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, May 31, 2013

May/June Releases by Rita Gerlach and Roseanna White and CQ Two Year Anniversary Party


Feel free to copy & share this graphic with a link back to CQ! Thanks!


In celebration of Colonial Quills 2 year Anniversary we bring you our May/June Colonial American Christian Fiction releases. Our members and contributors also share their thoughts on CACW and CQ! Please have some cake and enjoy (the first piece goes to Carrie, our wonderful founder). Please comment below to be eligible for our giveaways!


Rita Gerlach

John Nash, has built a new life in the Maryland frontier, and journeys back to England to see his father before the first shots of the Revolution are fired. Rebecah, a young woman who has known little more than the solitude of an isolated manor, has lost her father and is now under the control of a domineering patriarch. As their romance unfolds, they become trapped in the schemes of her uncle and immersed in one of the most infamous Indian wars in Colonial history.

As the firebrands of Revolution grow hot, they marry and work together to build their estate, Laurel Hill. Facing a strange new world, Rebecah experiences the prejudice of being English, but finds friendship and acceptance in the wilds of the Maryland frontier. Joy reins at Laurel Hill when she announces she is carrying a child. Nash, known as Jack, is captain of a band of rangers who protect the frontier families from Indian attack. His friendship with Chief Logan has not prevented the Indian War from reaching their peaceful home along the lush hills of the last outpost.

Can he protect his wife from warring Indians and from a man who has no allegiance to any nation, tribe, or creed, wanted for robbery and murder, who has vowed vengeance? In Thorns in Eden and The Everlasting Mountains, love and faith are the sustaining forces that cannot be overtaken by the vines of adversity.

Amazon ebook: http://tinyurl.com/c6pwlzd
In Paperback:  http://tinyurl.com/bhvlqz3

Rita's Reflections

When Carrie first approached me two years ago about Colonial Quills, I was thrilled to have been asked to participate. I had just signed a contract with Abingdon Press for the Daughters of the Potomac Series, three books intertwined, set in the Colonial era along the Potomac. Being a part of this fellowship of writers has broadened my knowledge and love for the many people who played a role in the founding of our great nation. 

Writing for CQ has been a blast, and kept  me moving forward. I am currently writing an Edwardian era novel, and just received news I have been chosen to collaborate on a series about the Pilgrims with bestselling author Gilbert Morris. 

As you may know, we are a group of women writers dedicated to bringing readers many things that have been forgotten, and often sadly ignored or revised to fit the current politically correct agenda. I feel privileged to have been a part of CQ. 

Happy Anniversay, CQ! 

Roseanna White
 
Fairchild's Lady by Roseanna White

June 1, a fun, FREE bonus novella is being released (and is available for pre-order now!) in my Culper Ring Series! Fairchild's Lady is set at the beginning of the French Revolution and gives the love story of a character from Ring of Secrets, whose daughter is the heroine of the next book. Please download and share the link!

In 1789 General Isaac Fairchild travels across the Channel on a very special assignment. After surviving the American Revolution, he is now gathering information on life at King Louis XVI’s court. But he must also locate a countess and her grown daughter and escort them back to England before revolution explodes in France. He knows danger is in the task set before him, but when he meets the beautiful Julienne, a new peril beckons him deeper into the intrigue of Versailles.


Roseanna's Reflections

When I had the privilege of joining Colonial Quills at its start two years ago, I was still riding high from the sale of my first American-set historical romance to Summerside Press, still several months from its release. My previous books had been set in biblical times, so this was still pretty new to me...but I'd caught the bug. And I wanted (oh, how I wanted!) to write more about this era I'd fallen in love with!

Finding like-minded sisters with this group was amazing for me. I love being able to share joys, triumphs, and questions with the wonderful women who are so passionate about all things early American. The summer CQ was getting underway, I was hard at work on my second Colonial novel and hopeful about it's chances. Now, two years later, that second book is out from Harvest House too.


What a journey it has been! And what a blessing to watch this beautiful blog grow at the same time! I know I'm but a small part of it...but I'm so proud to be a little finger waving in joy for all we've accomplished.

Happy birthday, Colonial Quills!!

