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Colonial Sense has brought to its readers a few Shaker items to build. The classic period of Shaker furniture started in the 1820's and ended approximately 1860. The furniture was the expression of a utilitarian and simplistic design. But who were these communal artisans who were inspired by the belief that their love of God should be expressed in their workmanship?

New Colonial Sense article on the Swedish Cabin, a 17th century log cabin in Drexel Hill, PA. Includes history, architectural details, usage, etc.

Article update at Colonial Sense on Herbs; colonial growing practices, uses, preparation, etc.

Colonial Sense would like to share another yearly Christmas House Tour in one of the nation's oldest parks, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We visited the Park on December 10, 2010. The mansion tours were begun 38 years ago with the help of V. Elizabeth Person who recently died.

Colonial Sense visited the home of our first President, Mount Vernon on October 5, 2011. Our first part at the tour was taken in the interior of George Washington's Mansion. As a three year old in 1735, George lived on the property with his father, Augustine Washington, and family. Augustine acquired the property from his sister in 1726. The Mansion at Mount Vernon did not exist as we know it today, although a home existed on the site. By 1740, the property was given to George's older half-brother, Lawrence Washington. Prior to his death in 1752, Lawrence razed the original house and built a new one and one-half story home wider and longer likely on the site of the original foundation. The initials "LW" were found on a small rectangular stone in the partition wall of the Mansion basement. The stone would have been originally as a foundation corner of Lawrence's newly constructed home. It would have been moved into the wall by George Washington during the reconstruction of the basement in the 1770's.

In our first chapter we said that there was little evidence that rushlighting was ever used in Colonial America. The same cannot be said about Betty lamps. The name "Betty lamp" was often used for a type of lamp that included a crusie, Phoebe, or slut lamp. Colonial Sense will make distinction between the different types. The first lamps were brought over from England and Holland with the Pilgrims. Captain John Carver, the first Governor of Plymouth Colony, brought with him a Dutch iron betty lamp purchased in Holland. The simplest form of lamp brought with the colonists was an iron saucer with one or two lips at the edge to hold a wick. The lamp had similar form to the Greek, Roman, and Assyrian versions. There was a need for lighting in the early days of our country. Edward Winslow, the second Governor of the Plymouth Colony, wrote a letter back to the prospective colonists in 1621 stating, "Bring paper and linseed oil for your windows, with cotton yarn for your lamps."

New article at Colonial Sense on, using advice and tips from the era, what to look for when you go to market.

New article at Colonial Sense on the upcoming Historic New England homes tour.

Considerations on the Payment of a Tax laid for Carrying on the War against the Indians. Meetings of the Committee of the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia. Some Notes on Thomas á Kempis and John Huss. The present Circumstances of Friends in Pennsylvania and New Jersey very Different from those of our Predecessors. The Drafting of the Militia in New Jersey to serve in the Army, with some Observations on the State of the Members of our Society at that time. Visit to Friends in Pennsylvania, accompanied by Benjamin Jones. Proceedings at the Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings in Philadelphia, respecting those who keep Slaves.

Text by David Burr [olivi@mail.vt.edu]. See his INQUISITION: INTRODUCTION by David Burr When medieval people used the word "inquisition," they were referring to a judicial technique, not an organization. There was , in fact, no such thing as "the Inquisition" in the sense of an impersonal organization with a chain of command.

10 Questions for C. Roger Cooper, insurance salsesman, "reenactor" amateur historian, and creator of 'An American Colonial Experience'

Two new sections added to the Jacquard Loom article: Coverlet Titles and a list of Professional Weavers...

The first design for a humanoid robot is probably the Robot Knight, an automaton designed by Leonardo da Vinci -- if built, it was most certainly the first ever manufactured.

The "gift" of Whipping was practised in the Church, and as an instance of it, I will give an account of an affair, that happened about this time. Noah Wheaton, a man of eminence in the Society, whipped a girl, by the name of Elizabeth Cook, in a very inhuman manner. What augments the turpitude of this affair, is, his stripping her naked, and then whipping her in a manner, that would be too unpleasant to relate: suffice it to say, the effect of his treatment was such, that she was unable to make up her bed for more than a year. A. Cook, the girls father, on hearing of this conduct, demanded satisfaction of Wheaton, by a process of law. He, accordingly, prosecuted Wheaton, for his treatment of the girl; and her sister, who was present during the affair, was summoned to appear, as an evidence. Prior to her Appearance at court, she went to Whittaker to receive advice, relative to the business. Whittaker answered her; "I cannot tell you what to say, because I do not know, what questions will be asked you, but speak the truth, and spare the truth, and take care not to bring the gospel into disrepute." She, accordingly, testified that her sister was not naked. Circumstantial evidence for the affirmative clearly proved that the girl was naked, during the infliction of the punishment; and her sister was again questioned, upon which, she still declared that she was not naked: because she had fillet (a ribbon with which the hair is tied) on her head.

A little late, but added a new article on the real Thanksgiving by guest contributor Dr. Margaret O'Shaughnessey…it wasn't what you were taught...

New chapter added to "John Woolman's Journal," a diary kept by a traveller in America in the mid-1700s.

One of the most disastrous tornadoes or hurricanes that has ever been experienced in New England occurred in Massachusetts along the Merrimac river; Saturday, August 14, 1773. It commenced its havoc a few rods above Deer island, and took its course up the northern bank of the stream.

Over a hundred years ago, there were no TV sets, stereos, or video games, but there were always people around ready to play games. Families were often large - parents & several children, as well as an aunt, uncle, or a grandparent or two, all living under one roof, so there were always people around who might be talked into playing a game. Children also played games at school, in town, and at work parties.\n

In Colonial America, pewter was a staple of everday living. A collection of polished pewter, used and proudly displayed, symbolized prosperity to the wives of the artisans and shopkeepers. The eighteenth-century housewife kept her pewter polished. The gentry ate from silver and imported china; the very poor made out with wooden trenchers and pottery mugs. This lasted about 1825, when the white ware of American potters invaded simple dining rooms and banished pewter to the kitchens...

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 20th century has been well recognized as "The Steel City." However, in the 1800's it became a prosperous region for glass manufacturing. Names like Stiegel, Wistar, and Amelung are important names in the early development of glassmaking. But changes to the new method of shaping glass articles made the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania one of the longest and most flourishing glass centers in the country. Glass collectors know that some of the rarest and finest examples of glassmaking come from the Pittsburgh, Monongahela and Ohio districts.