Surry Historical Society to hold program

Published 6:31 pm Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The Surry County Historical Society Quarterly Program will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, at the Surry Parks and Rec Center.

The Historical Society will have an Open House from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. before the program. Participants are invited to tour the building and see the John Smith Deckhouse and the old surrey once used at Swann’s Point Farm. The Book Room will have many local-interest books for sale, and Surry afghans for sale for $40 by the Surry Ruritan Club.

The keynote speaker for the program at 7 p.m. will be Connie Lapallo, Richmond author, historian and storyteller. Some of her works include the Jamestown Sky series, which traces the life of Joan Pierce and other women and children of early Jamestown. Pierce’s 60-year saga begins in England and takes the reader through all the trials and tribulations of a fledgling colony trying to survive in the New World across the Atlantic from their English home.

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In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the first Native American uprising against the English in 1622, Lapallo will discuss how the “Surry side” played an invaluable role in the sparing of Jamestown from the event through the efforts of Richard Pace and a native boy he had adopted. The uprising in 1622 shattered the optimism that was present in Virginia in 1621, and Lapallo will discuss how the English reaction to the uprisings here in Virginia in 1622 and 1644 were the early beginnings of Virginia realizing they were truly on their own, Englishmen becoming Virginians, headed ultimately toward revolting against the crown.

Light refreshments will be available at the event. Call 757-294-0404 or email surryhistoricalsociety@gmail.com for more information.