MaryLu Tyndall's Musing's


I'm so thrilled to be a part of this incredible group of talented ladies!!  I was asked to join about a year ago by Carrie and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Especially the camaraderie of the ladies here, the way they all support each other and care about one another. And I simply adore the Tea Parties!  My only regret is not having the tine to participate as much as I’d like.  I love Colonial times because they were filled with “newness” new lands, new countries, new ideas. I love the adventure th century!  I’m anxious to return to Colonial days, so I’m warming up my time machine. I’ll meet and wildness of our nation at that time. In fact I started my writing career with books set in Colonial times, A pirate series set in the Caribbean, but then my latest releases ended up way out in the last 19 you there!

I’d love to give away a free copy (paperback or e-copy) of either of my two prior books, Veil of Pearls or Forsaken Dreams. Please leave a comment with your email to win!  And tell us why you like Colonial times. To read about the books, click on their names above.


Jennifer Hudson Taylor's Thoughts

I was delighted to join Colonial Quills two years ago and I have been so blessed to be among such wonderful authors and historical enthusiasts who share this passion with me. At the time, I was in the midst of seeing my second novel, Highland Sanctuary, release after my debut, Highland Blessings. While not colonial, these books are set in late medieval Scotland. Over the next two years, I had two novellas release and another historical novel, Path of Freedom, set in 1858 regarding a Quaker characters who help a pregnant slave couple reach freedom. This year, I will finally see my first colonial in print, For Love or Loyalty, set in 1760, book 1 in The MacGregor Legacy. Book 2 in this series is For Love or Country, set during the Revolutionary War. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey with us!



Observations from Carla Olson Gade


Has it been two years? It has sailed by! How blessed I have been to have the support and companionship of the writers from CACW and the quillers! We have a special connection cemented in our love of Colonial America - the historical era as we tell it through our stories, and many of the values which we still hold dear. I love having the resources of so many ladies with such an immense wealth of knowledge of this period with access to it it via our email loop and here on the CQ blog. What a tremendous group of talented writers, and researchers! I know I am not alone in my appreciation of our beloved Carrie for everything she does for us in promoting Colonial American Christian Fiction and our authors (even if its set in another time period ~ Carrie, you are the best!)

Since I began at CQ my debut released and recently came out as an e-book. Although its a 19th century western I hope you'll check out The Shadow Catcher's Daughter.  My novella "Carving a Future" in Colonial Courtships was my first colonial, released last fall. Pattern for Romance (Abingdon's Quilts of Love series), a colonial novel, releases this August while 'Tis the Season, a Christmas novella (set in 1820) in Mistletoe Memories releases in September. My short story, Upon a Christmas Schooner, will release (alongside Carrie's) in time for Christmas in Guidepost's A Cup of Christmas Cheer. It has been an amazing time and I look forward to seeing how our CQ authors are doing by our 3rd anniversary!  I'd like to offer 2 copies of Colonial Courtships for my giveaway, so please leave a comment below!


Susan F. Craft

I love researching for my historical novels and when I discover a fascinating piece of history I have never seen before, I call it "my treasure."  Finding and becoming a part of Colonial Quills is one of my most valuable treasures. My talented sisters in Christ, each a gem in her own right, never cease to amaze me with their knowledge and their generosity in sharing that knowledge.
I'm working on a third in the trilogy that began with The Chamomile, a Revolutionary War romantic suspense set in Charleston, SC. The second in the trilogy is Laurel, and is about the daughter of my main characters. The third, Cassia, takes place in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with lots of adventure and pirates.

The Chamomile won the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Fall 2011 Okra Pick as one of the best novels of the season. Laurel is represented by Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency.

I also have a contemporary inspirational novel ready entitled Promises Kept about three couples who face and overcome almost insurmountable situations in their marriages - the death of an adult child, sudden wealth and infidelity, and impotence.

My giveaway will be a copy of The Chamomile, a packet of chamomile seeds, and a mobcap.

J. M. Hochstetler

When Carrie invited me to become a contributor to Colonial Quills, I was absolutely delighted. I was already deep into my American Patriot Series, set during the American Revolution, and I knew being part of this group devoted to everything 18th century would be loads of fun, not to mention being an excellent research resource. And so it’s turned out to be. I’m deeply grateful to Carrie for offering me the opportunity to be a part of this enterprise.

