A Visit With the Durfees of Fall River in the Eighteenth Century

 A Visit With the Durfees of Fall River 

in the Eighteenth Century

Good day my friends!

It has been a long time since I have had anything of note to write to you about. My guardian got a JOB and doesn't have as much time for me anymore. Boo!

The weekend before last, we traveled to Fall River, Massachusetts to visit the Durfees. This home, in the 18th century, is one of 18 homes near the Taunton River. Judge Thomas Durfee built his house high on the top of a hill, around the year 1750. Judge Durfee was a strong patriot during the war and mortgaged his fine home to pay for the war.

Col. Joseph Durfee led the militia of Fall Rover during the Revolutionary War, served under The Marquis de Lafeyette, fighting in battles in New York, Fall River and Rhode Island. The Marquis was a frequent visitor to Col. Durfee's home.

In the house, we met Col. Durfee and a few merchants selling their wares. We purchased a chocolate block sweetened with sugar for hot chocolate and coffee beans. Both came from the West Indies! 

Downstairs there were samples of beautiful gowns and merchants selling buttons and wool, men's vests and caps. 

Milliners and Mantua Makers

One lady recognized me! She thought I was Felicity. I get that a lot. Felicity or Samantha! [Ed. note: She was sad not to see girls in Boston clutching red bags full of beautiful clothing and accessories We are too! The lady was surprised and sad to hear Felicity's lovely things are not available.]

Upstairs Mr. Durfee gave us a tour. His friend showed us the rope bed and chamber pot, easy chair, foot stove and other things in the room. 

These footwarmers look very familiar

Travel trunk (valise)

Travel Trunk (valise) or tricorn hat

Does the bedwarmer under the bed looks familiar?
How about the bed?

I made friends with this young lady and gentlemen and studied lessons on the hornbook with them.

The young lady is wearing a frock which ties in the back, like mine. 
This is what girls our age wear in the 18th c.

 

His suit and tricorn hat look like Felicity's riding habit

Reading the Lord's Prayer on the hornbook

This must be Grandmother's or Mother's gown. 

Not real sure about the buttons but those cuffs are not original to the gown

Mother's stays and Father's wig

That is all I have to share with you for now but I shall return soon for another adventure!

Sincerely yours,

Susanna

A Visit to Felicity's Williamsburg Part 2: Friends and Fashion

A Visit to Felicity's Williamsburg

Good day! I am writing to you from the 1770s in Williamsburg, Virginia. I am meeting with my very bestest friend Isabelle to visit Felicity and her hometown.

Isabelle and Susanna Best Friends Forever in any time!

                                       
Isabelle brought along another, new friend, Mary Jane, to time travel with us. Mary Jane looks just like my guardian when she was 10! People say I look like my guardian but Mary Jane (#13) is a closer match. 

It was pouring rain so our first stop was to go indoors and learn about what to wear in the 1750s.

First: Everyone in Williamsburg bought clothes from England. What you wore depended on what you could afford. If you could afford silk then you had a silk dress. If you couldn't, you wore wool or linen or a combination of both. People in Williamsburg were rich and had fancy clothes. All clothes were dyed with plant dyes and sewn by hand. No chemical dyes or sewing machines yet.

Georgian fashions from England: a lady's gown and man's red coat, buff waistcoat, breeches and tricorn hat

Second: Portraits are not always accurate representations of what people wore or what they looked like.

There are many weird things about this painting.

Third: Getting dressed was a lot of work. I was dressed almost right in my shift, stays and frock with stockings and shoes. I left my pocket and garters at home and my frock sash went missing before I even left home. Ladies embroidered their family members' initials on their shifts so no one wore someone else's underwear! EW!

A shift with embroidered initials

A pocket (left) and stays (right). Stays give you good posture.

                                       

This dress is made from wool.
The colors reminded me of my [Elizabeth's] fashion doll Charlotte.

Fourth: We went shopping!

Isabelle and Susanna shop for new clothing at the Milliner's shop

A visit to the Milliner and Mantua maker could get you everything you needed to dress fashionably.

Williamsburg Milliner's Shop

Milliners' shops are owned by women. A milliner offers the latest in haberdashery, jewelry, hosiery, shoes "and other items too tedious to mention."

Milliner and Mantua Maker's Shop

"In a word, they furnish everything to the Ladies that can contribute to set off their Beauty, increase their Vanity, or render them ridiculous."

The mantua maker is skilled in cutting, fitting, and sewing cloaks, mantles, hats, hoods, caps, gloves, petticoats, hoops, riding costumes, and dresses for masquerades – all in the latest fashion.

The Milliner and Mantua Maker

                                       

 New fashions came from England. Before there were fashion magazines, there were pandoras or fashion babies like the one behind me. Her pretty yellow dress reminds me of my own ball gown!

What a pretty dress on the fashion doll behind me.

Fashion doll in gold gown and fancy hats

Examining the latest fashions at the Milliner and Mantua Maker's Shop.

Behind me, the little white gown, is a child's frock for Nan, William and maybe Felicity.

There will be more fashion photos later with a link at the end. Next Isabelle and I will show you how to make clothes!