Falling Creek Ironworks Day

BENSLEY, Va. – The beat of a Native American drum calling to dancers filled the air, and buckskinned clothed dancers along with a youth in silk regalia and shawl mesmerized the onlooking crowd with their dances Colonial style music and singers transported one in thought to another era in time as historical interpreters provided education and entertainment, it was Sunday and the Falling Creek Ironworks annual event had begun.

Mother Nature decided to make an appearance with rain showers off and on but the spirit and fun of the event was not dampened.

Archibald Cary – who started an ironworks at Falling Creek, was a Justice of the Peace for Chesterfield, was chummy with George Washington, kin to Thomas Jefferson by marriage, and a strong voice in all things he believed in – made a special appearance via historical interpreter Bill Rose, who captured the character of Cary flawlessly.

“I have been doing interpreting for over 25 years now,” Rose explained. “My wife Leeann and I do this together. We also have done a World War II radio show event and work with the USO shows.”

Cary, whose nickname was “Old Iron” was a flavorful character of a man, one to whom you would listened to even if you disagreed with his political views.

Rose said that Cary had no trouble voicing his opinions and even threatened to kill Patrick Henry, though he was related by his marriage. Very protective of Virginia, Cary was a watchdog over anyone who he thought was gaining too much power individually. Cary also was a strong persecutor of the Baptists in Chesterfield.

Between 1770 and 1774, members of the Baptist faith were not members of the Church of England, so they were considered to be “dissenters,” as people who did not accept the teachings of the Church of England. At that time dissenters had to travel all the way to Williamsburg to preach or get a license to preach. The Baptist believed it wrong to have to get a license so they preached anyway. They did not have church buildings and had to preach in and from their homes. Thomas Jefferson was working on a law for religious freedom, but in the meantime there were strict laws in the commonwealth.

Seven Baptist preachers tried to preach without a license in Chesterfield during those five years and were put in jail. Judge Archibald Cary had them arrested each time they preached and put them in jail, after serving time they were released.

According to “History and Geography of Chesterfield, Virginia,” by Bettie Woodson Weaver, Cary, rode in his carriage from Amptill to monthly meetings. Cary was a leader in the Church of England in Virginia. Virginians had to pay taxes to support this established church, whether they were members or not.

Presbyterians and Methodists teamed up with the Baptists in seeking independence from England.

It was during this time that a General Assembly was preparing to meet and Archibald Cary rode to Richmond and St. John’s Church to attend the meeting. It was March 23,1775, and Patrick Henry’s immortal speech “Give me liberty or give me death” was about to be heard.

At Falling Creek, Cary’s visionary ideas and efforts to build the ironworks and a grist mill had both successes and failures but it was a very important venture for the colonists.

In 1781, structures on the property were burned by Benedict Arnold. Today, remains of those historic structures still stand, and a park is emerging around the area. This year, the park area showed improvements such as historical markers, a paved circle for walking around the historical markers, and better access to the ruins viewing.

At the event, in addition to historical interpreters and Native dancing, Native American artifacts were on display, the Henricus Militia was on hand to share history and demonstrate the colonial time period weaponry, and there was a walking tour conducted by Chesterfield Parks and Rec guides.

Not only is the annual event entertaining; but a golden trip right into the time period of Chesterfield and Virginia’s early history.