Since CQ began two years ago, the first 3 books of my series, Daughter of Liberty, Native Son, and Wind of the Spirit have been released in an awesome, newly revised Heritage Edition. Book 4, Crucible of War, expanded the series last fall, continuing Elizabeth Howard and Jonathan Carleton’s epic adventure and romance as they seek to build an enduring legacy of love, hope, faith, and freedom. I had to take a hiatus from CQ during the winter to work on Book 5, Valley of the Shadow, but I hope to return to contributing regularly later in the summer.

Thank you, Carrie and all the members of this amazing group, for 2 years of fun, fellowship, and learning as we share our passion for the 18th century with each other and with our wonderful visitors to the blog!

I’m offering a copy of one of the books in my American Patriot Series in either e-book or print edition at the winner’s choice. For more information about the series, go to www.theamericanpatriotseries.com.


Reflections From Elaine Marie Cooper




I cannot remember a time when I did not love history. I grew up in New England surrounded by the monuments and tombstones of the Colonial Patriots who fought in the American Revolution. It stirred a love in me for our country's heritage and I wanted to discover even more about the courageous men and women who fought for freedom both in the homes and on the fields of battle.

This love of history and passion for writing blended in my award-winning series called the the Deer Run Saga. Book 1 (The Road to Deer Run) begins in the American Revolution, Book 2 (The Promise of Deer Run) follows the veterans of the war who suffered from post traumatic stress, and Book 3 (The Legacy of Deer Run) follows the next generation of Americans, still keeping the country safe from its enemies. My upcoming fall release, Fields of the Fatherless, is based on a true incident that occurred on the first day of the American Revolution in my hometown.

I am giving away a copy of The Road to Deer Run to one winner today. I hope it blesses you!

And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Colonial Quills!! I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of Colonial American Christian Writers!

To read more about my Deer Run Saga, go to my website here.

Lisa Norato

Lisa, author of Prize of My Heart says: I want to say Happy Anniversary to Colonial Quills with a special huzzah! to our founder and dear Carrie. Carrie invited me to join CQ a little more than a year ago and gently coaxed me into becoming a contributor. My experience with CQ has been a blessing and a joy as I have gotten to know the talented, sweet and wonderful ladies who make up Colonial Quills. During that time, I have enjoyed and shared their enthusiasm for stories set in colonial and federal times, and I have been exposed to and have read some truly wonderful novels. CQ has also been an invaluable source for my own writing, and I am proud to be a CQer!



Cynthia Howerter joined us this past year and has an upcoming release "God's Provision in Tough Times" co-authored with La-Tan Murphy. It contains twenty-five true stories of God's provision for the seventeen authors as they experienced unemployment and financial despair.  This title releases in July, 2013, and is available for pre-order now.




 
Kathy Maher is one of our newer members.  Kathy is the debut author of best selling Civil War novella Bachelor Buttons.









Add caption
Carrie Fancett Pagels says "whodathunkit?"  Her fiction debut was with a Civil War novella pulled from a proposal with earlier-set stories.  God is so good--the novella, like Kathy's, is a best seller in Civil War on Amazon. In the past two years, Carrie headed up CQ's popular serial story A Forted Frontier Christmas, wrote two novellas, completed and polished one manuscript, completed another that  she has set aside till next fall, has written the proposal for another story, and got to enjoy hanging out with all the lovely CACW ladies. Whew! We've been especially appreciative of Joyce Lamb's inclusion of our authors' new releases on the USA Today HEA blog.  So very happy to see our group growing!  And while we miss some of our founding members we are happy that some have had to depart because of how very busy they've gotten with their writing--which is a good thing for colonial authors!

Every time I look through the posts written by this talented group of ladies I think how blessed I am that they have joined together on CQ to share really cool colonial - Early American information with our followers.  And our readers don't know this but the CACW group itself is full of prayer warriors and we've had some amazing blessings come from praying for each other!  Every author is here by invitation and has at least one colonial work. These are writers dedicated to getting their history right!



