Author Archives: Michael Carver

Dirty Business and Politics are Often Bedfellows

We all think of Benjamin Franklin as a grandfatherly type who invented and published things, sort of that eccentric neighbor who was everyone’s friend, but there was a ruthless side to Franklin.  In 1728, a printer named Samuel Keimer founded the Pennsylvania Gazette, the second newspaper ever printed in the colony. It did not do …

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The Spice Trade – Nutmeg, Mace, and Cloves

Okay, we are deep in the Pumpkin Spice season.  It’s not safe to order a cup of coffee lest you get dragged into the Anglo-Dutch Wars.  I like nutmeg and spices a lot but I think I would rather have Manhattan but the Dutch choose to keep the Maluku Islands and their special spice – …

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Black Tea Punch

Punch was introduced from the Indian subcontinent to England by employees of the East India Company in the late 17th century.  The original drink was named paantsch from Hindi पाँच (pāñć), meaning “five,” as the drink was frequently made with five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, juice from either a lime or a lemon, water, and spices …

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Historical Tidbits — Fort Washington taken by British

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. November 16, 1776         Fort Washington taken by British After winning a major victory on Long Island the British began to move against Manhattan in mid-September. Unwilling to abandon New York …

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The Scourge of Slavery (#7) — Lord Dunmore Weaponizes Slavery

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, enslaved Africans and African Americans in British North America and the United States staged hundreds of revolts.  Slave uprisings were daring, desperate, and inevitably doomed. The first known slave rebellion in one of England’s American colonies took place in Gloucester County, Virginia in 1663.  The Servants Plot, as it was known, …

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Historical Tidbits — Articles of Confederation

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. November 15, 1777 – Articles of Confederation, the first US Constitution, is passed on this date in 1777. Two days later, the Continental Congress sent the Articles to the …

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The Regimental Brewmeister does “Talks” as well as brewing demonstrations.

The Regimental Brewmeister is happy to give talks and lectures at your site to audiences of any size. I ask that you provide appropriate auto visual projection equipment and event promotion. I typically come in 18th Century attire and conduct interactive discussions. While I am happy to consider talks on other subjects, I have delivered …

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