Louisbourg and Winchester Sister Cities

Here we are on 5 June 2022, looking at 8 June 1758, the beginning of the siege of Louisbourg, an event that would supply our town of Winchester some of the street names we drive on today.

The Streets in Winchester VA are named after the "Heroes" who "reduced" Fortress Louisbourg sitting on the mouth of the St Lawrence Seaway, a concourse famously mapped in detail by James Cook, who was not Captain at the time but who we remember as being killed in Hawaii.

But those streets of Winchester VA?

Jefferey Amherst

He replaced Loudoun and Abercrombie as New Commander in Chief of all armed forces.

Admiral Edward Boscawen

For many years until 1926 it was called Water Street. However, in 1758 this street was originally named after Boscawen by James Wood in his July 1758 application to the House of Burgesses for an addition to Winchester VA.

James Wolfe

He was made even more famous in a Benjamin West painting depicting Wolfe's eyes staring up to eternity as he was dying, as was his counterpart opponent French General Montcalm on the Battle of Quebec.

Loudoun

You could even say Loudoun is related to this Fortress, because he tried a campaign against Louisbourg the year before in 1757. His effort was one of the largest armadas of ships and transported troops ever to date. But the campaign was aborted on hearing there were more French warships defending. That was 1757.

Here we are in 2022 covering the year 1758.

The Siege of Louisbourg lasted from June 8 to July 26, 1758.

This successful "Reduction" of Fortress Louisbourg was accomplished July 1758 just before James Wood submitted his Addition to the town for approval by the House of Burgesses which was ratified 21 September 1758. This act established at the same time Stephensburg (now known as Stephens City).

21 Sept 1758

From the House of Burgess’ Journal :

A Petition of James Wood praying, That an Act may pass for enlarging the Town of Winchester by adding 156 Lots already laid off adjoining thereto, was presented to the House and read.

Source:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t8rb7b88h&view=page&format=plaintext&seq=43&skin=2021

2 March 1926

Winchester VA Street Names change back to their original French and Indian War names.

From Water Street to Boscawen.

From Main Street to Loudoun.

From Market Street to Cameron.

Wednesday, March 3, 1926 edition of the Winchester Evening Star:

But . . . When did the original street names change?

From Boscawen to Water Street?

From Loudoun to Main Street?

From Cameron to Market Street?

We don't know (yet).

The plan for the street Boscawen (Water Street) first shows up in 1744 but was submitted to the House of Burgesses by James Wood in 1752.

.

At that time the street was not named.

The plan for the streets, Amherst and Wolfe, were submitted to the House of Burgesses by James Wood in 1758.

.

All 3 streets were then named in 1758 for the heroes in the “reduction” of Fortress Louisbourg.

.

That's it.

That's our lead story.

Compiled by Jim Moyer 2/23/2016, updated 10/18/16, 3/19/2019 on a previous website, updated for new website on 4/24/2022, updated 4/25/2022, 5/1/2022, 6/5/2022

There's always more.

Skip around.

Read bits and pieces at your leisure.

We first mentioned this story in April 2022

because we run into a letter dated April 16, 1758 that tells of the earliest stages of the campaign to reduce Fortress Louisbourg.

On 16 April 1758,

Beverly Robinson from NYC

writes to

Colonel George Washington

at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA:

"Sr Charles Hardy [Gov of NY] is off Louisburgh with 8 or 9 Sail of the Line, & hope he will be able to prevent any Succors geting into that place."

Founders Online tells us that,

Rear Admiral Sir Charles Hardy,

governor of New York,

sailed from New York

for Halifax, Nova Scotia,

in late January

and arrived in Nova Scotia

on 19 Mar.

aboard the Royal William.

This was the beginning of the naval campaign that culminated in the fall of the French stronghold at Louisburg on 26 July 1758.

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-05-02-0093

To George Washington

from Beverley Robinson,

16 April 1758

From Beverley Robinson New York 16th Apr. 1758

Dear Sir Your favour of the 5th Instant came to hand last Night by the post. Inclosing a Letter for Mr Richd Washington in London, which shall be taken care of & forwarded by the Earl of Halifax Packet, Capt. Rand who it is imagined will sail soon.

The york Bill you Inclosed will over pay the postage of your Letter there being no Charge paid on Letters sent from this by the Packets to England, so that all the Expence Attending your Letter is the postage from Fort Loudoun here.

Sr Charles Hardy is off Louisburgh with 8 or 9 Sail of the Line, & hope he will be able to prevent any Succors geting into that place.

Mrs Robinson & family are very well & Desire their Compts to you as does Mr & Mrs Morris and

your Most Obligd Humble Sert3 Bev: Robinson

ALS, DLC:GW.

1. GW’s letter to Robinson of 5 April has not been found, but there is a letter of that date to Richard Washington. Robinson forwarded Richard Washington’s letter on 3 May by the British ship Hampshire, which sailed about a month earlier than the packet ship Earl of Halifax, Capt. Robert Rand (d. 1758) (see Robinson to GW, 21 May; see also New York Mercury, 8 May 1758; and Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal, 12 June and 25 Dec. 1758). GW visited Beverley Robinson (1723–1792) in New York during his trip to Boston to see William Shirley in the late winter of 1756. GW and Beverley Robinson had conducted a regular correspondence since that time.

2. Rear Admiral Sir Charles Hardy, governor of New York, sailed from New York for Halifax, Nova Scotia, in late January and arrived in Nova Scotia on 19 Mar. aboard the Royal William. This was the beginning of the naval campaign that culminated in the fall of the French stronghold at Louisburg on 26 July 1758.

3. Before her marriage Mrs. Robinson was Susannah Philipse of Philipsburgh Manor in New York. Her sister Mary Eliza Philipse was recently married to Lt. Col. Roger Morris (1727–1794) of the 40th Regiment. Morris served on Braddock’s staff with GW in the summer of 1755.

Source:

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-05-02-0093

.

..