Giveaways (including those mentioned above, one book per winner) - to be eligible, please leave a comment. Tell us why you like colonial times! Signed copy of God's Provision in Tough Times, Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance (2 copies), Bachelor Buttons (2 copies), Ring of Secrets & Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, Forsaken Dreams or Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall, the winner’s choice of 1 book of the American Patriot Series by J. M. Hochstetler, Colonial Courtships by Carla Olson Gade (2 copies).

Come have a seat and enjoy the lovely cake and your choice of beverage. Are you here in character? Your comments will count DOUBLE in the drawings! Twice as much fun for our two year anniversary!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Schoenbrunn Village - Moravian Missionaries



Tamera Lynn Kraft

In the 1770s, Moravian missionaries moved to Ohio from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to settle a village called Schoenbrunn which means Beautiful Spring. Their goal was to bring the Gospel to the Delaware Indians. After the Delaware would convert to Christianity, they moved into Schoenbrunn. Within a year, the village grew so large, they started another settlement and Gnadenhutten.

Schoenbrunn, in many ways, was ahead of its time. The settlers of the village, including the Delaware, created their own code of conduct and opened a school. The school taught both boys and girls when other colonial schools at the time only accepted boys. The students learned to read both English and Lenape out of a Bible that was translated in the Lenape language.

The Moravians built a church there with painting on the walls of Biblical scenes. They used these painting to teach about the Bible. They had church every morning and twice on Sunday. On special occasions they would have Lovefeasts where they served coffee, juice, and sweet buns. The Christmas Eve Lovefeasts were the most special because the Moravians were the first to have Christmas Eve candlelight services.

The settlement only lasted a few years. When the Revolutionary War broke out, British troops suspected the Moravians of giving information to the colonial army. These charges against them were true. After a time, they moved to protect themselves from reprisals.

Schoenbrunn Village is still open today for visitors and tourists to learn about some of the earliest missionaries in America.

In November, my Christmas novella called A Christmas Promise is due to be released by Harbourlight Press in e-book format as part of their Christmas Extravaganza.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Limners, Colonial American Portrait Painters




A 1765 oil on canvas by Matthew Pratt (1734-1805).  Pratt sits at his easel, and his teacher and friend, Benjamin West, stands at the far left holding paint brushes.
Susan F. Craft
During the 1600s in the American colonies, not many people had enough wealth to extensively cultivate the fine arts.  The few artists who lived in the colonies during the early years of settlement had attended or apprenticed in schools of art in Europe, and were heavily influenced by Renaissance styles.
By the early 1700s, wealthy families hired painters, referred to as “limners,” to paint portraits of their families. Limners were among the first to record glimpses of life in colonial America. These limners, mostly self-taught, generally unknown by name, turned out naive portraits in the Elizabethan style, the Dutch baroque style, or the English baroque court style, depending upon the European background of both artist and patron.
Many limners painted miniatures -- tiny watercolor portraits -- on pieces of ivory, often oval-shaped. These were commonly worn as jewelry. Limners also painted on paper and canvas and earned, on average, $15 per portrait.

Like most artisans of their time who found it difficult to support themselves with paintings only, they also worked in pewter, silver, glass, or textiles or took jobs doing ornamental painting of clocks, furniture, signs, coaches, and landscapes.
Portraiture was the most important form of painting during the Colonial period, but rather than a true portrait, the paintings were idealistic and did not present a true representation of the personality of the sitter and were often two dimensional. Artists focused on the material wealth of the subject, giving much attention to their clothing and accessories. Some artists painted only the faces of their subjects, explaining that they need not bother with tedious sittings, and that they would paint the bodies and clothing later. They would show their subjects English and French prints from which to choose whatever costumes they preferred.

Limners Samuel McIntire and Duncan Phyfe became celebrated painters of furniture. Famous portrait artists included Joseph Blackburn, Peter Pelham, John Smibert, John Singleton Copley, John Trumbull and Charles Wilson Peale. An American painter, Benjamin West, became painter to the king and president of the Royal Academy in London. American painters flocked to his studio to learn under his tutelage, including Gilbert Stuart.
Gilbert Stuart

Colonial limners kept supplies of pigments which they mixed to create watercolors, oil, and tempera paints. Watercolors consisted of  pigment and chalk. Oil paints were a mixture of pigment and linseed oil. Tempera paints were a mixture of pigments, lime, and milk.
Pigments were derived from white lead, zinc oxide, mercuric sulfide, iron oxide-containing clay and Paris green, a poisonous compound made of green copper and arsenic. Artists also used Prussian blue, a blue iron pigment. Limners sometimes made their own brushes, but could buy them from merchants as well. Brushes were made of quills from geese, ducks, and crows. Red sable-tipped brushes were often used for watercolor paintings, as were squirrel-hair quill brushes. They would have afforded limners working on a miniature the ability to create fine lines. Boar's bristles, widely used for a variety of tools, were likely used for paintbrushes, as they are today. Boar's bristle paintbrushes are most commonly used for oil paintings.

