Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Beautiful Surprise
While paging through my 1839 compilation of Godey's Lady's Book I came upon an unexpected surprise. Tucked between the pages was a penciled drawing. I don't know its exact age, but it is obviously very old.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Fashions According to Godeys
As I am getting ready to attend Woolaroc's Fall Mountain Man Encampment in Bartlesville, OK I have been doing some research into the 1830s and 1840s. I would like to share some of my findings over the next couple of weeks. Some of it I find particularly surprising.
From Godeys Ladies Magazine Jan. 1839
A poor nation that relaxes not from her attitude of defence, is less likely to be attacked, though surrounded by powerful neighbours, than another nation which possesses wealth, commerce, population, and all the sinews of war, in far greater abundance, but unprepared. For the more sleek the prey, the greater is the temptation; and no wolf will leave a sheep, to dine upon a porcupine.
--From Godeys May 1839--
From Godey's Ladies Magazine Feb 1839
Sunday, September 18, 2011
History, Not Hatred
Before I became a living historian I attended a Civil War reenactment at Cabin Creek in Oklahoma. I observed a man with his two young children telling them that the Confederates were the "good guys" and the Federals were the "bad guys." He got them to cheer as the lads in grey passed and boo at the Federals. I was aghast. Yes, there were good guys and bad guys in the Civil War, but it had nothing to do with what side they were on. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of hatred he was teaching them.
We are living historians trying to portray a particular time period in history. The vast majority of us are not out there to re-live the war and all of its horrors. I am sure that none of us would like to see another outbreak of unimaginable death and decay. Our purpose is to educate the public about one of the darkest hours in American history and to honor those who lived in that time period.
We are living historians trying to portray a particular time period in history. The vast majority of us are not out there to re-live the war and all of its horrors. I am sure that none of us would like to see another outbreak of unimaginable death and decay. Our purpose is to educate the public about one of the darkest hours in American history and to honor those who lived in that time period.
The first time that I reenacted with my friend, Vaunda, I found out that she is descended from Jefferson Davis. I am a descendent of James Albert Hard, the oldest veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic (Union). There we were, sharing a tent at a reenactment and laughing about what our ancestors would have thought. The point is that the past is past, and any animosity should stay in the past. It was Robert E. Lee who said after the war, "it is the duty of every citizen, in the present condition of the Country, to do all in his power to aid in the restoration of peace and harmony."1 Lee also said, "Dismiss from your mind all sectional feeling, and bring [your children] up to be Americans."2 The Civil War ended almost 150 years ago. Why are we still fighting it?
I don't have a good guy/bad guy mentality. What is most important to me is the character of the man, not which side he fought on. It takes two sides to have a battle--or a reenactment. If we had only one side represented we would be unable to have a true historically accurate event. Although I re-enact as a union civilian, I have great respect for the men in gray, as a whole. The Civil War is over. Why are we still fighting it? After all, we are Americans, not adversaries.
1 & 2http://www.vahistorical.org/publications/historycorner_lee.htm
Monday, September 12, 2011
Will the Real Abigail Please Stand Up
Every time we are at an event someone asks me, "Are you Anna or Abigail?" The truth is that I am Abigail, and at the same time I am neither. You see, when I am acting as a living historian I take the name of "Abigail", since "Kim" is not very period correct. There was, however, a real "Abigail", and today I would like to introduce you to her.
Her real name was Abigail Champney Welton. She was my great, great, great grandmother (that's a lot of "greats"). She was born in 1812 and lived most of her life in Middlebury Township, Wyoming County, New York. She married her husband, John H. Welton on October 13, 1833 in Covington, NY in a Baptist Church. She was illiterate and bore 7 or 8 children. After John died in 1858, she was left without any means of supporting herself.
Her young son, Charles, went to work for various local farmers where he was paid in produce, corn, meat, wood, and on a rare occasion, cash. Then came the Civil War. In 1862 Charles, then 15 years old enlisted in the 136th New York infantry. For his enlistment Charles received a bounty from the state, of which he gave his mother $20.00, and his brother-in-law, Maurice Nelan $20.00 to distribute to his mother as needed. He also gave directions for Maurice to collect his $100.00 town bounty to hold for Abigail. By enlisting, Charles had found a way to support his mother. He never returned. On May 15, 1864 he was shot at the Battle of Resaca and died. He was 17.
