What Young Gentleman are Good For...

I have searched my conscience for proper uses for Young Gentlemen and I shall present them to you.

A young gentlemen should prove his talents in good speech and not his talents in physical skill.

He is to tell ladies of what good things they excel at and not what they should excel at.

A young man of good repute is to speak in an agreeable tone and not resemble a Cannon's mouth.

He is to open doors and remove obstacles for ladies of both little and excessive years.

He shall not brag insistently on his full accomplishments of the day but show the lady the respect of listening to some of her activities.

Flattery is only necessary when it is genuine and does not hide an ulterior motive

While dancing, a young gentleman would do well to mind his feet and that they do not injure the ladies' feet by stepping on them brutally.

Singing a song for a lady is seen as a pleasant compliment make sure though, that the lyrics are respectable.

When dancing, a gentleman should jump to offer the dance to one of the fairer persuasion, and not stand and stare at her while stroking his chin, no matter how unpleasant the experience promises to be.

A gentleman does not dance all of his attention upon one lady, it grows tiresome for the lady, tiresome for the others of the company, and gives the gossips something to talk about. Neither should he spend all of his time gambling with his fellows, for the same reasons.

A gentleman must not spit, swear, or otherwise behave in a loutish manner, unless he be a lout.

When proclaiming threats, dire or otherwise, a gentleman must intend fully to carry them out if the occasion arise, and especially if his proclamations do not elicit the response that he wish'd; namely laughter.

Anne Carter

Politics
February 13, 1766 House of Commons, London

Benjamin Franklin was ordered to testify at the House of Commons, answering questions regarding the Colonists and their feelings concerning the Stamp Act. That dreadful act pushed forward by the infernal George Grenville requiring a tax on all legal and commercial documents including such things as wills, diplomas, newspapers and even playing cards. Furthermore, the documents would be considered illegal without the tax! Franklin, though not known as a public speaker, brilliantly conveyed Americans feelings about the tax and stood for four hours answering to more than one hundred and seventy-four questions. He pointed out that the Americans were paying heavy and considerable taxes among themselves for the support of the country civil and military establishments and to pay for the great debt due to the French and Indian War. George Grenville then, in all his ignorance, asked whether Franklin thought it was right that Americans should be protected by England and pay no part of the expenses. Franklin promptly answered that the spent many millions in raising, clothing, and paying for over twenty-five thousand men during the war. It must be noted that before this meeting Franklin had cleverly arranged for some of his friends in the Commons to pose certain questions on subjects he wished to make a particular point. One of these questions asked what the temper of the colonies towards England was like before 1763. Franklin answered that it was the best in the world and that they had a great respect for Britain including its laws, customs and manners, but that now it was very much altered. It was also asked whether anything less than a military force would be needed to enforce the Stamp Act. To this Franklin answered that he did not see how a military force could be used for that purpose and would possibly cause a rebellion. Franklin continued turning the tables through other questions, making his questioners appear foolish and stunning Grenville and his friends. After Franklin had finished many praised him highly. The bill to repeal the Stamp Act was moved on February 22 and after more debate carried by a strong majority. Though the infuriated Grenville and his friends pushed hard against it, King George signed the consent for the repealing of the Stamp Act on March 18. I believe that Benjamin Franklin deserves a great amount of credit for this considerable step in the fight for Colonists rights.

George Lewis

The New House, Nov. 5th

Twas a wonderful day that was spent at Mistress Lewis's house. We were not in need of our capes, for the weather was very agreeable. Most of the day was spent in the kitchen cooking and preparing dinner for the gentry. The gentry consisted of, Master and Mistress Lewis, Master and Mistress Weedon, and Master Dade. Because the cook was absent, Hattie took over for her in the kitchen, and with the help of the other servants made a wonderful salad, cornbread, wheat bread, eggs and ham. Sewing and chatting were accomplished throughout the day, along with evil schemes that were planned by some of the mischievous servants. There were some beautiful taffetas and ribbons of the latest fashion which the milliners brought to show Mistress Lewis. Dr. Mercer's apprentices were present, and spent the day grinding lavender and swapping remedies. The shepherdess was also there although she did not have her sheep with her. The hatter assisted the milliner's apprentice in the hemming of tablecloths. Mistress Ashby the Midwife joined us and kept a watchful eye on some of the servants though in reality it was that her eye was better kept on the two young people caught out in the garden by themselves. There were a great many visitors early in the day, though the number soon dwindled as the sun grew higher in the sky.

