Announcements

10 Year Anniverary & New Releases Winners: Carrie Fancett Pagels' Butterfly Cottage - Melanie B, Dogwood Plantation - Patty H R, Janet Grunst's winner is Connie S., Denise Weimer's Winner is Kay M., Naomi Musch's winner is Chappy Debbie, Angela Couch - Kathleen Maher, Pegg Thomas Beverly D. M. & Gracie Y., Christy Distler - Kailey B., Shannon McNear - Marilyn R.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Rebecca DeMorina's Review of Jennifer Hudson Taylor's "Path of Freedom"

Path of Freedom by Jennifer Hudson Taylor


PATH OF FREEDOM, by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Abingdon Press, 2013

Reviewed by, Rebecca DeMarino

5 Stars!*****

INTRIGUING LOVE STORY

When Bruce Millikan returns home, memories of childhood taunts invade Flora Saferight’s thoughts as guilt over her lack of forgiveness leads her to prefer to avoid him. But when circumstance leads them on a journey together, they are forced to examine who they were and who they’ve grown to be. As I began the novel, I had to smile because my mother always told me (and I shared the same with my three daughters), it’s the boys who tug at your pigtails that will be the ones that someday tug at your heart.

PATH OF FREEDOM is a captivating tale of romance, set in the South during the period of the Underground Railroad. I love reading historical romance and losing myself in a love story with interesting tidbits of history woven in, and Jennifer Hudson Taylor delivered on both! I enjoyed learning about the role the Quaker people played in providing safe houses and transportation to slaves seeking freedom, and felt immersed in that time period and with Flora, Bruce, and the people they cared about.

Ms. Taylor doesn’t dodge any issues and her thoughtful prose on love, truth and forgiveness gave me not only an enjoyable read, but time well spent! PATH OF FREEDOM is part of the Quilts of Love Series and I loved the story thread of the quilt in her novel. I look forward to reading more from this author!



Giveaway: Jennifer is giving away a copy of "Path of Freedom" to one commenter.  "Like" Jennifer's Facebook page and put JHT on your comment to count twice!  

Thanks, Rebecca, our new CQ contributor. This is Rebecca's first post on CQ!   

Purchase and download Path of Freedom!


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviewed on Blog Talk Radio

Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Carrie Fancett Pagels was interviewed on Giovanni Gelatti's Blog Talk Radio, Tuesday, March 26th. Julian Charity, Historian from the beautiful colonial Shirley Plantation, also answered questions as did Murray Pura, Editor for the anthology "Cry of Freedom."
Link to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop/2013/03/26/launch-party-for-cry-of-freedo0m

Listen to part (or all!) of the show and come back and leave a comment here. Question: What were you surprised by when you listened to the interview? 

Giveaway: Three commenters will win a PDF copy of Carrie's upcoming ebook novella release "Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance."  One person will receive Shirley Plantation note cards, chocolate(!), a PDF copy of Carrie's novella and a copy of Julian Charity's book on Military history of Shirley Plantation. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

...And Called It Macaroni...


by Susan F. Craft

Macaroni was the name given in the 1770s to an extravagantly dressed man, who wore bizarre and over-the-top fashions such as narrow breeches and short, tight waistcoats, usually decorated with large buttons and lace. Macaronis also wore high heeled shoes and small hats. They would often carry a posey of flowers in their hands or pinned to their waistcoats. The name came from people who had been on The Grand Tour of European countries who liked all things foreign, especially food and who referred to something that was Italian in style as very Macaroni.

Macaronis, or fops as they came to be known, frequented the fashionable places of London and won and lost vast fortunes gambling.


The newspapers of the day often made fun of them. For example, The Oxford Magazine published this account: “There is indeed a kind of animal, neither male, nor female, a thing of neuter gender, lately started up among us. It is called a Macaroni. It talks without meaning, it smiles without pleasure, it eats without appetite...”

The British employed the song as a dig at people from the American colonies who they thought were trying to give themselves airs and graces but looking ridiculous. During the Revolutionary War, the colonists reclaimed the song and made it their own patriotic song.


