The colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania both claimed the land between the 39th and 40th parallels according to the charters granted to each colony. In 1632, King Charles I gave Cecilius Calvert a land grant for a colony in America to be named Maryland. The boundaries for Calvert’s land were: in the north the 40 degree north latitude line; …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
I Need Your Help!
I need your help with the Moland House. This will be my second year planning the annual reenactment at Moland House. Last year, I took reins of organizing the event after Jo-Anne Mullen has decided to step down from organizing the event. We’ve had some growing pains trying to live up to the 15 years of tireless …
I Need Your Help!
I need your help with the Moland House. This will be my second year planning the annual reenactment at Moland House. Last year, I took reins of organizing the event after Jo-Anne Mullen has decided to step down from organizing the event. We’ve had some growing pains trying to live up to the 15 years of tireless …
Spy vs Spy: George Washington’s and King George’s Spies (#13)
AKA Samuel Culper Sr — Abraham Woodhull Abraham Woodhull was the main spy in a spy network that would eventually be known as the Culper Spy Ring. He was recruited by Benjamin Tallmadge, who after the death of Nathan Hale, sought to create a well-organized and TRAINED set of spies that could evade detection while …
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Andrew Ellicott finished the work of Mason and Dixon before becoming the Chief Surveyor of Washington DC
We first met Andrew Ellicott in my earlier article on Benjamin Banneker. A commissioned officer in the Maryland militia, by the time Ellicott was given the job of surveying Washington DC, he was a highly accomplished surveyor having gained experience by working on the survey which extended the Mason-Dixon line westward to its originally intended terminus …
Oh yeah, Metric Units Are Just Too Complicated
Lets just take a look at how simple the British Imperial System that everyone loves is: British Imperial and U.S. Customary systems of weights and measures Standard Measuresshort ton20 short hundredweight, or 2,000 poundslong ton20 long hundredweight, or 2,240 poundsshort hundredweight100 pounds, or 0.05 short tonlong hundredweight112 pounds, or 0.05 long tonpound16 ounces, or 7,000 …
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Ask your Tavernkeeper
Perhaps its just that sort of week for me but its definitely 5:00 HERE so here are some terms to take with you to your local watering hole to show you understand the drinking habits of we merry 18th Century barmen… Bene Bowse — good beer, or other strong liquor Bingo — brandy or other …
Spy vs Spy: George Washington’s and King George’s Spies (#12)
Tavernkeeper is the ideal cover — Jonas Hawkins and Austin Roe Jonas Hawkins ran a general store in Stony Brook New York. He and his wife made a number of trips into New York City to purchase dry goods and other items for their general store and this cover allowed him to gather information on …
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Historical Tidbits — THE QUEBEC ACT
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 22, 1774 – THE QUEBEC ACT established the Royal Province of Quebec and expanded its territory into much of what is now southern Ontario, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, …
Weird Celtic Holidays? Maybe but Maybe not.
Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere, for those of you in the real south, this will be winter but the timing is the same) officially begins this year June 20, 2025 at 9:42 pm. This is when the when the sun is at its zenith along the northernmost path in the sky. Of course, it’s felt …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 