Ship's Figureheads Carving

The Kalmar Nyckel (Key of Kalmar), Dutch-built
ship that carried Swedish settlers to America in1638.

Today, the word figurehead is more often heard in a metaphorical context, referring to a person in a position of power who has no real authority. But back in the day of galleons and frigates sailing on the high seas in the 16th to 19th centuries, one would find beautifully carved wooden sculptures attached to the prows of ships. These sentinels were used to help identify the ships and help non-literate people know the ship's name, but there is also much lore involving ship's figureheads.

Photo taken by Carla at Mystic Seaport.
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The destiny of a ship was once thought to be so closely bound up with that of her carved figurehead that one could not sink without the other. They were used as religious symbols to protect the ship, and to express the sailors’ belief that the ship was a living thing. There was also the belief that a ship needed to find its own way, and could only do this if it had eyes. To sail in a ship without a figurehead was considered highly dangerous as the figurehead was thought to be the embodiment of the ship's soul. It was thought to ward off evil spirits as the ship bounded through the sea and protect the crew and passengers from traveling maladies. If someone painted the figurehead black it was considered bad luck. Figureheads as such died out with the military sailing ship, primarily due to their weight, except for smaller ships of the royal navy.

Types of figureheads: Lions were the favorite figurehead for most nations in the 17th century and later on British military ships. Some chose other designs such as St. George slaying the dragon. In the 18th century many designs were representations of the name of the ship, such as a guillotine and often classical or mythological figures such as mermaids, goddesses, and even literary characters.

In my novella, Carving a Future in Colonial Courtships (Barbour/2012), I tell the story of a ship's figurehead carver who is working as a journeyman and on his way to become a master carver. He is commissioned to carve the heroine in the story. The research that I did in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut was fascinating. I so enjoyed looking at the beautiful carvings and learning about the process. At Mystic Seaport I was able to interview a few interpreters at the ship carver's shop. I did further research with a famous figurehead carver, Martin Jeffery, from Australia.

Ship carver's shop, Mystic Seaport, CT

Figureheads from Mystic Seaport
Photos taken by Carla

Red Griffin Inn Tea Party for Carla Olson Gade

Colonial Courtships

Carla Olson Gade is the author of Carving a Future, featured in Colonial Courtships, Published by: Barbour Books, October 1, 2012. Carla is also the author of The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter.  Her website is http://carlagade.com

Nathaniel's mother operates the Red Griffin Inn, the family's home, in Carla's novella.  Constance stays with the family and assumes work as an indentured servant after being kidnapped in London.

We are celebrating Carla's release with a Tea Party right here at the Red Griffin Inn! To see more of the inn, go to this post at Romancing America! (click here)

Welcome to our Tea Party for Carla Olson Gade.  Carrie Fancett Pagels is your morning hostess, serving food to break your fasts and Rebecca DeMarino for the afternoon with luncheon fare for you to sup on! On the menu is authentic Muster Day Gingerbread, a recipe found in Carla's novella.

Colonial Courtships -

Set during the years 1753-1762, Colonial  Courtships features the four Ingersoll brothers who reside in Glassenbury with their widowed mother at their family hostelry, The Red Griffin Inn.  Will the unexpected end in four courtships?

Carving a Future - Connecticut, 1752:  Ship figurehead carver Nathaniel Ingersoll has apprenticed for many years under his Uncle Phineas and hopes to become a master ship carver in his own right. Constance Starling was spirited away from England to the Connecticut coast as an indentured servant, arriving too ill for anyone to accept her. When Nathaniel takes pity on her, he purchases her contract. Has he jeopardized the future he has worked so hard to achieve for the welfare of a weakly servant?

See Carrie's review of Carving a Future.

Giveaway:  Carla is offering a colonial gift basket with a signed paperback copy of Colonial Courtships to one fortunate winner! (The winner may opt for an ebook copy from Carrie. International winners will receive an ebook copy in lieu of the gift basket.)  We also have a lovely tea cup, saucer, strainer and cover set that will go out to one of our Tea Party visitors--this winner will be selected from those respondents who come "in character" and contribute to the colonial atmosphere!

Colonial gift basket included Colonial Courtships,
gingerbread scented taper candles, wood spoon,
fall napkins, and gingerbread cookies.

Conversation starter:  Carla would like to know about your character's vocations. Or about an interesting trade in your family history.