Speaking of macaroni as a food, macaroni and cheese was a favorite dish of colonists, especially Thomas Jefferson. In 1787, upon his return to America from his tour as minister to France, Jefferson brought back a pasta machine he had bought in  Italy. He improved on the design of the machine and also came up with recipes that included not only American or English cheddar cheese, but also goat cheese and truffle cheese.

Pasta Machine


 Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.

Chorus:
Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.

Fath'r and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Chorus
And there we saw a thousand men
As rich as Squire David,
And what they wasted every day,
I wish it could be saved.
Chorus
The 'lasses they eat it every day,
Would keep a house a winter;
They have so much, that I'll be bound,
They eat it when they've mind ter.
Chorus
And there I see a swamping gun
Large as a log of maple,
Upon a deuced little cart,
A load for father's cattle.
Chorus
And every time they shoot it off,
It takes a horn of powder,
and makes a noise like father's gun,
Only a nation louder.
Chorus
I went as nigh to one myself
As 'Siah's inderpinning;
And father went as nigh again,
I thought the deuce was in him.
Chorus
Cousin Simon grew so bold,
I thought he would have cocked it;
It scared me so I shrinked it off
And hung by father's pocket.
Chorus
And Cap'n Davis had a gun,
He kind of clapt his hand on't
And stuck a crooked stabbing iron
Upon the little end on't
Chorus
And there I see a pumpkin shell
As big as mother's bason,
And every time they touched it off
They scampered like the nation.
Chorus
I see a little barrel too,
The heads were made of leather;
They knocked on it with little clubs
And called the folks together.
Chorus
And there was Cap'n Washington,
And gentle folks about him;
They say he's grown so 'tarnal proud
He will not ride without em'.
Chorus
He got him on his meeting clothes,
Upon a slapping stallion;
He sat the world along in rows,
In hundreds and in millions.
Chorus
The flaming ribbons in his hat,
They looked so tearing fine, ah,
I wanted dreadfully to get
To give to my Jemima.
Chorus
I see another snarl of men
A digging graves they told me,
So 'tarnal long, so 'tarnal deep,
They 'tended they should hold me.
Chorus
It scared me so, I hooked it off,
Nor stopped, as I remember,
Nor turned about till I got home,
Locked up in mother's chamber

Sunday, March 24, 2013

ST. PATRICK British Patron Saint of Ireland


ST. PATRICK
British Patron Saint of Ireland


One March day at church, about fifteen years ago, I was introduced to a prayer attributed to Saint Patrick. Having Irish ancestors, I had some basic knowledge about the Irish patron saint. But I was so moved by the prayer, I decided to do some more research on this iconic and legendary character.

Did you know that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is not Irish?  
He was born in Roman Britain to aristocratic parents around 385 A.D. Even though his father was a deacon and other members of his family were clergy, the family was not particularly religious. At the age of sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates who took him to Ireland, probably around County Mayo, and sold him into slavery. While there he was assigned to tend sheep. It was during that period in relative isolation that his prayer life developed and he began to believe that his captivity may well have been part of God’s plan. He began to dream that he was to free the Irish people from their druid beliefs and to share the gospel of Christ with them. After six years, Patrick believed he heard from God that he was to escape and make his way back to Britain. When he had walked the two hundred miles to the Irish coast, God gave him another revelation; that he would return to Ireland as a missionary. 

Window in Gloucester Cathedral
St. Patrick being taught by St. Germain
He was reunited with his family in England briefly before departing for France where he would remain for fifteen years. In France he entered the priesthood and studied under the missionary St. Germain. However, he never lost sight of his dream of returning to Ireland to spread “The Good News”. 

Around 431, Patrick was consecrated Bishop of the Irish and returned to the island of his captivity. While he initially experienced some resistance, Patrick eventually convinced the Druids to abandon their belief system that kept them enslaved and convinced them to find freedom in Christ. He built up the church in Ireland, establishing monasteries and organizing the land into dioceses. Patrick died March 17, 461 in Saul, County Down, Ireland where he is said to be buried. 