After his death Abigail filed for a pension since her son was her sole provider. A pension of $8.00 a month was granted to her. Later in life she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Maurice and Jane Nelan. She died in 1874.
I have no pictures of her, but I can imagine a thin woman with weathered hands and face dressed in a well-worn and patched prairie type dress. My great grandfather remembers her sitting at her spinning wheel spinning the wool from her son-in-law's sheep into yarn. Work was no stranger to her. She lived in a time when women had few opportunities to earn a living. Denied of education and destitute, she had her faith in God and the resolve to do what needed to be done to survive and raise her remaining children.
Her real name was Abigail Champney Welton. She was my great, great, great grandmother (that's a lot of "greats"). She was born in 1812 and lived most of her life in Middlebury Township, Wyoming County, New York. She married her husband, John H. Welton on October 13, 1833 in Covington, NY in a Baptist Church. She was illiterate and bore 7 or 8 children. After John died in 1858, she was left without any means of supporting herself.
Her young son, Charles, went to work for various local farmers where he was paid in produce, corn, meat, wood, and on a rare occasion, cash. Then came the Civil War. In 1862 Charles, then 15 years old enlisted in the 136th New York infantry. For his enlistment Charles received a bounty from the state, of which he gave his mother $20.00, and his brother-in-law, Maurice Nelan $20.00 to distribute to his mother as needed. He also gave directions for Maurice to collect his $100.00 town bounty to hold for Abigail. By enlisting, Charles had found a way to support his mother. He never returned. On May 15, 1864 he was shot at the Battle of Resaca and died. He was 17.
After his death Abigail filed for a pension since her son was her sole provider. A pension of $8.00 a month was granted to her. Later in life she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Maurice and Jane Nelan. She died in 1874.
I have no pictures of her, but I can imagine a thin woman with weathered hands and face dressed in a well-worn and patched prairie type dress. My great grandfather remembers her sitting at her spinning wheel spinning the wool from her son-in-law's sheep into yarn. Work was no stranger to her. She lived in a time when women had few opportunities to earn a living. Denied of education and destitute, she had her faith in God and the resolve to do what needed to be done to survive and raise her remaining children.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Battle of Reed's Bridge, Arkansas
First of all, I must apologize to my readers for my delay in writing this blog. Count this as last week's blog and I will have another one out later this week. My, how the days fly by.
Last weekend, Aug. 27-28, a reenactment of the Battle of Reed's Bridge took place in Jacksonville, AR, which is just north of Little Rock. Set in an idyllic park with recreated log structures, this event, though small, was an awesome reenactment. The event coordinators did an excellent job and really rolled out the red carpet for the participants. The town's restaurants provided the Saturday night's meal as well as Sunday's lunch.
The event had a little of everything: artillery, hand-to-hand combat by the cavalry as well as the ever present infantry. I have been told that this event will not be held next year so that the coordinators can work on their sesquicentennial celebration slated for 2013. This will be one event on the sesquicentennial trail that you won't want to miss.
Abigail Hard at Work
Anna &Abigail's Drygoods
Last weekend, Aug. 27-28, a reenactment of the Battle of Reed's Bridge took place in Jacksonville, AR, which is just north of Little Rock. Set in an idyllic park with recreated log structures, this event, though small, was an awesome reenactment. The event coordinators did an excellent job and really rolled out the red carpet for the participants. The town's restaurants provided the Saturday night's meal as well as Sunday's lunch.
The event had a little of everything: artillery, hand-to-hand combat by the cavalry as well as the ever present infantry. I have been told that this event will not be held next year so that the coordinators can work on their sesquicentennial celebration slated for 2013. This will be one event on the sesquicentennial trail that you won't want to miss.
Across the Bridge
Infantry Camp
In the Confederate Camp
Stacked Arms
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
