
The businesswoman behind the Millinery Shop
Ann Wager
Educator at the Bray School in Williamsburg
Jane Vobe
Successful Williamsburg tavernkeeper
Martha Washington
The First First Lady
Stories of Black Life
During the 18th century, half of Williamsburg’s population was Black. Discover these American stories of resilience and explore those who lived, loved, and strove to create a better future.
Lydia Broadnax
Unheard Witness to the murder of George Wythe
Cesar Tarrant
Patriot Pilot
Judith Jackson
A Black Loyalist Flees Virginia
Gowan Pamphlet
Preacher and founder of Williamsburg’s First Baptist Church
James Armistead Lafayette
Double agent during the Revolution
Aaron Griffin
Search for Freedom
Fanny and Moses
The Incomplete Story of Underground Allies
John Harris
The Anatomy of a “Runaway” Advertisement
Stories of American Indian Life
American Indians, Native Americans, and/or Indigenous peoples were a regular and frequent presence in 18th-century Williamsburg. These diverse Native nations influenced American culture, democracy, and its struggle for independence. The explorations of these American Indian nations and their role in our collective story then and now are essential in understanding modern American life.
Abigail Briggs
An Indigenous Woman in a White Court
Logan
The Mystery at the Heart of the Shawnee-Dunmore War
Nanyehi (Nancy Ward)
A Respected Leader among the Cherokee
Attakullakulla (Little Carpenter)
A Skilled Diplomat and a Powerful Orator
Robert Mursh
An American Indian Revolutionary
People of Williamsburg
Eighteenth century Williamsburg was a community on the brink of revolution. Learn the stories of ordinary people during extraordinary times.
James McClurg
Well-known physician in Virginia and resident at Custis Square
Ann Wager
Educator at the Bray School in Williamsburg
John Harris
The Anatomy of a “Runaway” Advertisement
John Murray
Fourth Earl of Dunmore
Gowan Pamphlet
Preacher and founder of Williamsburg’s First Baptist Church
Margaret Bannerman
A Woman’s Struggle against Her Fraudulent Husband
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence and third president of the United States
Lydia Broadnax
Unheard Witness to the murder of George Wythe.
George Wythe
Teacher of some of early America’s most influential minds
Jane Vobe
Successful Williamsburg tavernkeeper
Clementina Rind
The Widow Who Printed the American Revolution
Patrick Henry
The Revolution’s most renowned orator
Martha Washington
The First First Lady
Fanny and Moses
The Incomplete Story of Underground Allies
Nanyehi (Nancy Ward)
A Respected Leader among the Cherokee
Attakullakulla (Little Carpenter)
A Skilled Diplomat and a Powerful Orator
Robert Mursh
An American Indian Revolutionary
