Colonial Gentry Girls

Description

Colonial Williamsburg's Harmony Hunter interviews historian Cathy Hellier to discover the daily activities of young aristocratic girls in Colonial America. In addition, Hellier discusses the most important duty of young gentry girls: marriage.

Interested listeners can learn more about the adolescence of gentry girls by perusing this article by Cathleene B. Hellier.

Swordmaking in the 18th Century

Description

War creates an industry of its own in every century, calling artisans and inventors to bring forth the best of their craft in the fastest way possible. In the Revolutionary War, this burden lay heavily on metalworkers, whose sword blades and gun barrels were in constant demand. Suzie Dye, a journeyman brass founder, discusses the technology of war in the 18th century, particularly the art of swordmaking.

Click here to discover more about colonial gunsmiths and iron workers.

Researching Revolutionary Citizens

Description

Corinne Dame, an actor-interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, describes the work involved in researching and portraying a variety of historical characters, including Frances Davenport, an upper-middling wife, married to Matthew Davenport, a clerk of the courts; Barbry Hoy, whose husband enlists in the Army during the Revolutionary War; and Elizabeth Maloney, who has two children with a slave.