On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Dave Muraca, Director of Archaeology at The George Washington Foundation, presented “The Social Role of Garbage in Colonial Virginia,” the final talk in this year’s annual lecture series. Dave presented three case studies in 18th century garbage disposal at George Washington’s Ferry Farm, Colonial Williamsburg, and Historic Kenmore.
Thanks to the Fredericksburg branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library at 1201 Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia for hosting the series once again this year. To learn about other events and happenings, visit kenmore.org.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, Archaeologist Mara Kaktins, Ceramics & Glass Specialist at The George Washington Foundation, presented a lecture titled “Drinking with the Washingtons: Archaeological Evidence of Colonial Imbibing at Ferry Farm.” Mara explored a wide variety of beverage-related artifacts from teawares to punch bowls and discussed how cups and glasses reflected efforts by Mary Washington to demonstrate the family’s economic status and refinement.
Join us on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 for “Food in the Eighteenth Century” when Deborah Lawton, Park Ranger at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, will explore the new dishes and changing tastes that marked the foodways of the eighteenth century. Talk begins at 7:00 p.m. The lecture is FREE and hosted at the Fredericksburg branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library at 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia. To learn more, visit http://www.kenmore.org.
The replica Washington house at George Washington’s Ferry Farm has been open for tours for one year now but we still continue to add reproduction furniture and objects to the rooms inside. Since the house is a replica built using archaeology, historic research, and expert knowledge, we are using the same three foundations to create replica objects to display inside the house so that visitors may have a hands-on interactive experience. Guests may sit on chairs, lie on the beds, pick up tumblers, hold tea pots and much more! Here in the archaeology lab at Ferry Farm, we’re always hard at work making new reproduction ceramic and glass items for the Washington house, as seen in this video. Let’s take a look at some of our newest additions!
This adorable little teapot is a reproduction of a ware type called Littler’s Blue which had a very short run between 1750 and 1765. These pots were often gilded with gold so we found a tiny blue teapot and made it fabulous.
Before: Littler’s Blue pitcher reproduction
After: Littler’s Blue pitcher reproduction
We needed a decanter for the Washington house and while the shape of this one wasn’t perfect we were able to engrave it with a tulip motif based on artifacts recovered archaeologically at Ferry Farm. And because we caught gilding fever one of our very talented interns embellished it further to match eighteenth century examples. We also whittled down the ridiculous cork, although we’re searching for a more appropriate glass one.
Before: Glass decanter reproduction
After: Glass decanter reproduction
We’ve excavated a lot of Chinese porcelain with what is called at ‘Imari’ palette, which is defined by under the glaze blue hand-painting, over-the-glaze red painting, and gilding. Reproduction Imari is hard to find so we turned this plain white teapot into an Imari. Our inspiration was the 18th century teapot below featuring cute little silkie chickens!
Original: Imari silkie chicken teapot
Before: Imari silkie chicken teapot reproduction
After: Imari silkie chicken teapot reproduction
Our staff then set out to turn this colonial revival basin into a tin-glazed serving bowl. Our excavations have turned up quite a bit of hand-painted polychrome tin-glaze so it was a must have for the new house. We decided to copy the eighteenth century bowl below. A little bit of paint and presto! Bye basin and hello serving bowl! Can you spot the tiny bee hidden among the flowers?
Original: tin glaze serving bowl
Before: tin glaze serving bowl reproduction
After: tin glaze serving bowl reproduction
We’ve been very fortunate to have a few extremely artistic interns, one of whom decorated this milk glass tumbler with an eighteenth century design from the vase below. Some artistic license was taken and we decided to leave out the odd crab/lobster/crayfish….thing at the feet of the lady. We think she turned out pretty nicely and since we’ve excavated a lot of painted milk glass at Ferry Farm she is a good fit for the house!
Original: Milk glass vase with woman under tree
After: Milk glass tumbler with lady under tree reproduction
If you’d like to see any of these in person, please come take a tour of the Washington house replica at Ferry Farm! Where, unlike most museums, touching the (reproduction) objects is highly encouraged!
Mara Kaktins, Archaeologist
Archaeology Lab Supervisor
When visitors come to George Washington’s Ferry Farm, they can stand in what were once the fields of the Washington family’s farm, where they grew tobacco and other crops. While living here, Augustine Washington, George’s father, taught his sons – George, Samuel, John Augustine, and Charles – to see opportunity in land.
Aerial view of the present-day Washington house replica, work yard, hen yard, and archaeological digs at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. Credit: Joe Brooks, EagleOne Photography
Growing up at Ferry Farm, George Washington learned that land was wealth. He learned how to run a plantation and to manage the enslaved workers who lived and toiled on his family’s farms. He learned what crops to grow and livestock to raise, how to care for them, and how to put them to use. George Washington was many things at different points in his life – diplomat, politician, general, president – but, throughout his sixty plus years, he was always a farmer.