Did you know that St. Patrick did not introduce Christianity to Ireland?  He was not the first Christian missionary, but he was the most successful.

Did you know that St. Patrick did not chase the snakes out of Ireland?  That’s the stuff of legends. However, if the snake is a symbol of paganism, St. Patrick can be credited as removing paganism from Ireland and converting it to Christianity. 

Do you know what the association is between St. Patrick and the shamrock?  St. Patrick used the shamrock, a common clover, as a metaphor to teach the Irish people about the Trinity.

Do you know when St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in the colonies? St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated as a Catholic Holy Day in the U.S. in Boston in 1737. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was not in Ireland, but in Boston in 1762 when Irish soldiers serving in the British army marched in New York to honor their Irish heritage.

As the Irish migrated, more people became familiar with the remarkable story of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day remains a Holy Day in the Roman Catholic, and some Protestant denominations. For many throughout the world, St. Patrick’s Day is a secular holiday, celebrated with parades, traditional Irish meals and all sorts of festivities.

Celtic Cross



ST. PATRICK’S PRAYER

I rise today in the power's strength, invoking the Trinity
believing in threeness, confessing the oneness, of creation's Creator.

I rise today in the power of Christ's birth and baptism,
in the power of his crucifixion and burial,
in the power of his rising and ascending,
in the power of his descending and judging.

I rise today in the power of the love of cherubim,
in the obedience of angels and service of archangels,
in hope of rising to receive the reward,
in the prayers of patriarchs, in the predictions of the prophets,
in the preaching of apostles, in the faith of confessors,
in the innocence of holy virgins, in the deeds of the righteous.

I rise today in heaven's might, in sun's brightness,
in moon's radiance, in fire's glory,
in lightning's quickness, in wind's swiftness,
in sea's depth, in earth's stability, in rock's fixity.

I rise today with the power of God to pilot me,
God's strength to sustain me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look ahead for me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to protect me,
God's way before me, God's shield to defend me,
God's host to deliver me,
  from snares of devils, from evil temptations,
from nature's failings, from all who wish to harm me,
  far or near, alone and in a crowd.

Around me I gather today all these powers against every cruel and merciless force
to attack my body and soul, against the charms of false prophets,
the black laws of paganism,
the false laws of heretics, the deceptions of idolatry,
against spells cast by women, smiths, and druids,
and all unlawful knowledge that harms the body and soul.

May Christ protect me today
against poison and burning, against drowning and wounding,
so that I may have abundant reward;
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me;
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me;
Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising;
Christ in the heart of all who think of me,
Christ on the tongue of all who speak to me,
Christ in the eye of all who see me,
Christ in the ear of all who hear me.
I rise today in power's strength, invoking the Trinity,
believing in threeness, confessing the oneness, of creation's Creator.

For to the Lord belongs salvation, and to the Lord belongs salvation
and to Christ belongs salvation.
May your salvation, Lord, be with us always.



Friday, March 22, 2013

Tea Party Roseanna White and MaryLu Tyndall


We are celebrating Roseanna White's and MaryLu Tyndall's new releases

Tea Party: Welcome to Poogan's Porch in Charleston, South Carolina. If you were following our Serial story last week "A Vow Fulfilled" you may have noticed that in Carrie's section on Roseanna's blog, the antagonist, Gaskins, references our hero chatting it up at "Poogins."  

Feel free to come in character. We've a lovely selection of teas, coffee, and desserts to tempt you. Draw in a deep breath and you'll smell Poogan's Porch's awesome shrimp!  Yum!  Don't be shy--we've plenty of room to mingle and chat. 
Now, without further ado, CQ features Roseanna White and MaryLu Tyndall--each with wonderful releases this month!



Love Has No Place in a World of Spies

1779—Winter Reeves is an aristocratic American Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the British Loyalists of the city of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she's caught, she will be executed for espionage, but she prays the Lord’s protection will sustain her, and Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade—the wonders of invisible ink, secret drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover.

Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington’s spy hidden among the ranks of the city’s elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can’t be ignored.

