An Apology; This is How I Work.

I thought I’d better put a short note up, explaining why I’m so late getting the second installment of Colonial Hygiene up.

I have a background in freelance journalism. Now, you have to understand, unlike staff reporters on a paper, I have to rely on my own devices to write an article, edit it myself, and get it sold to various print vehicles. So I have to be particular about what I report. A staff reporter, when they make a mistake, has the luxury of an editor to catch mistakes, and the reporter is readily forgiven unless it happens too many times. As a freelancer, one badly researched report can result in the paper becoming hesitant to take any further pieces from me, or being outright banned from submitting to them altogether.

I follow the basic creed of all good reporters; Who, What, When, Where and Why. If it calls for it, I also have to look into the lesser known rule, How.

I frankly don’t trust online sources, unless I know their reputation. I will avail myself, on occasion, to Wikipedia, but never take their entries as gospel. Let’s face it, they are submissions from the general public or corporations with an agenda, and sometimes they may not have their facts straight. Some do, but who can know?

So I will take notes from there and other online sites, and then make a short trip to my local librarian. Now, this poor woman cringes every time I walk in. She knows I will have an almost impossible assignment for her, considering we are in a small farming community. The good thing is, they are also linked with all the larger libraries, including the University library in the city, so there’s a good chance I will find some obscure books that will reveal what I need to know. She and I have about two or three hours of just looking though the computerized fiche just to find one small reference to what I’m looking for. I may have to wait a few days for a book I request, but at least I will have the straight facts from a respected, well known source. I will double and even triple check my facts with other publications, just to be sure they all coincide. Since my poor local librarian has recently gone into hiding every time I walk in, I decided to take the load off her a bit and visit the next town over, and go to their library. To my delight, I found the mother of my son’s friends working there, and we were long time friends. It will take her awhile to realize that my friendship is not strictly unselfish, but for now, she’s very willing to help.

Also, as per my penchant, I became obsessed with the research and ended up with a multitude of notes that no one could possibly be interested in, except for me, of course. I’m an addict when it comes to useless information. I wrote the piece, but also realized I had enough material for three long blog entries, and am now in the process of taking out all the boring and frankly disgusting information (soap making was indeed a very nasty, smelly process) that no one wants to know anyway. Hence, it's cut. 

*Note: if you want to know about soap making, there is a ton of information about that subject, so I decided to forego the pleasure of informing you here. 

Ergo, please be patient. I had a ton of cutting and editing to do, in an attempt to give you all an informative but interesting bit of information that you hopefully will find useful for your own projects, and to save you the trouble of doing all this nonsense yourself. I wanted to be sure that I was not only precise, but that you would at least find it entertaining. With me, that is a hard balance to find, because frankly, I’m an information geek. But at least I can cover what you wanted to know in one blog, instead of three.

Stay tuned!

Colonial Hygiene: Were They Dirty?

“Colonial America’s church leaders deemed bathing impure, since it promoted nudity, which could only lead to promiscuity.”

Other statements made are “Brides carried bouquets of flowers to cover up the their body odor” and “People bathed twice a year whether they needed it or not”.

To say that bathing habits from this time were disgusting and non-existent would be vastly inaccurate. Even today, personal hygiene habits are personal. Some washed several times a day, and some only washed up variably. They are also extremely hard to document, since little note was made of the fact. When was the last time you mentioned having a bath in writing?

Of course, Colonialists, and in fact everyone almost everywhere in Europe, had little opportunity to bathe as we understand it today. After all, tubs were notoriously hard to fill and empty with hot water, and it was time consuming and labour intensive. They didn't exactly have the indoor plumbing we have now. All we have to do is turn on a tap. In yesteryear, scores of buckets had to be filled, heated and emptied into the tub to even get enough to lie down for a good soak, and then there was the emptying afterwards. If they had a huge staff of servants, then I could them enjoying the luxury far more often than middle – low class residents of the community.

In fact, men often bathed in rivers and lakes, not only to get clean but more often as recreation, especially in hotter climates or after a hot, hard day’s work. It was not unknown to resort to horse troughs, as well, to get a quick clean-up of the face and hands. Women, however, for reasons of modesty and decorum, seldom indulged in these rough, outdoor activities. Instead they used the wash basins, using the water that was in the accompanying pitchers sitting on a discreet washstand somewhere private in their homes.

