The provision on suffrage in the New Jersey state constitution of 1776 granted the right to vote to “all inhabitants” who were of legal age, owned property worth 50 English pounds, and resided in a county for at least one year. No one is sure what was meant by “all inhabitants” since the New Jersey constitutional convention …
Category Archives: Ideas
Hire the Regimental Brewmeister for your Event or Site
Add excitement and authentic color to your special event, or create one for your site, with Philadelphia’s best Colonial Brewer and tradesman. Whether it is a reenactment, motion picture, a tavern night for a private event, or other endeavor, I can bring can bring a real sense of authenticity and fun to your event and …
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Why Spruce Beer?
Many aficionados of Jane Austen will tell you about Spruce Beer in England but spruce trees are not native to Britain, and spruce beer, cannot be produced locally. Spruce beer in only exists as an imported product. There are several distinct traditions of spruce beer. The ‘North American tradition’ of Spruce Beer (which I brew) …
The Regimental Brewmeister Needs an Assistant (or three)
Wow, the presentation at Washington’s Crossing on July 4 was both very rewarding and too much for any one person to handle alone. I really love doing these programs and I am getting more and more calls from worthy organizations to come and present the Colonial Brewer but I need help. I’m reaching out try …
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A Belt on the Disc of Saturn
We all know about Saturn’s rings. They were first observed by Galileo in 1610 but what about the planet itself. Turns out most of the focus of early astronomers (indeed even modern astronomers) has been on the rings but take a look at this letter in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London …
Slavery by Another Name
The acquisition of indentured servants and slaves began with the earliest days of the settling of America. Before 1680, the most common form of bound labor was the white indentured servant. Up to two-thirds of the English migrants who came to Virginia between 1630 and 1680 arrived in servile status. In return for the cost …
Sharpening your Knife with a Whetstone
First off, put some lubricant on your stone. You need to use a lubricant when sharpening your tools because doing it dry will generate enough heat that it will actually warp the blade. Typically, you should use mineral oil as a lubricating agent because it can effectively reduce the heat produced by friction, but if …
Why would an American Soldier carry a Brown Bess Musket?
In my last post I talked about THAT GUY. You all know that type, the know-it-all who wants to show off by starting an argument with the presenter over something the presenter knows WAY more about. These guys come looking for a axe fight only to discover that … “wait, they all HAVE axes in …
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That Guy
That Guy So, when I choose to represent a Continental Soldier, I carry my Brown Bess. My son has a Charleville and I could use that but I contend that the Brown Bess is the quintessential military weapon of the 18th Century British Empire. I enjoy working the crowd and explaining that men between 16 …
The “Third Rail” of Reenacting – The Regimental Brewmeister will attempt a First Person Presentation
Saturday, July 8thIndependence National Historical Parkby the Commodore Barry Statuein Philadelphia 11:00 – 4:00(Multiple presentations) The Regimental Brewmeister will try his hand at a 1st person impression – David Rittenhouse. In the world of Living History there are three distinct impressions people tend to assume when presenting people from the past. When we act as …
