Virginia Indians. A Link.

http://makinghistorynow.com/2015/10/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-virginia-indians/

Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan invoiced Fort Pitt

In June 1766 the eastern trading firm of Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan invoiced Fort Pitt for a diverse inventory that included claret, rum,

blankets, tobacco, gun flints, paint, wampum, hatchets, brass kettles, bar

lead, thread, vermilion, lace, gun powder, bullet molds, hunting saddles, tin

cups, jews harps, combs, knives, awls, muskets, bed lacing, shears, ribbon,

pipes, looking glass, razors, silver jewelry, needles, and articles of clothing

including ruffled shirts, plain shirts, calico shirts, leggings, matchcoats,

gartering, and breechclouts.

 The following year, the Indian department commissary at the post reported

that over 26,000 pounds sterling worth of merchandise, including 6,500 gallons

 of rum, had passed through the fort. He also noted that over 13,000 gallons of rum

 had been distributed by unlicensed traders and that other sutlers had exchanged

 up to 40,000 pounds sterling worth of goods. In return, Fort Pitt had taken in 10,587 pounds (weight) of

beaver pelts, 15,253 pounds of raccoon skins, 178,613 pounds of "Fall

Skins," 104,016 pounds of "Summer Skins," and smaller amounts of pelts

from otters, fishers, wolves, panthers, elk, and bear.

⁹

7. Boissevain, Friends of Friends, 147-69.

8. T. H. Breen, "An Empire of Goods: The Anglicization of Colonial America, 1690-1776,"

Journal of British Studies, 25 (October, 1986), 467-99; James H. Merrell, "'Our Bond of

Peace': Patterns of Intercultural Exchange on the Carolina Piedmont, 1650-1750," in Peter

Wood, Gregory Waselkov, and Thomas Hatley, eds., Powhatan's Mantel: Indians in the

Colonial Southeast (Lincoln, 1989), 198-222. For a general study, see Carolyn Gilman, Where

Two Worlds Meet: The Great Lakes Fur Trade (St. Paul, 1982).

9. "The Crown to Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan For sundry goods delivered at different

Times, by order of Capt. Murray and Mr. Alexander McKee assistant agent for Indian Affairs,

for the use of the Indians, June 12, 1766," James Sullivan, Alexander Flick, Milton W.

Hamilton, et. al., eds., The Papers of Sir William Johnson, 14 vols. (Albany, 1921-1965), 5:

http://publications.ohiohistory.org/ohstemplate.cfm?action=detail&Page=010577.html&StartPage=72&EndPage=91&volume=105&newtitle=Volume%20105%20Page%2072

The French and Indian War. Video.

Militia Supplies.

 

French Militia 1750 By Francis Back.

Following is a list of supplies issued to a French and Indian raiding party in the winter of 1747, which was led by Commander Boucher de Niverville. This list has been, in part, re-translated by the author

.

Supplies for the six militia men:

6 pounds of gunpowder in bags of one eighth of an ell

12 pounds of lead in bags

6 butcher knives

6 flint and steel with tinderbox and tinder

6 awls

36 musket flints 6 tumplines

6 bearskins

6 deerskins weighing 17 pounds

6 pair of ox hide shoes

6 tomahawks

4 ells of mazamet in 6 pairs of mittens and 6 pairs of ƒocks

6 cotton shirts

6 pairs of snowshoes

6 toboggans

6 pairs of ice creepers

6 pounds of tobacco

The New World Woodsman. His clothing, tools and accoutrements By Keith H. Burgess.

Belt Pouch. In Black & White. 1714.

  Jean Souet 1714-15

A Bit on Tea in the 18th Century-A Link.

http://thehistoricfoodie.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/a-bit-on-tea-in-the-18th-century/

Richard Collins, A Family of Three at Tea, 1727.

I note that there does not appear to be any handles on these tea cups.

Living History World Wide.

I know there are followers here from all over the world, so if any of you are looking for a working Living History group in your area, this is probably a good place to look and ask questions:
http://www.livinghistoryworldwide.com/

Restoration life and Foods Part 2.

Restoration Life and Foods.

Period Items 1.

A Gathering.

In the Footsteps of History: The Coalition of Historical Trekkers from John Schreiber on Vimeo.

Soldier's Costume Guide 17th Century.

Ready To Wear, 1640s Style.
http://thegoodwyfe.blogspot.com/2011/12/soldiers-costume-guide.html?showComment=1326179773033#c8544679985648855808

Research & Authenticity.

