Biking St. Simons Part 2: Day 10

Major William Page's Headstone

Major William Page's Grave site

Monument remembering Major Page's service

Another monument remembering Major Page's service

Biking St. Simons Part 2

Description: On the groups fifth full day on St. Simons Island, the group took their second biking tour of the island; however, this biking tour was of the northern part of the island. We saw sites such as Fort Frederica, Christ Church, and a park on the island that use to be the home of a Native American tribe hundreds of years ago. Now, the group had seen Fort Frederica and Christ Church before but the group only got to see the sites from the bus. This time, we got to tour and explore both Christ Church and Fort Frederica. What captivated my eye the most was a flag and tombstone in the cemetery at Christ Church. The grave I saw had an American Flag, revolutionary era flag, so I went over and explored the grave and discovered the man’s name is William Page. Page became a Major after the Revolutionary War.

Reflection: William Page entered the Revolutionary War in 1780 when he was only sixteen years old (oatland.org.) I am eighteen now and will be nineteen in July, but even being older than Page, I do not believe I would have had the courage to enter a war and definitely not at the age of sixteen. Page showed a lot of courage and bravery by stepping into the Continental Army and stepping up to the British. If the British would have won, Page could have been enslaved, imprisoned, or worse, killed. Page was rebelling against his government but luckily for him and many others, George Washington and the Continental Army defeated the British Redcoats and gained their freedom. I am so thankful for men like Major William Page because he sacrificed everything and he even went against his father, a British loyalist, to fight for a cause he believed in wholeheartedly.  I wish I could have had the courage that Major William Page had during the Revolutionary War.

Analysis: Major William Page is important to American history because he helped win our freedom from the British. Even though Major Page had a minor role during the war, fighting for a great cause, in his mind at least, was a big enough role for him. Not only did Major Page fight in the Revolutionary War, he also owned the Retreat Plantation on St. Simons Island. The plantation became one of the largest in Georgia exceeding 2,000 acres and having over 300 slaves. Major Page is one of the unsung heroes in early American history and I am glad that I have had the pleasure and ability to research him and his life. If men today had courage like Major Page did, this world would be a lot better place. Overall, we as Americans should thank Major William Page for what he sacrificed and did for this country and its people.

Works Cited

http://www.oatland.org/American_Revolution/Patriots_Project/Coastal_Georgia_Patriots.htm