To George and the other Europeans who settled in British North America in the 1700s, land and its natural resources were privately owned commodities or raw materials to be bought or sold. Land was used to create goods for market or was sold for profit. In other words, land was valuable and owning a lot of land made you wealthy.
Before growing anything on a farm, Washington and his fellow colonial-era farmers had to own land and the land they owned had to be defined legally. It had to have boundaries, so they and other people knew it belong to them. If land was wealth, it was vitally important to know how much land you owned.
Creating these boundaries was the job of a surveyor and being a surveyor was, after his lifelong work as a farmer, George Washington’s first job.
An ink sketch from 1956 imaging a young George Washington surveying. Credit: National Park Service / Wikipedia
Today, surveyors use the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite imagery, lasers, and other advanced digital equipment to do their work more quickly and more accurately. When George Washington was a surveyor, he used simple tools compared to today but, 200-years-ago, these simple tools were as advanced technologically speaking as today’s surveying equipment. Indeed, in the 1700s, surveying was relatively brand new. The word itself first appeared only in 1682.
Although a relatively new science, young George Washington was probably familiar with surveying from an early age. His father Augustine owned “1 Set Surveyors Instruments,” according to the probate inventory made of Augustine’s property after his death in 1743.
Surveyor’s compass by David Rittenhouse, believed to be given to George Washington in 1782. Credit: National Museum of American History / Daderot / Wikipedia
Measuring the distance between these targets set the property’s boundaries as well as its acreage. These distances were measured using chains carried by the surveyor’s assistants known as chainmen. A full surveyor’s chain was 66 feet long and 100 links and eighty of these chains equaled one mile. “Dragging a sixty-six-foot chain through the brush of colonial Virginia’s forests was impractical.” These long chains snagged on trees and other vegetation so surveyors in the colonies used a chain that was only 33 feet long with 50 links.
Surveyor’s chain, c1830. Credit: National Museum of American History / Daderot / Wikipedia
George Washington began a survey by choosing a starting landmark as well as a landmark to travel towards. He recorded the direction of the line using his surveying compass. Then, to measure the distance, the rear chainman held one end of the chain at the starting point while the lead chainman walked a straight line toward the ending target. As the surveyor, George constantly checked the compass to make sure the chainmen followed his line. Keeping the line straight sometimes meant the lead chainman hacked his way straight through brush and undergrowth. Once the he reached the end of the chain, the lead chainman pinned it to the ground and the rear chainman brought up the other end. They then repeated the process until the ending point of the line was reached. The rear chainman picked up the pins as they walked.
Fifteen-year-old George Washington made one of his first surveys on February 27, 1747 when he measured out his older half-brother Lawrence’s turnip field at Mount Vernon. According to Ledger Book Zero, Washington bought a Gunter scale, essentially a two-foot long ruler specifically designed to solve the trigonometry problems common to surveying, from his cousin Baily on September 20, 1747.
Thirteen months later, on March 11, 1748, George accompanied George William Fairfax and James Genn, the Surveyor of Prince William County, on a month-long trip across the Blue Ridge Mountains and into Virginia’s frontier to survey land for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Young Washington kept a journal of his experiences.
In the later 1750s, George began to focus his work life more on soldiering (the French and Indian War) and farming. He never completely stopped surveying or acquiring land, however. In 1771, he surveyed Ferry Farm in preparation to sell the property and he surveyed for the last time in 1799, the year he died.
In the colonial age, land was wealth and was how many colonials, including George Washington, made their living. As such, early Americans wanted to know what land they owned as well as how much they owned. Surveyors, like George Washington, measured the land and created boundaries so ownership would be clear. “At one time, Washington owned nearly 70,000 acres between the Potomac and Ohio Rivers.” Surveying was Washington’s first job and allowed him to begin to build vast amounts of land holdings and thus wealth. This wealth, in part, propelled him to the heights of colonial American society and politics. He began this journey as a surveyor while living at Ferry Farm.
Members of the Fredericksburg Birding Club at George Washington’s Ferry Farm.
Between September 2017 and February 2019, the Fredericksburg Birding Club (FBC) conducted 12 bird surveys at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. We did three in spring, one in summer, three in fall, and five in winter. During that time, we saw 78 of the 136 species listed in the “Checklist of Birds at Ferry Farm” pamphlet and saw 3 new species for a total of 81 species spotted. All observations were recorded at ebird.org.[i] A full list of species observed by the FBC during this time follows.