It was about this time in America that a series of warm mineral springs and hot springs were discovered further west in Virginia, where the bulk of “No Gentleman Is He” is based. Those wealthy enough to travel there to indulge, or those living close enough to travel, were fortunate to be able to attend and experience the pleasure of deeply immersed bathing. In the early 1800’s, spas sprung up, privately owned, and organized so that each group had their chance to indulge so that the sexes did not mix during this intimate procedure. After all, this was still a very oppressive, Christian society.

As for the hygienic habits of Colonialists, and indeed anyone in European influenced communities, of which America was certainly a part during the 1700’s, some washed daily and some did not. Some washed only hands and face, others took extensive sponge baths daily. In fact, William Byrd once wrote that he was relieved to bathe after several days in the wilderness, and Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia recommended that American soldiers should “wash their hands and face at least once every day, and his whole body twice or three times a week, especially in summer.”

There were also public baths in some towns, often attached to Inns. There were several in Richmond, right up until about 1950, and it was estimated that they served about 60,000 persons per year. But of course, they were limited to people who could afford to pay for them, and the poorer folk didn’t consider it a necessary expense when they were living from hand to mouth as it was. Most people, however, preferred to bath near a fireplace, especially in the cooler weather, and most had them in kitchens by the wood stove, since it was warmer and less toting of water buckets and clean up later. Needless to say, there was not a great deal of privacy.

Tomorrow or the next day, (depending on whether I will be busy writing on Book 2 of our Sons of Liberty series) I will be talking about what they used to bathe. Did they use soap? Did they have shampoo in 1700’s America? Stay tuned, and your questions will be answered.

**to be continued**

To view "No Gentleman Is He", the first in the Sons of Liberty series, a 5-star Amazon rated historical romance, please go here. Or go to Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Bauer_Carley/no-gentleman-is-he.html 

Why was Revere so Revered?

When my co-author, Carley Bauer, convinced me to co-write a romance novel based in the American Revolutionary War, I had long accepted the information taught to me in school as fact. However, in the process of researching for this book, for we wanted this to be an intelligent novel for intelligent readers, I found out that not everything we learned was entirely factual.

The most surprising thing we found out was that Longfellow’s poem about Revere’s “Midnight Ride” was, to a great extent, fiction. Not surprising, since it was written more than hundred years later.

It can be excused, since Longfellow is in fact Revere’s distant cousin, and he probably wanted to heighten the notoriety of his famous ancestor. However, since I love historical surprises, let me enlighten those who are still unaware of the actual facts, and why that conversation took place in our book, during the famous first battle to regain control in Concord.

First of all, there was never supposed to be a battle in Lexington or Concord. The militia and minutemen only wanted to protect their leaders from being arrested for treason, which was a crime punishable by death. It was also essential they protect the arms and ammunition that the colonialists had been stockpiling for several years. To lose those would mean they were beaten in their argument with the Crown before they even started, and they would forever be silent in the affairs of their nation.

First myth was that Revere rode on his quick-footed steed to shout out to everyone, “The British are coming!” First thing you have to remember is, everyone still considered themselves British, or English, at that time. They were still a proud part of the Commonwealth and honestly had no wish to break from the Crown, though some minor players wanted separation. Most just wanted appeasement, and applied for it through the “Olive Branch” series of letters to England. So, it now seems unlikely that Revere would have used that term. What Revere probably shouted was in fact, “The regulars are advancing,” or “The regulars are coming out”.

Second myth is that Revere actually arrived in Lexington or Concord. He did manage to warn Adams and Hancock at the home where they were staying, the two men on his route who were targeted for arrest. However, he wasn’t alone. He was joined by William Dawes, although by different routes and they eventually met up. In fact, there was a league of men, all scattered about the countryside, raising the alarm. They all rode hard, although it was not on fast steeds.

In fact, Revere himself plodded along on his thick footed, oversized farm plough horse, and Dawes actually had to slow down frequently to allow Revere’s horse to catch up. They eventually ran across some British soldiers, and while Dawes and Samuel Prescott, another man who joined them on the road, got away, though Dawes limped all the way down the roads, then became lost in the dark because he lost his horse in the scuffle, and Prescott, the only one to retain his horse, made it quickly to Concord to warn of the impending arrival of the soldiers, Revere actually fell off his horse. Winded, he was unable to run away and the British soldiers arrested him and kept him with them until about 3 am, when he finally convinced the soldiers that many more opposition men were gathered than what there actually were. Revere’s horse had disappeared. Alarmed, the soldiers released Revere and took off to join their comrades at Lexington. Revere sprinted on foot all the way to Lexington as well, to arrive to see the end part of the battle on Lexington Green. Exhausted, he bravely took hold of a rifle and joined in the fray.