Way back 30 years or so when I first got into living history I did not have a computor and I lived a long way from any town. But an American chap I met at a black powder pistol club showed me a "Buckskinning" magazine. I followed many things I read in those magazines not realising that the authors had not done their research properly, and so I was missled. Now I know better, and I challenge what I read. Recently I saw a video from a well known American dealer showing what was supposed to be 18th century kettles. When I asked them for documentation, they supplied a quote from the maker!!!

Correct historical documentation should be primary documentation. That is the written word from someone writing in the period, in my case that would be a writer in the early to mid 18th century such as Peter Kalm for instance. Or it could be documentation in the form of a period painting, such as these by Chardin in 1732. These images show period copper kettles, but look at the size of the originals in comparison to the lower one being sold by some of today's dealers.

Being made of the same materials is not enough, the fact is this is a 19th century kettle not the larger type made in the 18th century.

The other thing that prompted this post is a post on a new blog belonging to a young man who I am aquainted with. His very first post sais that he has read that Longhunters wore their waist/equipment belts back to front for comfort and so they could wear a pouch in front. To my knowledge this is not correct, and I have found no documentation to back this up. This rumour started way back when a well known living historian misinterpreted some information. The written word stated that the belt was "tied" at the back, not buckled. Now to me this means a sash, sashes are tied, but not leather waist belts.

At the time I read this I remember trying it out myself as experimental archaeology. It was not very succsessful. Have you ever tried to buckle a belt at the back? Have you ever been caught short and had to take such a belt off?! No, it does not make any sense at all. The sash was often tied at the back because it stopped the fringe from getting caught in the brush when in the forest. But the belt was and is buckled in the front. I have never had any discomfort from a belt buckle of normal period size worn at the front.

Finding an 18th century image of someone wearing a waist belt with the buckle in front proves nothing, but I think we can safely assume that this was the most common way of wearing a belt. I can't say if any woodsman did not wear his belt backwards, I can only suggest that you try it yourself and come to your own conclusion.

My belt pouch is worn to one side as was the popular way. When wearing a cartridge box for militia duties I place the buckle to the side of the pouch, not behind.

Sash tied at the back to keep the fringe out of the way.

I have read of a sash lore. When men were visiting they had a way of comunicating their wishes to the opposit sex. To wear the fringe at the back as above, meant that you were not looking for a relationship. To tie the sash on the side meant that you were not actively looking for a lady, but you were open to suggestions. To wear the fringe hanging down directly in front meant that you were actively seeking a relationship with a woman. A very good idea I think.

Ranging Way of War

Massacre at Fort William Henry Fact, Fiction & Legacy

Words That say It Like It Really Is.

There is more than one way to explain something, but this quote I think is very good. It is hard to explain the feeling I get when touching original artifacts, and even copies! Hard to explain the feeling of dressing in period clothing and using 18th century items whilst trekking and camping in period style without anything to remind you of the 21 century.

I found this quote over at Frontier Partisans http://frontierpartisans.com/481/touching-the-past/#comment-226

“A feeling of immediate contact with the past is a sensation as deep as the purest enjoyment of art; it is an almost ecstatic sensation of no longer being myself, of overflowing into the world around me, of touching the essence of things, of through history experiencing the truth.”—Johan Huizinga, historian

Thanks for passing this on Jim.
Keith.

So, 2012 has arrived!

Many think that this year is the beginning of the end of the world as we know it. Personally I keep an open mind. I have seen some things in my time that some would not believe or understand. I am pretty sure that I can handle anything that comes my way short of a nuke!

Here I must thank all of you that have followed this blog for as long as you have. To those who have taken the time to comment on my posts, my sincere thanks. Your questions and feedback are very much appreciated, and often they prompt me to do further research and give me ideas for more posts. It is you that keeps this blog going. Without you I would have no need to keep posting.
My very best wishes to you all for a good year in this 2012 and beyond.

Some info on Grease Lamps on Frontier Carpenter.

http://frontiercarpenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/imagine-how-much-we-depend-upon.html

Editor's Note: I used to melt our fat in water to make the tallow. Sometimes changing the water several times after letting it cool. Salt & heavy particles sink to the bottom, leaving the refind tallow on the surface. We lived for 20 years or so without electricity & used tallow candles & fat lamps for lighting. These were the days of early to bed & early to rise.

Keith.

E'tui or necessaire anyone. 18th century lady's things.

http://possessionsofalady.blogspot.com/2011/11/etui-anyone.html

The Fur Trade.

Watch the full episode. See more University Place.