Kegley Lecture - "A Spy Unmasked 250 Years Later" with Michael Hudson

In the Revolution's sixth summer, Col. William Preston and his independence-minded associates discovered and extinguished an ambitious Loyalist plot designed to deliver Virginia firmly into the hands of the British. The Patriot triumph marked a major turning point in Revolutionary Virginia; one that the British proved unable to reverse.

Patriot success in the Summer of 1780 played out on both sides of the Blue Ridge and was predicated largely on the cloak-and-dagger activities of a Botetourt spy. For over 240 years, this mysterious man's identity was essentially lost to history. Thanks to his postwar pension records - recently rediscovered - we know who this unsung hero of the Commonwealth was. And we know how he played a vital part in securing America's independence. Join Historic Smithfield Executive Director Michael Hudson as he recounts the fascinating, documentation-based narrative of a man whose deeds are no longer lost to history.

Join us for this final Kegley Lecture before our summer break. This talk will be held on Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm at Christ Lutheran Church. Admission is $5 (Free for HSWV members).