It’s ironic that only one of the three men actually succeeded in their mission to warn the colonialists of the arrival of British troops in Concord, and of all three, Dr. Samuel Prescott is the least known of them all. There is not even a portrait of him.

Paul Revere will forever be remembered because of “The Midnight Ride”, and perhaps he was chosen because he was the most charismatic of the men that fateful night. He was also highly respected as a patriot, and always willing to put himself at risk for what he believed in. He was by no means a coward; quite the opposite in fact, so even though the poem may be inaccurate in many ways, Revere still deserves a great place in American history. He was perhaps the best silversmith of that era, and if his stuff is collectable and valuable, it is well earned.

As for Samuel Prescott? He is unfortunately largely forgotten now, and it’s a shame considering he managed to accomplish what the others did not, and probably was responsible for saving Concord in the grand scheme of things. He served as a surgeon to the Continental Army, still braving the front lines during battles, but later died in a British prison sometime late in 1776.

“Listen my children, and you shall hear,

Of the midnight ride of…Samuel Prescott?”

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My Beloved Colt

As I was writing “No Gentleman Is He” with my co-author, Carley Bauer, I had a clear vision of what Colton Rolfe, my main character, looked like. Even though Cassandra Brooks, the female heroine, was Carley’s character, I also knew exactly what she looked like too. I lived with these characters for months, day and night, and knew their histories, even though not all the details were written down.

When I looked for a photo for anyone who could represent Colton, I couldn’t find any that accurately portrayed him. I guess it was because he was so well defined in my mind that he became a living entity. As such, because he was indeed fictional except in my head, there were no photos of him and I would never be happy with any image I found to represent this enigmatic man.

So, what I had to do is find two photos, and simply say, Colton Rolfe is a combination of these two men pictured here as I pictured him for all that time. I still see him that way, and probably always will.

He is an old friend that finally moved on, and so must I. Now he belongs to the world…which, by the way, he would hate.

How did you picture him? Can you find any photos that most closely resemble how you pictured him as you read? Can you describe him? This goes for Cassandra Brooks too, his most beloved woman. If you could picture her as you read, please leave a description of her too. Would love to hear how you saw them.

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Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.

Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.

Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.

As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Casandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?

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Jackson Lee's Favorite Recipe

In Colonial America, cooking was often a matter of “making do” when it came to ingredients. They were both expensive to buy and hard to find. Most did not have access to them, though often the more prosperous got limited quantities. Many shop keepers also kept a supply, and competition was fierce when the ships finally make port, if the shipment survived the passage. Many ingredients came from Europe, and most of the spices from the Caribbean. The great immigration of Pennsylvania Germans and the Dutch were great influences in the early 1700’s, resulting in many great recipes spreading across the Americas, the most prevalent being apples, rum, nutmeg and cinnamon, used for flavoring and sweetness.

One of the interesting side characters in our book “No Gentleman Is He”, due for release March 7 is Jackson Lee, the practical joking friend of our main character, Colton Rolfe and avid member of the Sons of Liberty, of which this series of books is all about.

Jackson Lee, by the way, will be the main character in Book 2 of the Sons of Liberty series, so you will see more of this fascinating character.

Jackson is constantly trying to recruit, though Colton would say “steal”, our hero’s cook, Martha in “No Gentleman Is He”. This pie is one of the reasons. 

Apple-Almond Crumb Pie (Early American Pie and Jackson Lee’s Favorite)

Makes one 9-inch pie-*recipe to follow

1 lb. *Pate Sucree

5 peeled, cored and sliced apples, preferably Granny Smith

½ c. sugar

½ c. raisins

3 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. cinnamon

*Almond Crumb Topping

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Grease 9”X1 ½” pie plate with butter.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the Pate Sucree pastry into a 10” diameter circle. Ease the pastry into the prepared pie plate, being careful not to stretch the pastry. Trim the pastry so it reaches ½ in. beyond the edges of the pan, fold under the excess pastry, and crimp.

Prepare the *Almond Crumb Topping and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the apple slices, sugar, raisins, lemon juice, and cinnamon and gently toss to coat. Place the filling into the pastry lined pan. Top with Almond Crumb Topping.

Bake 40-45 minutes, or until top is golden and filling begins to bubble.

Let cool to room temperature, and chill for one hour before serving.

