Outlander-The Spark of the Rebellion-Tryon Palace’s 250th Anniversary

I just got back from my Outlander Tour at the Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC, the Colonial Capital of North Carolina in the late 1770’s. Being an avid Outlander fan (of the books and the Starz series) it is a “perk” for me to live within walking distance of the Tryon Palace, which has notable historical mention in Outlander.

There is unrest in the colonies. The settlers are being taxed unfairly to support the construction of the governor’s lavish new palace. The War of Regulation was said to be a spark , or a catalyst if you will, to the beginnings of the American Revolution. Regulators, a vigilance society dedicated to fighting the exorbitant taxes in North Carolina from 1764-1771, took up arms against the colonial British officials. This Outlander Tour is presented from the side of the British and not that of Jamie and Claire Fraser or the Regulators. Although Jamie was committed to serving Tryon after Tryon awarded him 10,000 acres of land in the “back country” of western North Carolina, Jamie’s loyalties inevitably were with the colonists. After all, America is where his daughter, Brianna, grew up after Jamie sent his pregnant wife, Claire, back to the future through the standing stones at Craig Na Dun.

We began the tour with a presentation of a soldiers’ encampment, complete with tents and campfire. The women who followed the soldiers to the battlefields set up camps to do what women were expected to do at that time - wash clothes, cook for and feed the troops, nurse them when necessary and sometimes care for any children that they dragged along with them. They explained what materials they had to work with and how they protected themselves from the elements.

Next on the tour was a marketeer, set up near the palace selling his herbs and potions and medical supplies to the colonials as an apothecary. A traveling drug store you might say. He explained the medical procedures of the time, which would make the hair stand up on the back of the neck of anyone today with the slightest knowledge of modern day medicine.

We encountered British soldiers and townspeople who were loyal supporters of Governor Tryon and King George. One gentleman ended his speech with his rousing rendition of “God Save the King”. We also listened to some of the womenfolk describe the politics of the time and compare it to current day politics, emphasizing how fragile democracy is and how we all, as citizens of our nation, need to protect it.

After the tour, we walked around the palace gardens which were just beginning to come alive with new Spring growth. Herbs are growing in the kitchen gardens and the formal gardens are beginning to awaken from Winter slumber.

After a warm week, the weather for the tour today was a a bit brisk in the mid 40’s, but the tour groups were kept small and everyone wore masks and practiced social distancing. It was a tour worth taking and it was nice to get out of the house for a change.