Williamsburg was one of the branches off of Jamestown. It was settled from the need to find a healthier place to avoid the mosquitoes and to build a defensive outpost against the Indians. It was built around the College of William and Mary. Williamsburg was probably designed by Governor Nicholson, who also designed the city of Annapolis.
In the early 1700's Williamsburg began to grow in population. Governor Alexander Spotswood was an expansionist and claimed the Shenandoah Valley for England. He also built the magazine and the Bruton Parish Church. Many urban residences sprang up, which were surrounded by gardens and added to the beauty of Williamsburg's urban setting. Though there were never more than 2,000 permanent residents in Williamsburg at one time, 4 times each year a flood of people came into Williamsburg for “Public times” when the courts for the community met.
By the mid-1700's the colony had established itself as a renowned tobacco producer. Many elegant plantations such as Carter's Grove sprang up along the rivers. By the mid-1800s the town was filled with commercial business. The retail stores were filled with the latest fashions and hand-crafted items were offered by local blacksmiths and silversmiths.
The colonists grew proud of their status as England's most loyal and successful colony. The felt themselves responsible for the colonies success and that they had the ability to elect men to the House of Burgesses. The colonist leaders and Britain agreed on basic socioeconomic and political principles, which caused little tension. Entering the House of Burgesses was one of the highest goals for a Virginian, one of the most beneficial and respectable things a man could do for himself.
The Stamp act caused a great uproar because the Virginia colonists felt that it was not fair that they be taxed without their approval. The House of Burgesses sent a protest to England, but it was ignored. The House of Burgesses denounced the Stamp Act as an infringement on the Virginians rights. Patrick Henry led the resistance by sending several bold resolutions to the king, who eventually repealed it.
Relations with the motherland, England, began to deteriorate when England sent a new governor. Norborne Berkeley, the new governor, was widely respected and liked by the community of Williamsburg. The colonists accepted the new governor, but he could not stop the tides of resolutions passed by the House of Burgesses, so he dissolved it. Unfazed, they continued to meet in Raleigh Tavern and signed a boycott against a long list of British imports. Norborne Berkeley died in 1769 and was replaced by John Murray. His proud and haughty attitude combined with his unwillingness to associate with the colonists made him very unpopular.