The chart below compares species listed in the “Checklist of Birds” with those seen by the FBC by abundance designations. Some species vary in abundance with season and, in those cases, these species were given the designation used during their most abundant season. For example, Catbirds are uncommon in spring, common in summer and fall, and rare in winter. Nonetheless, in the chart, they were designated as common because summer and fall are when they are encountered most, spring sightings are the “earlybirds” anxious for warm weather, and winter sightings are out-of-habit occurrences.
Designation
Definition
# of species on “Checklist of Birds”
# seen on FBC surveys
Abundant
Very numerous
16
16
Common
Likely to be seen or heard in suitable habitat
23
23
Uncommon
Present, but not certain to be seen
44
29
Occasional
Seen only a few times during a season
40
8
Rare
May be present but not every year
13
2
New
Not listed in checklist
(3)
3
Total
139
81
As you can see, we observed all birds listed as abundant or common. In addition, we saw 29 of 44 listed as uncommon; eight of 40 species listed as occasional; and two of 13 as rare. We also sighted three species not listed: the American Pipit, Red Headed Woodpecker, and Pied-billed Grebe. These sightings bring the total of rare birds at Ferry Farm up to 16 and the total number of bird species seen to 139.
American Pipit. Credit: Becky Matsubara / Wikipedia
Red-headed Woodpecker. Credit: William J. Majoros / Wikipedia
Pied-billed Grebe. Credit: Mdf / Wikipedia
We don’t think the low numbers of uncommon, occasional or rare species indicate a trend as we are comparing 12 field days over 18 months with former Ferry Farm staff member Paul Nasca’s eight years of intense observation.
However, we noted two differences in frequency of sightings compared with the “Checklist of Birds.” We only sighted one Catbird and they are listed as common in spring and summer. In contrast, we have seen Bald Eagles on five of our 12 outings and they are listed as occasional. Again, at this point in our surveys, these are just interesting observations to follow, not necessarily trends. This year, we expect to pick up more uncommon species and hopefully some occasional species. We’ll see if any of rare ones show up.
Four of the surveys were conducted during the breeding season — spring through summer — and that data was entered into the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (VABBA2) database. This atlas is the second for Virginia, the first being compiled from data collected between 1985 and 1989. VABBA2 will document breeding birds throughout the Commonwealth with data collected over five breeding seasons from 2016-2020.
The VABBA2 database notes specific behavior observations that indicate breeding. By those criteria, we confirmed breeding of four species: Tree Swallow, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, and House Finch. We also observed probable breeding of four additional species: American Crow, Eastern Bluebird, Common Yellowthroat, and Carolina Chickadee. While we know these and other species breed at Ferry Farm, we have to observe behaviors or actual juvenile birds to document the breeding.
Highway noise from State Route 3 and the Blue-Gray Parkway at the south end of the property may be a factor in bird observations for both birds and birders. Studies have documented birds abandoning nesting areas or changing breeding songs so they can be heard. Additionally, highway noise makes it difficult for birders to hear songs, which affects observations of both bird presence and breeding activity.
The club’s major goal this year is to increase field days in the spring and summer both to document bird presence, particularly of uncommon and occasional species and to observe breeding behavior for VABBA2, increasing the number of confirmed breeding species at Ferry Farm.
Maureen Daly Hamm
Fredericksburg Birding Club
[i] During the non-breeding season, all birding data is entered directly into ebird.org at “George Washington’s Ferry Farm” hotspot. During the breeding season, the data must be entered through https://ebird.org/atlasva/home. VABBA2 has split Virginia into geographical blocks and the breeding data must be entered in the block where the birds are observed. Unfortunately, Ferry Farm falls into two different blocks. The southern field area is in block 0380277C4SW, and the remainder of the property is block 0380277C4CW. We submit data for the southern field area as “George Washington’s Ferry Farm 038077c4SW” The block 0380277C4CW data encompassing the majority of Ferry Farm property is listed simply as “George Washington’s Ferry Farm.” We will investigate ways to make the data simpler to access, but it may not be possible until the breeding bird survey is complete.
Another new piece of furniture has arrived at the Washington house at George Washington’s Ferry Farm! Introducing the “Old Desk,” as listed in the “Parlour” on Augustine Washington’s 1743 probate inventory. This desk was copied from an original piece in the collections of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation that dates to ca. 1710-1730, making it one of the earliest pieces represented in the house. So, why was it called the “old” desk in the inventory? And why are we now calling it “Mary’s desk?” And what are all those squiggly lines all over its surface? And does it have any secret compartments? Read on for the answers to these, and many other questions.
New “old” desk in the Washington house replica at Ferry Farm.
