Here is a little tin box with a finger handle, and with a candle socket soldered upon its lid and a loose lid inside containing a piece of flint, a piece of steel, a scorched rag and several splints of wood tipped with sulphur, which is the apparatus for making fire used in our colonial ancestors in Bucks county and from time immemorial by all the so-called civilized people of the work. To make fire thus, four operations are necessary. You must make the spark, retain the spark, then produce the flame and retain the flame. Holding the circlet of steel vertically in your left hand you strike diagonally downward upon its outer edge with the flint so that a spark of percussion flies downward into the tinder, which is a scorched linen rag lying in the box beneath; the latter holds the spark as a smouldering ember, until you touch the spunk or sulphur-tipped splint upon it, whereupon with a little blowing the sulphur takes fire and you have a lighted match with which you light the candle set in the socket in the box lid. Perhaps this is not much to look at, but from a historic point of view it is a thing of such importance that it might be described as the master of human progress from prehistoric time down to 1835, or as visible proof of perhaps the greatest discovery that man ever made.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

It might seem ill-conceived to call Arkansas a colonial state, for it was not one of the thirteen original colonies. It was a state in the 1700's that gave shelter to the French, English, Scottish traders, slaves, and pioneers. The Arkansas post was inhabited by mainly hunters and vagabonds. Arkansas was noted for its poverty and cultural backwardness. Horse powered grist mills came to Arkansas in 1791, almost one hundred years after they appeared in Illinois. The Arkansas Post's first sawmill was erected in 1804, one year after the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France. Arkansas was well underdeveloped compared to Louisiana during colonial times.

We know this 4th of July you are with your friends and family either at the beach or lake swimming, getting on rides at a local amusement park, watching a parade, watching fireworks during the night, or eating at a picnic with relatives. Most likely you are not be giving a second thought of how the colonists celebrated the day of Independence. We all realize it is the birth of our freedom as a nation. We want to share with you a portion of writings on how the 4th of July shaped our American character and heritage.

It takes a vision to preserve historic sites, towns, villages, like the Rockefellers of Williamsburg, or Electra Havermeyer Webb of Shelburne Museum, or the Flynts of Deerfield. Because of their vision, many towns have been saved from the eminent destruction of their existence.

New feature! Interactive timeline, slice & dice events from 1492 to 1859 in a variety of ways. Not all data is in, though, so it may be of little use to you, depending on what you're looking for...

Journey back from Gettysburg. -Unusual night in Oxford. -Praiseworthy custom of sitting with the sick by neighbors. -Guarding of the dead at night. - Two German immigrants travel to Cincinnati. -Journey by way of Little York, -Seitsville, Susquehanna Bridge, -Columbia, -Mount Pleasant, -Lancaster. -Signs of the inns. -Long way in the dark. -Night quarters with Quakers. -Joumey over a high mountain. -Free accommodation by English planters. -Fertility of the mountain valleys. Journey in darkness through a thick forest. -Night quarters in a farmhouse. -Journey to Reading. -Many new German immigrants. -Journey to my home at the Moselem.

Wedensday, Octobr 4th. About four in the morning, we set out for Kingston (for so was the Town called) with a french Docter in our company. Hee and ye Post put on very furiously, so that I could not keep up with them, only as now and then they'd stop till they see mee. This Rode was poorly furnished wth accommodations for Travellers, so that we were forced to ride 22 miles by the post's account, but neerer thirty by mine, before wee could bait so much as our Horses, wch I exceedingly complained of. But the post encourag'd mee, by saying wee should be well accommodated anon at mr. Devills, a few miles further. But I questioned whether we ought to go to the Devil to be helpt out of affliction. However, like the rest of Deluded souls that post to ye Infernal denn, Wee made all posible speed to this Devil's Habitation; where alliting, in full assurance of good accommodation, wee were going in. But meeting his two daughters, as I suposed twins, they so neerly resembled each other, both in features and habit, and look't as old as the Divel himselfe, and quite as Ugly, We desired entertainm't, but could hardly get a word out of 'um, till with our Importunity, telling them our necesity, &c. they call'd the old Sophister, who was as sparing of his words as his daughters had bin, and no, or none, was the reply's hee made us to our demands. Hee differed only in this from the old fellow in to'ther Country: hee let us depart. However, I thought it proper to warn poor Travailers to endeavour to Avoid falling into circumstances like ours, wch at our next Stage I sat down and did as followeth:

The sale of the reward of merit fraktur at Pook and Pook completed by schoolmaster Johann Conrad Gilbert (1734-1812) who emigrated from Germany in 1757 and settled in Montgomery County Pennsylvania may have sparked an interest to our readers as to how the bunny or rabbit became an indelible symbol of Easter in colonial America. As it turns out so many times you must thank the Pennsylvania Dutch for this great contribution to our country. These are the German immigrants like Heinrich Gudehus who emigrated from Palatinate, Germany in the eighteenth century.

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?

This drawing and those of figures 9 and 10 are from specifications, sketches, and photographs, now in the files of the division of transportation, U.S. National Museum, taken in 1925 by Paul E. Garber from a wagon then the property of Amos Gingrich, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This wagon is illustrated in John Omwake's Conestoga six-horse bell teams, 1750-1850, Cincinnati, 1930, pp. 57, 63, 87.

On the eighth of June, 1679, we left home2 at four o'clock in the morning, taking leave of those with whom God had joined us fast in spirit, they committing us, and we them, with tenderness of heart, unto the gracious protection of the Highest. Although for a time separated in body, we remained most closely united in soul, which is, always and everywhere, but one and the same. We went on foot to Oost[erend], expecting there to take the canal boat, which we did, at six or half past six o'clock, after waiting an hour. We took leave finally of those of our beloved and very worthy friends who had accompanied us, and thus far made it a pleasant journey for us. Our hearts had been strengthened in discoursing, on the road, of God and his will concerning us, and of the disposition and readiness of our hearts, as we then felt, to bear it whatever it might be, although we foresaw that it would be mortifying enough for us…

Update to 1600s travel journal

10 Questions for Gregory LeFever (Contributing Editor to Early American Life magazine, prolific writer, banjo player)

In the antique industry, some of the more affordable pieces for a collector to start collecting are barrels, piggins, buckets, firkins, and butter churns. However, if collectors only knew the amount of time that is dedicated to each piece, there would be a greater appreciation to the value of such items. The colonial trade that makes barrels and various casks is known as a cooper. His work was performed in a cooperage. It is a trade that dates back to well over 4000 years. The word "cooper" is derived from "cuparius" of Roman times, makers of cupals or wooden casks in which wine producers of Cisalpine Gaul stored their wares.