Both are determined to prevail at any cost…and each is committed to a separate cause. Will God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?

Roseanna is offering a signed copy of Ring of Secrets to one lucky reader! The winner will be drawn from the comments, so to enter, just leave a note with your email address included!



They Left Everything Behind to Build a New Southern Utopia

Colonel Blake Wallace has seen enough death to last a lifetime. Weary and disillusioned, he slumps beneath the weight of defeat and loss. With his entire family murdered by the North and his name appearing on a list of officers wanted for war crimes, Blake organizes a shipload of southerners who, like him, long to escape the horrors of war and start a new life in a verdant land called Brazil.

Eliza Crawford can barely remember the days of her youth spent in opulence and comfort at her Georgian home. She can't help but wonder how different her life would be had she not met her late husband, Stanton Watts, a general in the Northern army. Now a war widow, Eliza is rejected by both North and South. Desperate to keep her marriage a secret and escape her past and pain, she longs to start over again in Brazil.

But once the voyage begins, troubles abound. Dangers at sea  and enemies from within threaten to keep Blake and Eliza from the new life—and love—they long for.
Tea cup set, with ship, Colonial style

GIVEAWAYS: We have another lovely teacup this month!  And a colonial goody basket! (Plus Ro's book, mentioned above!)  USA commenters only for the giveaway.  Extra entries for those who "Like" Roseanna's author page on Facebook (put RW on your comment) and MaryLu's author page on Facebook (put MLT on your comment).  If you have come in character, you also get an extra entry for the drawings.  

Come on to the porch--it is a balmy 77 degrees here and very comfortable.  What would you like to ask our party girls?

 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Songs of Revolution

From History.org
Through the ages songs have been sung to express sentiments and rally camaraderie. It was common in early America to set new lyrics to old, well-known, folk songs brought from the old country. Songs were also important instruments of satire and mockery such as the renowned Yankee Doodle, set to the  nursery rhyme Lucy Locket, mocking colonial soldiers, written by British surgeon during French and Indian War. British soldiers sung it on the first day of battle in the American Revolution and colonial soldiers sang it with pride to their own verses of victory.

Below are some "Liberty Songs" that became popular as the call of revolution grew in the colonies and stand as a tribute to those historical times. Please note that you may click on title links to learn more about the song and hear the music.
"More solid things do not show the complexion of the times so well as Ballads and Libels." ~ John Seldon (1584-1654)
"One good song is worth a dozen addresses and proclamations." ~ John Barlow (1777, Revolutionary War chaplain & poet)


Liberty Song

This first patriotic song composed in America was penned by ardent patriot, John Dickinson of Delaware. Published in 1768 in the Boston Gazette. Sung to the tune of "The British Grenadier. "

Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all.
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.

Refrain:
In Freedom we're born, and in freedom we'll live.
Our purses are ready,
Steady, friends, steady,
Not as slaves, but as freemen our money we'll give.

Our worthy forefathers - let's give them a cheer.
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Thro' oceans to deserts, for freedom they came,
And, Dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame.

Refrain:
In Freedom we're born ...

All ages shall speak with amaze and applause,
Of the courage we'll show in support of our laws;
To die we can bear, - but to serve we disdain,
For shame is to freedom more dreadful than pain.

Refrain:
In Freedom we're born ...

This bumper I crown for our sovereign's health,
And this for Brittania's glory and wealth;
That wealth, and that glory immortal may be,
If she is but just, and we are but free.

Refrain:
In Freedom we're born ...


Young Ladies in Town
An appeal to American women to support the boycott of British textiles, first published in 1769 in The Boston Newsletter.


Young ladies in town, and those that live 'round
Wear none but your own country linen;
Of economy boast, let your pride be the most
To show clothes of your own make and spinnin'.
What if homespun, they say, be not quite as gay
As brocades. Be not in a passion
For once it is known 'tis much worn in town
One and all will cry out 'tis the fashion!

