A sweet slice of history was served up by the Cranston Historical when it hosted a “Strawberry Tea” at the historic Joy Homestead on Scituate Avenue on a recent June evening.

Guests sat down inside the 18^th-century, red clapboard farmhouse to enjoy homemade biscuits topped with sliced fresh strawberries and whipped cream as they learned about the home’s role in the Revolutionary War.

Historical Society member Dianna Reisman explained that records indicate that the homestead, owned by cobbler and farmer Joy Job, was a wayside stop for French General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau in June 1781 as he led his troops on a 14-week, 600-plus mile march from Newport and Providence to Yorktown, VA. There, the troops joined George Washington’s army to defeat the British in battle bolstered by French naval support.

This past week, General Rochambeau’s 300^th birthday was celebrated in his hometown of Vendome, France.

It is believed that French troops were given homemade bread as they marched by the homestead, and some may have filled their canteens at nearby Joy Brook.

Sandra Moyer, president of the Historical Society explained, that for many years that the historical march and local events have been celebrated at the homestead with a light repast of biscuits, strawberries, and tea.

And why biscuits and strawberries?

Reisman, who was preparing the refreshments with her sister, Bonnie, said that after passing by the homestead, the French troops continued through Coventry on their march southward.  There, she said, one of their supply wagons tipped over and the biscuits that tumbled out were purportedly given to local residents.   As a result, the area has long since been referred to as Biscuit Hill.

She said that the strawberries add a sweet taste of summer and are a nice way to celebrate the historic march that saw French allied troops march through a wide swath of what is now Rhode Island.  The French troops first landed in Newport, Reisman said, and initially marched to Providence where they had an encampment.  Their past presence there is marked by streets named after them, including Rochambeau Avenue and Camp Street, she said.

Although some of the historical details surrounding exactly what happened when the troops passed the Joy homestead are a little fuzzy, there is no doubt that the once-rural spot witnessed history and it is worth commemorating, historical society members.

The guests who attended the evening tea enjoyed both the history and the refreshments, with many taking the time to stroll the grounds around the Joy Homestead farmhouse.  The evening was made even more special by the arrival of Betsy Nelson, a descendant of the Joy family.

A resident of Charlestown, RI, Nelson presented the historical society with a framed stitchery sampler meticulously created by Freelove Joy in 1814 while the family was living at the homestead.

The Joy Homestead is located along the federally designated Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.  Markers designating the route can be found throughout the state.  It is maintained by the National Park Service in partnership with the National Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association.