Heather James

The Day Spent at Eagle's Nest
The air was quite cold and windy--those who could not cover themselves with a cloak went to warm their hands by the kitchen fire (if there was room to be had).
The cooks began preparing everything for the carrot pudding early in the day; grating carrots (which turned out to be dangerous for George, Hattie, Eleanor and Kristine) and crumbling bread. Mistress Trehos made an Indian Pudding, chickens roasted over the fire, and Katherine, Hattie and Eleanor discovered a tree full of pears while on a walk to the garden. The three of us (and some others, a short time later) gathered a large amount of them with the idea to simmer them in sherry, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. We then took them to the kitchen and set to work slicing them! Afterwards, everyone took turns whipping a bowl of cream--'twas a good idea to share the task, as it is very tiring if only one person works at it, but it was such a popular assignment that there were more than a few squabbles as to who's turn it should be next!
Meanwhile, in other quarters of the house, Mistress's Lewis and Weedon were planning what things we shall accomplish in the coming year for our Society. It seems that the days to come are filling with many exciting events as to make us rather busy.
Before supper was quite finished cooking, there was a rousing re-enactment of a trial involving Benjamin Grymes Jr., who was charged with shooting a man--in the end, it was decided to try him in Fredericksburg. Col. Washington lead us all to the cemetery where he showed us how to read old, worn tombstones using flour; then shortly afterwards, supper commenced. After the particularly splendid meal, several of us took part in dancing First of April, Irish Washerwoman, Fisher's Hornpipe, Easter Thursday and Black Nag. 'Twas a fine way to warm ourselves in such chilly weather.

Eleanor

Food
A note on Seasoning Dutch ovens:
A cast-iron Dutch oven is meant to cook foods either in direct contact with the inside of the oven, or else in an earthenware dish placed within. The former procedure is simpler, but can lead to difficulty for the scullery maids if the cast iron is not properly seasoned, for cast iron should not be washed. To season cast iron, one must take a lump if lard the size of a black walnut in the hull, and work it into the iron with a rag. The Piece should then be baked for ten minutes in an oven of about 400^o. after buffing away the excess lard, the process should be repeated 2-3 times more.
Only lard will do, being the stablest of fats. Do not use oil, for it goes rancid. Do not use bacon fat, for the salt will corrode the iron. Likewise, do not use butter, for not only does it oft contain salt, but it also rancidities. The fat rendered from the skin of a duck will work in a pinch, but the flavor is so delightful that it is best to save this substance for actual cooking.

On Sack
In British history, the word "sack" when referring to alcohol can either pertain to a dry white Spanish wine; or to a heavy, sweetened, amber-colored wine from the Mediterranean. Once highly popular with both Gentry and middling class, Sack gave way first to sherry-sack, and then to sherry; which also falls into the two categories of dry and (the inferior) sweet. As with sack, the drier sherry is preferred in England, while the lower quality, (sweet) is more popular here in the colonies.

Katherine Davey

ALL THE NEW FASHIONS FROM LONDON and PARIS
Here I shall faithfully recount all the interesting and exciting news of the latest fashions from London and Paris.
Ladies; you do not want to be caught out in your worn cloak from last year! The best choice of color is cardinal red, or so I have heard. You may also want to trim the hood with a matching color of fur, for added warmth and it happens to be the latest fad. For those of you who may not be able to afford this type of luxury, try a new ribbon maybe of grosgrain or china silk to cover those old thread clasps. Felt hats, trimmed in a myriad of ways are available at the milliners and are very handsome upon any young woman’s head. This may be a good investment for you poorer sorts, for I have heard that they last a reasonable amount of time if properly taken care of.

Molly Washington

Our Society

Who is About and Where They are At
Due to a request, the following article shall consist of some interesting things about the most prestigious families in Fredericksburg and how they are related to one another.
The Lewis’s
Benjamin, Robert and Ann Carter, are all distant nephews and nieces of Master and Mistress Lewis.
Because of the marriage of Sarah Washington Ashton in 1788, a distant niece of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, to the younger brother of Sarah and George Fitzhugh (Nicholas Battaile) the afore mentioned are related in an unknown way to the latter.
Because S. Ashton was a first cousin twice removed of Molly Washington and other relations which they share in common, she is a distant cousin to both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, and a relation to the Fitzhughs.
The Fitzhugh’s
Henry F. (the older brother of Sarah and George) married Elizabeth Buckner Stith, who was the sister of 3 of the husbands of the Washington girls.
S. and G.’s younger sister also married a Stith which improved their relation to the Washington’s further.
The Washington’s
Both of Molly’s younger sisters married Stith’s, as did she herself.
Francis Townsend married Griffin S. in 1788, Ann married John S. in 1783 and Molly married Robert S. in 1773.

Molly Washington

Historical Tidbits

Did you know that...
Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on July 4th
The stamp act was first introduced in 1694
William Fitzhugh was blind in one eye from a whip accident
Leeches are still used in modern medicine
Shepherds purse is an herbal remedy for nosebleeds
George Washington's false teeth were made from real human teeth and based with lead
Now you know.

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