Norfolk's Revolutionary War story is defined by destruction and by one of the most provocative acts of the entire conflict. On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore — Virginia's deposed royal governor, now operating from warships in the harbor — issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people who escaped their patriot masters and joined the British forces. The proclamation sent a shockwave through Virginia's slaveholding society and hardened patriot resolve in ways that Dunmore may not have anticipated.
PEOPLE
Lord Dunmore
Royal Governor of Virginia, British Naval Commander, Proclamation Author
William Woodford
Virginia Militia Colonel, Continental Army Brigadier General, Battle of Great Bridge Commander
Refugees Who Answered Dunmore's Proclamation
Formerly Enslaved Persons, British Allies, Freedom Seekers
Andrew Sprowle
Norfolk Merchant, Loyalist, Shipyard Owner
KEY EVENTS
STORIES
HISTORICAL VOICE
Liberty to Slaves
The names of most of them are lost. We know that perhaps 800 to 2,000 enslaved people made it to Lord Dunmore's ships after his November 1775 proclamation, and that many more tried and failed. We know...
MODERN VOICE
The Town That Burned Twice
The conventional story of Norfolk's destruction goes like this: Lord Dunmore bombarded the town from his ships on January 1, 1776, and the fires destroyed most of the buildings. The reality is more co...