16th Sunday -all day at Fredericksburg, dined with Dabny Herndon in a Crowd – returned to the Tavern and found Maj (or) (George) Armisted and others, we set up until 11 O’clock, This is a fine Day & I lamet losing of it. Meriwether Lewis’ death and lack of rest during three months of travel would have been stressful for William Clark. His day of rest and visiting with old friends was richly deserved. Dabney Herndon (1783-1824) married Elizabeth Hull and served as a magistrate of the Corp of Fredericksburg, cashier of the Farmers Bank, vestryman of St. George Church and treasurer of the Fredericksburg Classical Academy. (1) Major George Armistead (1780-1818) was born in Caroline County, William’s birth county, and one of five brothers that eventually fought in the War of 1812. As an artillery officer at Ft. Niagara, NY he distinguished himself and was given the honor of delivering the captured British flag to President James Madison. He took command of Ft. McHenry, at the entrance to the Baltimore harbor, in 1813 and ordered a large American Flag, the flag that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner written as a poem by Francis Scott Key. (2) William was familiar with Fredericksburg, VA, a city he has visited during the 1798 business trip to New Orleans and circuitous boat trip across the Gulf of Mexico , along the U.S. east cost to Newcastle, DE. By stage coach from New Castle, he traveled through Baltimore and Washington, before arriving in Fredericksburg at the Indian Queen Tavern. (3) No painting or sketch of the Indian Queen Hotel is known, but the extremely descriptive report, Where Drink was Deep and Play was High: The History of the Indian Queen Tavern and 616-622 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia (Part I) by Kerri S. Barile, Dovetail Cultural Resource Group is masterful in providing a textural picture of the tavern. (4) The expense sheet of William Clark’s 1809 Journal clearly shows that he paid the Herndon Tavern $ 6.25 for services on 15 December. Further confirming that he was staying at the Indian Queen in Fredericksburg. The nearby Rappahannock River powered mills that ground wheat and corn as well as lumber mills, making Fredericksburg an early industrial center. The dams that were built later to increase water power have been removed, making the Rappahannock the longest free flowing river in the eastern U.S. (5)(6) The slack river water below the falls made an excellent harbor for the loading of ships that traveled to distant ports. William Clark’s 1809 visit was to a thriving commercial center. (7) Today recreational opportunities start near Caroline Street along the Rappahannock River Heritage Trial. The Kid Friendly 1.6-mile paved trail connects with the 3.4-mile Canal Path for a loop hike or bike experience with educational interpretive panels and canoeing and kayaking on the adjoining river. (8) The Rising Sun Tavern, 1304 Caroline Street built by Charles Washington in 1760, is a beautiful preserved colonial period tavern listed as a National Landmark (38°306795N – 77°461615W). (9) The approximate ½ mile walk along Caroline Street from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 706 Caroline St., is a delightful tour of the historic homes and antique shops. (10) Ferry Farm, the George Washington Boyhood Home Site, is located across the Rappahannock River. Officially in Stafford County, access from Fredericksburg is well marked. In addition to the boyhood history of George Washington, archaeological finds confirm the area was used 10,000 years ago by Native Tribal People. “The historic site is located within the boundaries of the George Washington’s Ferry Farm, a private historical and archaeological park owned by the Kenmore Association, Inc”. (11)(12)(13) Rising Sun Tavern, extant Tavern In Fredericksburg, VA example of Colonial Period Tavern – Credit: Lewis and Clark Trust Excavated material from Courtyard by Marriott excavation, Hotel Lobby – Credit: Lewis and Clark Trust Credit: Lewis and Clark Trust
Sources
(1) https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G002996.pdf (Generation #5, page 114-115) (2) https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/historyculture/george-armistead.htm
(3) Trogdon, Jo Ann,
The Unknown Travels and Dubious Pursuits of William Clark, University of Mo Press, Columbia, 2015, page 253 & 383. (4) https://www.dovetailcrg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Where-Drink-Was-Deep-Part-I-Webpage.pdf (5) https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/210/Rappahannock-River (6) https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=95309 (7) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/39403/39403-h/39403-h.htm page 26-28. (8) https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1562/Rappahannock-River-Heritage-Trail (9) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/111-0088_RisingSunTavern_1975_Nomination_NHL.pdf (10) https://www.librarypoint.org/blogs/post/walk-caroline-street/ (11) http://npshistory.com/publications/gewa/nr-george-washington-boyhood-home-site.pdf (12) https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/089-0016/ (13) https://kenmore.org/