You can also find Carla this week at Barbour's Romancing America blog.

Muster Day Gingerbread

Muster Day Gingerbread

 (A traditional recipe enjoyed on colonial Muster Day,
as seen in Colonial Courtships by Carla Olson Gade)

The following recipe is taken from The Art of Cookery made plain and easy by A Lady, 1747 (Hannah Glasse was discovered to be the authoress in the 19^th century).

To make Ginger-Bread. TAKE three quarts of fine flour, two ounces of beaten ginger, a quarter of an ounce of nutmeg, cloves, and mace beat fine, but most of the last; mix all together, three quarters of a pound of fine sugar, two pounds of treacle, set it over the fire, but do not let it boil; three quarters of a pound of butter melted in the treacle, and some candied lemon and orange peel cut fine; mix all these together well. An hour will bake it in a quick oven.

Muster Gingerbread
(A modern version for you to try.)

1/3 c  Shortening 1/2 c  Brown sugar 1/2 c  Molasses 1  Egg 2 c  Flour (all-purpose) 1 t  Baking soda

3/4 t  Ground ginger 3/4 t  Ground cinnamon 1/4 t  Ground cloves 1/4 t  Salt 1/2 c  Water; boiling

Cream the shortening and sugar until very light. Add the molasses and egg, beating well. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, soda, spices and salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the boiling water, beating after each addition. Bake in a greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan at 350øF for about 50 minutes. Cool a few minutes before removing from the pan, and wrap. This cake mellows and tastes best the next day.

Authors note: The treacle mentioned in the first receipt, as recipes were then called, is Molasses. Muster Day Gingerbread, sometimes called Training Day Gingerbread or simply Muster Gingerbread, was usually prepared as a loaf cake. I discovered a variation of this recipe that was rolled out and baked as a cookie. Muster Gingerbread was traditionally washed down with rum after militia training, though I recommend a nice glass of apple cider or fresh milk.

Muster Day, Training Day — Huzzah!

To Arms!

Between 1620 and 1790 Muster Days served as a significant social event for colonists. With holidays few, especially in New England, these days would present an opportunity for men to take a day off from work. Several times per year (April, May, September, & October), men ages 16 to 60 would assemble on the town green for roll call, to show their guns for inspection, and participate in military training drills. The frequency of the training days varied among the colonies and also according to circumstances of impending threat The selectmen of the town would take account of stock in powder and ball to see if the town was ready to defend its people and its property. Each town company had its Captain, Lietuenants, and Corporals elected by their peers; each Battalion had a Major; and each Regiment, a Colonel. Some of the men were selected from among the general ranks to be ready for rapid deployment - called Minutemen. During times of peace the drills would be completed in the morning with the afternoon reserved for friendly competition. This was usually a rowdy affair with much drinking.

In my new release, Colonial Courtships, there was great enthusiasm for an annual event - the Fall Muster. This is when militia men of all the townships in the county would gather at the county seat for the large gathering of all. This annual muster accomplished actual enrollment of members. If a muster was missed, a fine of $1 was required to be paid by the absent party. Akin to a town fair, the annual muster welcomed the entire community, and then men would be better behaved while their families where watching.  

The exercises would begin about 8:00 a.m. and continue until about 12:00 p.m. when the noon meal would be served by the women. "Training Day Cake", also called "Muster Day Gingerbread", was served, with plenty of rum available for 3 cents per glass. Militia commanders often attempted to win their men's cooperation by providing them with the alcohol. In the afternoon companies paraded before the many spectators, and there was a great deal of rivalry between the companies as to who could march, shoot and make the best appearance. Contests such as drills and maneuvers, wrestling matches, and more between the champions of each company were common activities. Older men, women, and children would urge their favorites on. The Muster Field was filled with eating booths, tent shows, and auction carts with peddlers crying their wares.The day would end about sunset with a fine salute of guns into the air.

Under the militia act of 1792, in effect for more than a century, every able-bodied citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was a member of the militia. Patriotic enthusiasm from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 carried over into musters, although by around 1830 many resented the required participation. By 1855 Muster Days were no long necessary.

For more information on Muster Day you might like to read Everday Life in Early America by David F. Hawke.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF A
NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL MUSTER DAY REENACTMENT


Look for a recipe for Muster Day Gingerbread from Colonial Courtships on Sunday.