The Third Provincial Congress was one of the most important steps in North Carolina’s path to declaring independence in 1776 and its ongoing journey toward realizing a vision of freedom. Delegates from around the state came together from August 20 through September 10, 1775 to voice their common desire for a government that better represented their needs and aspirations.
Throughout the lawn surrounding the Historic Orange County Courthouse, vendors, community groups, museums and historic sites, and costumed reenactors will be set up to create a Colonial market.
Vendors and Sutlers will be selling colonial goods.
Community Groups, including partner organizations, will have booths with information about their organizations. The NC SAR General Francis Nash Chapter is hosting a display table on the Courthouse lawn. We will use this table to share our knowledge of the Revolution, to display items of interest, and potentially recruit members and Youth Contest participants. We plan to have copies of some historical documents to show, handouts, some SAR brochures available, and to feature Hillsborough’s Francis Nash, who was a delegate to the first three Provincial Congresses before commanding North Carolina Continental Soldiers.
Museums and Historic Sites from across the state who interpret and present Colonial history will have booths with information about their sites.
Costumed Reenactors will set up camp and provide a glimpse into civilian and military life at the time of the Third Provincial Congress. First person interpreters will portray significant individuals from the period, such as John Penn, signer of the Declaration of Independence for North Carolina.
The Daughters of the American Revolution will provide Colonial themed children’s games and crafts.
Speakers, at the Orange County Public Library, will include NC SAR Youth Orators from the Rumbaugh Competition
10 AM – Colonial Market Opens – Historic Courthouse Lawn – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse – “First in Freedom: North Carolina’s Third Provincial Congress and American Independence” – Orange County Public Library 11 AM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 11:30 AM – “The Experiences of Marginalized Communities: how they would have Internalized the Ideas and Issues of the Time and how they would have Interacted with the Delegates at the Congress,” a panel discussion – Orange County Public Library 12 PM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 1 PM – Winners of the North Carolina Sons of the American Revolution Oratory Contest – Orange County Public Library 1:30 PM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 2 PM – “Winning the Backcountry: the Role of the Third Provincial Congress in Persuading People who had been Involved in the Regulator Movement” – Orange County Public Library 2:30 PM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 3:30 PM – The legacy of the Congress with a guided community discussion about present day issues and ways to continue the journey toward greater freedom for all, speaker TBA – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 4:30 PM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 4 PM – “Freemasonry and the Ideals of the American Revolution” – Eagle Lodge 5:30 PM – Congress Dramatization – Historic Courthouse 6 PM – Colonial Market Closes – Historic Courthouse Lawn |
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