And as one all agree, that you'll not married be,
To such as will wear London factory;
But at first sight refuse, tell 'em you will choose,
As encourage our own manufactory.
No more ribbons wear, nor in rich silks appear,
Love your country much better than fine things,
Begin without passion, 'twill soon be the fashion,
To grace your smooth locks with a twine string.

Throw away your bohea, and your green hyson tea,
And all things of a new fashioned duty;
Get in a good store of the choice Labrador,
There'll soon he enough here to suit ye.
These do without fear and to all you'll appear,
Fair charming, true, lovely and clever,
Though the times remain darkish,
Young men will be sparkish,
And love you much stronger than ever.




Revolutionary Tea
Written in 1774 following the Boston Tea Party by U.N. Owen (Say it aloud = anonymous)


There was a rich lady lived over the sea,
And she was an island queen,
Her daughter lived off in the new country,
With an ocean of water between.
With an ocean of water between.
With an ocean of water between.

The old lady's pockets were filled with gold,
Yet never contented was she,
So she ordered her daughter to pay her a tax,
Of thruppence a pound on the tea.
Of thruppence a pound on the tea.
Of thruppence a pound on the tea.

Oh mother, dear mother, the daughter replied,
I'll not do the thing that you ask,
I'm willing to pay fair price on the tea,
But never the thruppenney tax.
But never the thruppenney tax.
But never the thruppenney tax.

You shall, cried the mother, and reddened with rage,
For you're my own daughter, you see,
And it's only proper that daughter should pay
Her mother's a tax on the tea.
Her mother's a tax on the tea.
Her mother's a tax on the tea.

She ordered her servant to come up to her,
And to wrap up a package of tea.
And eager for thruppence a pound she put in
Enough for a large family.
Enough for a large family.
Enough for a large family.

The tea was conveyed to her daughter's own door,
All down by the oceanside,
But the bouncing girl poured out ever pound
On the dark and the boiling tide.
On the dark and the boiling tide.
On the dark and the boiling tide.

And then she called out to the island queen,
Oh mother, dear mother, called she,
Your tea you may have when 'tis steeped enough,
But never a tax from me!
But never a tax from me!
But never a tax from me!

Alphabet, For Little Masters and Misses
Printed in ballad sheets in 1775 and reprinted later in the Constitutional Gazette.

A, stands for Americans, who scorn to be slaves;
B, for Boston, where fortitude their freedom saves;
C, stands for Congress, which, though loyal, will be free;
D, stands for defence, 'gainst force and tyranny.
Stand firmly, A and Z,
We swear for ever to be free!

E, stands for evils, which a civil war must bring;
F, stands for fate, dreadful to both people and king;
G, stands for George, may God give him wisdom and
grace;
H, stands for hypocrite, who wears a double face.

J, stands for justice, which traitors in power defy,
K, stands for king, who should to such the axe apply;
L, stands for London, to its country ever true,
M, stands for Mansfield, who hath another view.

N, stands for North, who to the House the mandate brings,
O, stands for oaths, binding on subjects not on kings:
P, stands for people, who their freedom should defend,
Q, stands for quere, when will England's troubles end ?

R, stands for rebels, not at Boston but at home,
S, stands for Stuart, sent by Whigs abroad to roam,
T, stands for Tories, who may try to bring them back,
V, stands for villains, who have well deserved the rack.

W, stands for Wilkes, who us from warrants saved,
Y, for York, the New, half corrupted, half enslaved,
Z, stands for Zero, but means the Tory minions,
Who threatens us with fire and sword, to bias our opinions,

Stand firmly A and Z,
We swear, for ever to be free !

American's to Arms (excerpt)
1775, sung to Britians to Arms, E. Russell, Salem,MA

America's Sons yourselves prepare,
For Liberty now calls for War.

Exert yourselves with Force and Might,
Show how AMERICANS can fight.

And only to maintain their Right — Farewell England.


Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
An American adaptation of the 17th century Irish tune Shule Aroon, popularized during the American War of Independence.

Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who can blame me, cryin' my fill
And ev'ry tear would turn a mill,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

Me, oh my, I loved him so,
Broke my heart to see him go,
And only time will heal my woe,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel,
Likewise I'll sell my spinning wheel,
And buy my love a sword of steel,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I'll dye my dress, I'll dye it red,
And through the streets I'll beg for bread,
For the lad that I love from me has fled,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.