Artist’s color box (Harvard Art Museum)
Artists stored their pigments and paints in color boxes a sort of antique backpack--wooden boxes with hinges attaching the top to the bottom. The bottom half of the box served as a storage place for paint materials, and the lid served as a palette. A leather shoulder strap was attached for easy transport.
In 1754 in British colonial New York, an artist took out the following ad in the Gazette and the Weekly Post: Lawrence Kilburn, Limner, just arrived from London with Capt. Miller, hereby acquaints all Gentlemen and Ladies inclined to favour him in having their pictures drawn, that he don't doubt of pleasing them in taking a true Likeness, and finishing the Drapery in a proper Manner, as also in the Choice of Attitudes, suitable to each Person's Age and Sex, and giving agreeable Satisfaction, as he has heretofore done to Gentlemen and Ladies in London. He may at present be apply'd to at his Lodgings, at Mr. Bogart's near the New Printing-Office in Beaver-Street.

Friday, May 24, 2013

"Courage, New Hampshire" Comes to INSP



His love for history was nurtured by his mother and grandmother; his love for writing was encouraged at the university.

So when James Patrick Riley created, wrote and produced the mini-series, “Courage, New Hampshire,” his two passions came together in a way that fulfills most writers’ fantasy. “You gotta dream big,” said Riley in a recent interview.

This dream will be further enhanced on Memorial Day weekend when the four-part series set in the days leading to the Revolutionary War will be premiered on the INSP network on May 27 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. It will be repeated at various times through the ensuing weeks.

Riley’s interest in the American Revolution began as a youngster. He recalls hearing stories told by his grandmother of how his ancestors participated in that war. He became fascinated with the novel Johnny Tremain and his mother decorated their home with genealogy charts of their family trees that revealed ancestry that spanned back for generations.

“I love the Revolutionary War,” he said. “It’s a romantic attraction for me.”

When his family purchased hundreds of acres of ranch land in Southern California in the 1980’s, he and his brother, Scott, both history buffs, sought ways to share the heritage of the United States in various ways. Civil War reenactments led to school programs for thousands of local children.

While Scott Riley’s interest lay in the Civil War, James’ love of the war to free the country from England led to plays and programs featuring the American Revolution. Gradually, he began writing scripts for plays that were acted out on their ranch, complete with a New England style tavern that he and his wife had built as their home.

James P. Riley as Silas Rhodes


Riley’s love of fiction writing began to birth another idea: Scripts for a series that would be historically authentic. Thus, the seeds for “Courage, New Hampshire” were planted.

What began as an hour-long segment entitled “The Travail of Sarah Pine,” soon developed into a four-part mini-series that follows the characters that live in a fictitious town in New Hampshire.

So what are Riley’s hopes for “Courage, New Hampshire?” “I’d like to have a big enough audience to take it through the American Revolution.”

To that dream, most watchers of this series will shout a hearty “Huzzah!”

Here is a review of the series that I wrote for Colonial Quills in 2012:

Courage, New Hampshire is a fictitious township on the edge of the American frontier in 1769.  A close-knit Christian community, it lives under the shadow of the growing discontent of the colonists, who fear the king’s increasingly despotic rule.

Episode 1 is called “The Travail of Sarah Pine.” An unexpected visit by three of the King’s soldiers (dressed as civilians) stirs the ire of the local justice of the peace and tavern keeper, Silas Rhodes (James Patrick Riley). He is disturbed by the fact that the soldiers are not in uniform, yet claim to be seeking deserters from the British Army. He accuses Sergeant Bob Wheedle of plotting a kidnapping, and promptly has the sergeant arrested.



