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. June 20, 1782 – The US Congress officially adopts the Great Seal of the United States of America to be affixed to treaties and presidential proclamations. Both sides of …
Continue reading “Historical Tidbits — Great Seal of the United States of America”
Benjamin Banneker was an African-American farmer, self-educated mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor but most importantly, Benjamin Banneker was a FREE MAN not a slave, despite living in a slave state during the early years of the republic. Although he received little schooling, Banneker demonstrated exceptional scientific ability and taught himself advanced mathematics and astronomy. In 1789 …
Continue reading “Noted Surveyor and Astronomer, Benjamin Banneker a Real Self-made man”
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman….” Thomas Paine, The Crisis (19 December 1776) So, I just had a stupid argument …
If we tried to have a revolution today, would we succeed? Do we have what it takes? I hear boasts at reenactments all the time and everyone thinks they have what it takes to rebel but are we willing to “dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,”[1] or are we more likely …
Continue reading “If we tried to have a revolution today, would we succeed?”
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. June 19, 1775 Washington chosen as Commander-in-Chief. When George Washington arrived at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on May 9, 1775, he was placed on several committees …
Continue reading “Historical Tidbits — Washington chosen as Commander-in-Chief”
Surveying was a family business for Thomas Jefferson. Both he and his father Peter Jefferson were land surveyors for the King of England. Although Thomas Jefferson didn’t continue to survey as a profession, the skills he acquired as a surveyor were a solid foundation for his subsequent success. In the early 18th century, much of …
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. June 18, 1778 British evacuate Philadelphia After almost nine months of occupation, 15,000 British troops under General Sir Henry Clinton evacuate Philadelphia. The British position in Philadelphia became untenable …
Continue reading “Historical Tidbits — British Evacuate Philadelphia”
As a boy, George Washington strongly considered a career in the Royal Navy and studying geometry and celestial navigation. To improve his skills, he took up surveying using a set of surveyor’s instruments his father owned for his farm. Early in 1748, Washington accompanied George Fairfax and James Genn, the Royal Surveyor of Prince William …
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. June 17, 1775 – BATTLE OF BREED’S HILL (AKA Bunker Hill): 200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott occupied Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill constructing a strong …
Continue reading “Historical Tidbits — BATTLE OF BREED’S HILL”
Candles were made by either dipping a wick in molten wax or pouring that wax into a mold around the wick. By the late 1700s, many of the candles used in the American colonies were produced by commercial chandlers. Soap is a natural by-product of candle making, so many chandleries also sold soap. To make …