 
LINKS:
Songs & Ballads of the Revolution - Atlantic Monthly


18th Century Songbook
Songs & Ballads of the American Revolution (different than above)

Popular Songs in American History
A Colonial Parody of a British Song

Monday, March 18, 2013

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR



When most Americans hear the term civil war, they might think of the war fought from 1861-1865, when our nation was torn apart by those sympathizing with either the confederate or the union leaning states. In reality our first civil war, The Revolutionary War, was fought nearly one hundred years before. Like the Civil War of the 1800’s, the Revolutionary War divided families and communities in their loyalties.

John Adams was known to have said that about thirty-three percent of the American populace supported the Patriot cause, thirty three percent sided with the Loyalists, and thirty-three percent were undecided. Historians later estimated that only twenty percent of the colonists desired to stay united with England. Obviously, those who supported the patriot cause were influential and intent on pursuing independence. Those who remained neutral wavered in their support depending upon which side appeared to be winning at the time. There were a myriad of reasons why people aligned themselves with the Loyalist or the Patriot cause.

Who remained loyal to the crown, and why?
           
Those who held jobs by virtue of their allegiance to the crown:
~Royal Governors
~Lords and some of the gentry
~Leaders of the Anglican Church
~British troops
Other groups who supported the Loyalist cause:
~Those whose financial interests and business connections were tied to Britain
~Those who considered themselves British or had close family ties with England
~Some Native Americans believing England would win, and hoping the “invaders” would leave
~Some black slaves who were promised their freedom if they joined the British side
~Those who could not imagine the colonies winning against the world’s greatest navy and army

Who sided with the Patriot cause and why?

~Those who felt unjustifiable taxes were imposed on them without the requisite representation in the British Parliament 
~Those who preferred the previous government’s attitude of laissez faire, and resented George III’s growing interference in the life and commerce of the colonies.
~Those who were influential lawyers, planters and merchants as well as everyday men and women who believed they were entitled to live independently of English rule.
~Some Native Americans sided with the colonists, particularly when they were winning, and when the new Congress made a strategic plan to halt the settlement Indian lands at that time.
~Some black slaves were promised freedom by the Americans, others went to war with their masters or continued working where they were. Some black and white men fought together in the same units.


Many families were divided in their loyalties during the American Revolution.  Join me next month when I share about two very influential families that experienced such division.


Friday, March 15, 2013

Carrie Fancett Pagels' Serial is on Roseanna White's Blog Today

A Vow Fulfilled - Serial Story

I was very pleased to participate in this serial project two years ago. Glad we are now putting the story out there for public consumption.  We all hope you will enjoy the story very much.  It is set in Charleston, South Carolina, my old stomping grounds!

We have an entire week of posts of a serial with several members contributing. Today is my section and it is on Roseanna's blog.  There is a giveaway of a PDF of my upcoming novella ebook release.  Roseanna is also doing a giveaway.


You can follow this serial story "A Vow Fulfilled" in our blog hops on the following authors' blogs:

               Blog                             Serial section author
3/11         Overcoming With God      MaryLu Tyndall
3/12         Laurie Alice Eakes        Roseanna White
3/13         MaryLu Tyndall             Debbie Lynne Costello
3/14         Patty Smith Hall    Gina Welborn
3/15         Roseanna  White       Carrie Fancett Pagels
3/18         Gina Welborn                 Patty Smith Hall
3/19         Debbie Lynne Costello Laurie Alice Eakes

A GRAND PRIZE giveaway will also be done for a reader/commenter who visits all of the serials on the blog hop!


Additional Giveaway for a CQ reader:  Beautiful notecards from Shirley Plantation in Virginia, where my Civil War story is set.  Put CQ on your comment on Roseanna's post of my section!