*Pate Sucree

8 ounces (2 sticks) butter

6 ounces granulated sugar

2 teaspoons salt

16 ounces (about 3 1/4 cups) all purpose flour

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1.2 ounces heavy cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

Procedure

 Sift flour and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, stopping regularly to scrape down the sides, bottom and paddle, about 8 minutes (of course, Colonial cooks did this by hand, quite a workout but well worth the final result – I used the short cut of a mixer, however). Add the egg and yolk one at a time, and beat well between additions (I did this Colonial style and used a whisk). Scrape one more time, then give it a good final mix on high speed.

Stop the mixer. Add the flour, salt, cream and vanilla. Mix on low until the dough comes together. Finish mixing by hand with a large rubber spatula. Divide the dough into two flat, round disks. Double wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours.

1 hour before baking, roll out the dough on a heavily floured surface, until it is just shy of 1/4-inch thick. Roll the dough back onto the rolling pin, then gently roll it out over the tart pan. Press the dough into the pan to shape it, then cut off the excess, leaving 1/4-inch of overhang. Chill for one hour.

** the following step is only if it calls for cream-chilled or no-bake fillings. For this recipe, do NOT bake first**

Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the tart shell from the fridge, trim the overhang off of the edge of the tart, patch any thin parts or cracks with excess dough. Line the tart shell with foil and fill with weights or beans. Place the tart in the center of the bottom rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove the weights and foil, and continue to bake until the bottom is golden brown, about 15-20 additional minutes. Cool the shell completely before removing from the pan or filling.

*Almond Crumb Topping (pie, cake or cookie topping)

1 ¼ c. flour

1 c. sugar

9 tbsp. cold, unsalted butter

½ c. blanched almonds

With a pastry cutter or fork, blend the ingredients until it becomes crumbly like oatmeal. Sprinkle over the pie, cake or cookies.

 I hope you enjoy this delectable desert. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.

Colonial Jewelry

18^th century Colonial women adorned themselves with a variety of simple, understated jewelry that was influenced by European styles, but often they had to be inventive.

“Heart-in-hand” rings — descended from Roman engagement and wedding rings — were given as tokens of affection by lovers and would-be suitors.

Pearls were a staple in many forms, particularly in necklaces and drop earrings, if they could afford to buy them. Often, they were able to secure pearl-like white beads, called French pearls, or gold beads to string onto strong thread that would then be sewn onto ribbon to tie around the neck with a bow in the back, since they wanted to be attractive from both sides. Often, the ribbon in back would be large and elaborate, even falling as a pleat from the neck down the back of the dress.

 

Single or multiple-strand pearl necklaces were popular because they complimented the deep necklines of the sacque gowns.

Since natural pearls were a rare luxury, women whose portraits were painted wearing the gems often did not own them, but were borrowed or rented from the painter.

Nearer the war in the 1770’s, the ribbons became narrower, usually to hold a suspended drop jewel or locket. Ribbons were also used to around the wrists, and held a sliding mourning brooch with the portrait of the lost relative. Not unusually, ribbons were often replaced by the braided hair of the deceased, almost like today’s friendship bracelets, holding the same mourning brooch that, in some way, honored the deceased person.

Note for photo mourning jewelry: 18-Century American Mourning Jewelry: At the. left is an oval brooch in gold frame engraved: “Frances Blackston, died 30 Augt. 1780, aged 60.” The miniature painting is attributed to John Ramage; center, mourning locket for Dr. Joseph Youle that depicts his tombstone with complete inscription, dated 1795. At the right, miniature locket of Dr. Youle that his wife wore before his death and after that the mourning locket illustrated.

For prosperous, wealthy Colonialists, colored stones, such as amethysts, garnets, and diamonds were used in pre-made, expensive pieces of jewelry, just like today. Often, artificial paste stones were mixed in the settings of precious jewels, to cut the costs for some who wanted to show off their affluence without the heavy costs it would incur if the stones were real.

Women were often forced to construct their own jewelry if the simply couldn’t afford to buy them. Most popular was taking ornate buttons off a favored but worn garment and turning them into earbobs (earrings) or pendants to be worn on ribbons or cheap, linked chains procured from amateur silversmiths in the neighborhood. It was also popular to heavily starch a clipping of lace, whether it be Venetian or French, Irish or Scottish, or fancy material attached to a button, and string it onto a simple hook or clasp for the ears. Often, just pretty stones found on the ground and patiently worked so it could be attached, was used.

These chains were especially popular for the gentlemen, as well, since it was around this time that watch fobs came into fashion. Men would often visit their local silversmith and procure detailed and ornamental gold coat buttons to replace plainer ones on their coats.

Modern replica of a pair of Venetian lace earrings, design taken from the Colonial era.