Syllabub was a very common dessert in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Originally milk was sweetened and mixed with cider, sweet fortified beer, or sherry then left to curdle. It could be served hot or cold and was more or less stable for about a week after it was made so it was a …
Category Archives: Ideas
Historical Tidbits — Treaty of Versailles
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. September 3, 1783 Peace proclaimed – Treaty of Versailles Following the disastrous defeat at Yorktown and subsequent sequestering of British Forces in New York City, the British peace commissioner …
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US Treasury Department Founded: September 2, 1789
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress had no power to levy and collect taxes, nor was there a tangible basis for securing funds from foreign investors or governments. Left with no real money, the delegates resolved to issue paper money in the form of bills of credit, promising redemption once the war was won. …
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Historical Tidbits — Switching to the Gregorian Calendar
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. September 2, 1752 (sort of) – The British Empire ended their use of the Julian Calendar, switching to the Gregorian resulting in a 12-day shift. The next day on …
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John Chapman Worked to Make the World a Little Better
John Chapman was born in Massachusetts in 1774 and was a student of Emanuel Swedenborg, who espoused a secular humanist creed. This is similar to the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (תִּיקּוּן עוֹלָם). Secular humanism teaches that the world is innately good but that there is always room for us to improve it. Ethics are, …
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I have Begun Planning for 2024
Hire the Regimental Brewmeister It’s reached that time of the year where I start planning for 2024 and I am hoping to include you in the mix of organizations I support next year. I am emailing you today in the hopes that you will consider inviting either the Regimental Brewmeister or the Colonial Surveyor to …
Historical Tidbits — Currency 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. September 1, 1764 — Currency Act The colonies suffered a constant shortage of currency with which to conduct trade. There were no gold or silver mines and currency could …
Proper Salutes in the British Army
In 1740, the “French salute”, or greeting another by kissing them on the cheek, started to become fashionable in London. With the Seven Years War (AKA French and Indian War), the “French salute” quickly became controversial, being called unEnglish. Encouraged instead was the “old English” way of “pulling off a Hat. For the British, removing your …
Captain James Cook Dies while trying to Kidnap the Hawaiian King in 1779
The Hawaiian flag still has a union jack in its canton and we often celebrate Captain James Cook as a great English explorer who discovered the Hawaiian Islands. Cook was a great explorer and scientist and he is known for his discovery of New Zealand, Tahiti, the observations of the Transit of Venus in 1769, …
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Edward Jenner did not “Invent” Vaccination
We often refer to Edward Jenner as the ‘father of vaccination.’ He was not, however, the inventor of the process. Jenner reported his famous story about inoculating young James Phipps with cowpox and then demonstrating immunity to smallpox. Taken the pus from a smallpox blister and introducing into a scratch in the skin of an …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 