During his incarceration in a local barn, a young woman named Sarah Pine brings the prisoner victuals. She naively thinks that all the British soldiers are trustworthy. In her sympathy, she gives the man more than a free meal and nine months later, she has born the soldier’s child. (This is family friendly in its presentation) When Bob Wheedle returns on military business a year later, he is arrested again, this time for the crime of bastardy.

The mini-saga of colonial justice coming up against one of the crown’s soldiers is fraught with tension and filled with emotion.

Episode 2 begins with the declaration by the justice of the peace Silas Rhodes that Courage seems to be covered with a black cloud. Not only has there been fornication in the community, but burglary and counterfeiting. Rhodes bemoans his choice in the last several years to invest in local mills and industry, rather than in hiring a minister of the gospel. Determined to amend the spiritual drought, he hires a temporary minister—but this wolf in sheep’s clothing may cause more harm than good.

Episode 3 sees increasing tensions between the crown and Courage as pressure is put on the local farmers to leave the white pines on their land. The British want the tall trees for naval ship masts; the farmers just want to clear the land for their crops. But felling these trees—even on their own property—can lead to the British government selling the farm at public auction. As Rhodes bitterly states, “You can’t grow potatoes under a pine tree.”

The increasing influence of the patriot group, the Sons of Liberty, keeps Rhodes walking a fine line between keeping the residents of Courage safe while keeping himself and the other patriots out of trouble.



Episode 4 keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, as the aforementioned reverend from Episode 2 has gone a step too far with a certain young woman in town. But the minister has an ally in the local crown-appointed governor and, in an extraordinary performance by Donal Thoms-Cappello, the reverend shrewdly taunts representatives of the law in Courage. He knows he has the upper hand. Although the patriots want justice, they know all to well that a political misstep on their part can put their entire town at risk for retaliation from the king.

This episode ends with a meeting between the leadership of Courage and the governor. It is militia training day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and, in showing the colonial force of arms for all to see, the governor is confronted with the reality of the situation: The growing colonial rebellion is stronger than he ever imagined.


This extremely brief synopsis does not even begin to describe the rich characters, accurate historical details, lovely period clothing, and overall quality production of “Courage, New Hampshire.” James Patrick Riley has done his homework for the series and gets an A+ in accuracy.

Some of the industry’s finest actors are involved in this project, including Basil Hoffman who was in the Academy Award winning movie, “The Artist.” Hoffman brilliantly portrays the crown-appointed lawyer Simeon Trapp who does everything necessary to defend the King’s soldier accused of bastardy in Episode 1.

Although there are mature topics in this series, it is not graphic or explicit.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Army Heritage Center

Last week I had the opportunity to take my kids with our home school group to Carlisle, Pennsylvania for a day's tour of the Army Heritage Center. With displays on everything military from the French and Indian Wars through the War on Terror, I knew they would have fun--and I was hoping to come away with some nice pictures and research on that early stuff, since I seem to have fallen into writing books about wars. ;-)
 
Our tour began in the Colonial section of the center, where we got to watch a blacksmith at work in the Carlisle Forge. I've had this pleasure before, but it never really gets old to see how they take hunks of formless steel and turn them into works of art or function. What especially amazes me is how these dedicated reenactors can explain so much about the early days of our country and the craft they obviously love while performing it before our very eyes.
A few of the pieces this smith had done, based on
original artifacts he had seen

This gentleman explained about how a blacksmith was one of the most important people to any army. Each regiment would have one, but he would rarely see any fighting--they kept him well removed from the front lines, because he was too valuable to lose. He also explained, when someone mentioned how very lovely the pieces are, that what we deem beauty--those delicate curls and whisper-thin pieces of iron--were actually there for economy's sake. Iron was expensive, and never wasted. They made pieces as thin as they practically could to conserve the resources, and tapered them at the ends for the same reason.

