Author Archives: Michael Carver

“Beer” Recipe — Black Cider

One of the biggest atrocities of the Revolutionary War was committed not by our enemies the British or even the Hessians, it was committed within our hallowed halls and ultimately enshrined in the Constitution and that atrocity was slavery.  Eighteenth Century white men all felt that they were morally and intellectually superior to men of …

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Historical Tidbits

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. January 17, 1780               Battle of Cowpens Shortly after sunrise, the American rifleman encountered the lead elements of Colonel Balastre Tarleton’s British Legion, the 7th Regiment of Foot, 71st Regiment …

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Benjamin Franklin was born on 17 Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, on January 17, 1706.

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in the city of Boston in a small house on 17 Milk Street, across the street from the Old Meeting House.  His father was Josiah Franklin, a chandler (soap and candle maker).  Josiah Franklin, emigrated from England in 1682. He had seven children with his first wife, …

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Consider becoming an Apprentice Cook at Fort Mifflin on January 22, 2022

Consider becoming an Apprentice Cook at Fort Mifflin On January 22, 2022; Fort Mifflin is running our Cast Iron Chef & Colonial Brewing.  The Regimental Brewmeister and our team of hearth cooks is creating a unique hands-on experience in early 19th century foodways.  Normally, I would be pushing for you to join me, the Regimental …

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Cast Iron Chef at Fort Mifflin

Want an opportunity to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger for an immersive history experience this winter. Come to Fort Mifflin for a taste of life in early 19th century Philadelphia! Join the Regimental Brewmeister and our team of hearth cooks for a unique hands-on experience in early 19th century foodways. Take up an …

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What Language is that written in? Understanding 18th Century Handwriting

Several years ago, I was giving tours at Independence Hall when one of the guests approached me outside Congress Hall to ask questions about the Articles of Confederations (BTW, volunteers love to be asked questions, that’s why we do this so don’t hold back.  If you ask us a question that we don’t know the …

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Basic Colonial Brewing — The Koelschip

On January 22 at the Cast Iron Chef event at Fort Mifflin, I will debut the Regimental Brewmeister’s new 1 barrel brewery set up including a 30-gallon kieve (aka keeve) and a 30 gallon kühlschipp.(AKA koelschip).  As we strive for ever increasing levels of authenticity to both the beer and our experience brewing, this new …

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How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools — Using the Sector

The sector and the related proportional compasses (proportional dividers) were developed in the second half of the 16th century. There are several inventors, most of them from Italy but most people attribute its development to Galileo Galilei. The sector consists of two arms connected by a pivot joint. For example, linear, trigonometric, and logarithmic scales …

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