Comments on this post are closed. Get hopping! And leave comments on each blog post to enter for the Grand Prize!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Coffee in the Colonies


“What if I brewed up some Bohea…in your coffeepot? Are you brave enough to try?”
Anna smirked. “I am desperate enough to try.”
                             Excerpt from Fields of the Fatherless (soon to be released)


Betsy and her sister-in-law, Anna, took a huge risk brewing up the Chinese black tea called Bohea (bu-ee). It was strictly forbidden in the colony of Massachusetts in 1775—so much so that neighborhood comitteemen were assignd to monitor private households to ensure that only coffee or herbal teas were served.

Anyone caught drinking the banned brew of tea taxed by England would be deemed a Tory. But drinking coffee was akin to declaring independence for America. Coffee was the preferred drink of the patriotic cause although many still desired the black or green tea that they had been accustomed to. Some, like Anna, used black tea like Bohea for headaches, so it was a real sacrifice to make the change. And some just liked the milder taste of tea.

But preferences aside, the popularity of coffee in America soared after the Boston Tea Party.

In fact, the party itself was planned and the details plotted out in a coffee house called The Green Dragon. It was in December of 1773 that over one hundred enraged patriots tossed cases of tea overboard from three ships into the murky Boston harbor. The tea boycott had begun.

But while coffee was suddenly in high demand, it had actually arrived in the colonies in the late 17th century, at the same time as tea.

 Coffee originated in the Arab countries but live plants were transported to greenhouses in Holland in 1616. From there, the Dutch began to grow this popular bean in India and Java (now called Indonesia). Within a few years, the Dutch were the main suppliers of coffee to Europe.

The Holland connection brings up another interesting tidbit from my research. A mortar and pestle for “braying” coffee beans into powder was brought over on the Mayflower in 1620 by passengers William and Susanna White. The emigrants onboard the Mayflower had resided in Holland for a time before leaving for the New World. Thus, the first coffee may have arrived with the first colonists arriving at Plymouth, although there was no record of the beans actually carried as cargo onboard.

English coffeepot, Staffordshire transferware


According to Dennis Picard, historian at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, Massachusetts, “coffee was shipped and purchased green, and the homeowner had to roast each batch either in a spider (a frying pan with legs) or a metal drum shaped roaster.” It was then ground with a mortar and pestle.

Crank coffee grinders began to be used in homes in the early part of the 19th century.

The first literary reference to coffee consumption in North America is from 1668, when coffee houses were established in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other cities. Often these coffee houses also served other beverages, such as tea, ale and cider.

A mention of coffee and tea is found in Shirley Glubock’s Home and Child Life in Colonial Days:

“In 1670, a Boston woman was licensed to sell coffee and chocolate, and soon coffee houses were established there. Some did not know how to cook coffee any more than tea, but boiled the whole coffee beans in water, ate them, and drank the liquid; and naturally this was not very good either to eat or drink.
At the time of the Stamp Act, when patriotic Americans threw the tea into Boston Harbor, Americans were just as great tea drinkers as the English. Coffee-drinking, first acquired in the Revolution, has also descended from generation to generation, and we now drink more coffee than tea. This is one of the differences in our daily life caused by the Revolution.”

Brittania ware Coffeepot


Just one of the many differences, indeed.

My favorite excerpt about coffee and the American Revolution was an incident recorded by Abigail Adams in 1778, and quoted in Revolutionary Mothers by Carol Berkin:

“An eminent, wealthy, stingy merchant (also a bachelor) had a hogshead of coffee in his store, which he refused to sell…under six shillings per pound. A number of females, some say a hundred, some say more, assembled with a cart and trunks, marched down to the Warehouse and demanded the keys which he refused to deliver. Upon which one of them seized him by his neck and tossed him into the cart. Upon his finding no quarter, he delivered the keys when they tipped up the cart and discharged him; then opened the Warehouse, hoisted out the coffee themselves, put it into the trunks and drove off…a large concourse of men stood amazed silent spectators.”

I suppose the moral of that tale is, never stand between a woman and her coffee—especially during a Revolution!


 (Coffeepot photos courtesy of Storrowton Village Museum, West Springfield, Massachusetts)