From there our group ventured into more modern times, but I didn't pay quite as much attention to those. ;-) I was far more intrigued by the recreation of the Yorktown Redoubt...
Revolutionary War Blockhouse


...and in hearing the tales told to us by this wonderful historian at the Revolutionary Block House. We didn't get to go into the watch tower, but I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the guide talk about the long rifle he carried, the state of the roads in the day (I didn't realize they left the stumps of the trees they cut for roads, accounting for all those terrible bumps!), and why it was necessary to boil the salted fish three times before consuming it. Yes, to remove all the salt...but also to remove all the maggots. (Eww!) He also explained how the term "mess" came to be used for food in the military. Whenever they had fresh meat, each man would get a hacked-off portion. But they weren't exactly trimming steaks here--some men would end up with nice meat, others with nothing but bone and fat. So a group of six or so would throw this mess into a pot together with whatever vegetables they might have been given. The result was a stew that gained flavor from the bones and provided something to actually eat from the meat.

Our final stop of the day was to venture into the model of a Logg House. Originally set up to be supply stations between the forts during the French and Indian War days, they afterward became vital to settlers who wanted to trade, water their horses, or get fresh food. Unfortunately, most of these two-room homes were destroyed during Pontiac's War in 1763.

All in all, a fun day of hands-on discovery! (Oh, and the kids had fun too...) ;-)

~*~
Roseanna M. White pens her novels under the Betsy Ross flag hanging above her desk, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When she isn’t writing fiction, she’s editing it for WhiteFire Publishing or reviewing it for the Christian Review of Books, both of which she co-founded with her husband.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Four and a Half Kings



In 1710, five Native American men traveled first class from New York State to London. One died on the voyage, but the remaining four became the talk of the town and had numerous interactions with Queen Anne.
This was not the first ‘royal treatment’ bestowed upon a native American.  About 100 years earlier, Pocahontas was received as a “princess” because her Algonquin father, Powhaten, had been called The Indian King.
The Four Indian Kings
Queen Anne
The four kings were not kings and not even chiefs. One was Mahican, the other three Mohawk, and only one, King Hendrick, a baptized Christian, had any position in his nation as a member of the Mohawk council.
The native Americans were sent out by New York’s colonial leaders, (mostly by Dutchman Peter Schuyler) to ask Queen Anne for money and help to fight the French influence.  The Iroquois confederacy (Five Nations plus the Tuscarora) were THE BUFFER/BORDER between the English speaking colonies and the French speaking colonies of what is now Canada. 


The kings asked for missionaries ‘to spread the Gospel’. (yes, their translated speeches are on file.)
While in London, they visited the sights and a Shakespeare play. It’s said that the audience clammered until the Four Kings were placed on stage where they could be seen --- they were much more of a draw than a repeat of Shakespeare!  They also sat for oil portraits after being fitted out for royal robes.  Many English considered the Four Kings to be only a bit more savage than their own Barbarians of the north—the Irish and the Scots Highlanders!


Prints were made of the oil paintings and sent to each Iroquois village as well as NY City,  the mission and Fort Hunter in Lower Mohawk Castle (village), and Kensington Palace. The originals were moved to Canada in 1977 and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa.

As all things to do with government and religion, part of the request for funding a mission had to do with the angst between the Catholic and Protestant churches. French Jesuits had converted some Mohawks to Catholicism while others  adopted Anglican faith.  Eventually, these Catholic Mohawks became their own nation close to Canada called the Caughnawaga and would later be part of the turmoil during the French and Indian War. As you can see, the Mohawks had a long standing relationship with Great Britain.

While the goal of the Iroquois Confederacy was neutrality,  Mohawks (Keepers of the Eastern Door) accepted Colonial ways and the English King, but some Seneca (Keepers of the Western Door) favored the French. Despite this family squabble, the Iroquois held together through a century of agreeing to disagree and were loath to fight each other unless …it was a matter of life or death.

Back in the Mohawk Valley of NY,  an Anglican mission was built, funded by Queen Anne and run by “The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel”, a missionary society still active today.

One more interesting note:  Two King Hendricks?
 
Only as late as 2010 was a long-standing Mohawk mystery solved.  King Hendrick who traveled to England in 1710 was referred to as the same King Hendrick who led Indian attacks alongside the British at Crown Point, and later at Fort George where he died at “The Bloody Morning Scout” in 1755.
The fact is there were two Mohawk King Hendricks, one from the Wolf Clan, one from the Bear Clan and in almost all ways very dissimilar besides a thirty year age difference.  

King Hendrick of the French and Indian war, loved wearing British military regalia.