Augustine’s probate inventory doesn’t give us much description when it comes to the furnishings of his house, but what it does tell us can provide us with some interesting clues. For instance, the furnishings of the parlor are almost all described as “old” – an old table, 3 old chairs, and the old desk. Almost none of the furniture in the rest of the house is given this descriptor. It would seem to indicate that the parlor was filled with furniture that was already considered old by 1743.
“Parlour” section on Augustine Washington’s probate inventory taken in 1743 following his death. Several items are described as “old.”
What do we consider “old” today? It can be a pretty broad category! For some of us, an object isn’t really old until it’s been around for hundreds of years. On the other hand, folks living in California might consider a house built in the 1920s to be pretty old. So what was considered old in the Washingtons’ day? Our best guess is that there was something about the furniture in the parlor that made the inventory takers think it was old – in other words, it looked different than the rest of the furniture in the house. It was probably of a style that looked so different that it was immediately recognizable as being from an earlier era.
As we’ve previously discussed, in 1743 most colonists were becoming familiar with the Queen Anne style of furniture – a lighter, more graceful style, that emphasized curves and less embellishment. Immediately preceding the Queen Anne was a style known as William and Mary, or early Baroque. Early Baroque furniture was heavier, and emphasized intricate decoration like inlays, veneers, and carvings with an emphasis on dark woods. Even to our modern eyes, William and Mary furniture looks very, very old. We think that the Washington’s parlor was filled with William and Mary style furniture, giving the room a very different feel than the rest of the house.
The original desk chosen for reproduction is from the William and Mary time period, and shows all the hallmarks of that style – dark wood, intricate inlays and veneer on every surface. The material used for all that veneer also explains those squiggly lines. The wood used here is walnut, but more specifically it’s “burled” walnut.
Large burl on an oak tree. Credit: Wikipedia
Burled walnut isn’t a species, but rather a condition of the wood. If you’ve ever seen an old tree with large, gnarled knots growing out of it, you’ve seen burled wood. Those knots are caused by a fungus that invades the tree and causes the usual wood ring pattern to grow out of control. Unfortunately, these gnarled knots of wood are very weak and can’t be used for any kind of structure, but they can be used for decorative purposes. A woodworker can thinly slice the knots, producing material suitable for veneers that are covered in beautiful whirled patterns like what you see on the desk.
In addition to all the inlays and burled veneer, the desk does indeed feature some secret compartments. This is everybody’s favorite part! In this post from three years ago, we discussed the importance of hidden compartments in 18th century furniture for keeping important documents or other valuables safe. They were usually hidden within the structure of the desk, such as boxes built into the case of a piece and concealed by a false panel or floor, but they could also be spaces concealed by decorative elements of the piece, like carvings or architectural elements.
Our desk has a particularly sneaky hidden compartment in that it’s not what you think it is. There is a panel in the center of the desktop that slides backward to reveal a large open compartment. To our modern eyes, this must be it, right? The secret compartment! But no, it’s a fake out. Our colonial ancestors would have recognized it as the storage compartment for the inkwells and stand necessary for proper letter writing – a fairly common feature of a formal writing desk at the time.
Desk showing the central compartment open. This space was for storing inkwells and a letter writing stand.
However, if you’ve gotten this far in an examination of Mary’s desk, then you’re pretty close to discovering the real secret compartment. In fact, it’s revealed in the video below but, when you visit Ferry Farm, you should keep looking in the desk. There are two more secrets hidden here!
And why do we call it “Mary’s desk” now? Well, that’s become a habit, but it’s one based in probability. As our regular readers know, there are two desks in the Washington house – the small one that we’re discussing today, and the scrutore in the Hall, which we previously discussed here. The scrutore is a very large piece of furniture, and was usually associated with shopkeepers or merchants, who often kept them in their back rooms to house account ledgers and financial papers. The fall-front writing surface was intended to be used while standing, rather than while seated at a desk chair, and you can see by how high that it was positioned that was intended for persons of some stature. Scrutores are generally associated with use by men, so in the Washington house, we tend to think of our scrutore as being “Augustine’s desk,” a place where he kept track of both his business accounts and matters related to the farm operation.
Interpreter Gary Haynes shows the scrutore to visitors touring the Hall of the Washington house.
The old desk, on the other hand, is very small – what furniture scholars call “diminutive” – and is of a style that is usually associated with use by women. Contrary to popular belief, women were often in charge of the complicated business arrangements and contracts related to the running of a household, and in Mary’s case, a farm operation after Augustine’s death. So their desks were not simply for writing letters, but also for the storage and organization of all the associated papers and accounts needed to run their world. Additionally, as the “keeper of the keys” in a colonial household, the mistress of the house might also store costly spices and foodstuffs in locked drawers within her desk, so that she could monitor their use. Visitors to the Washington house will see that we have outfitted the old desk with all of the things Mary used on a daily basis, giving rise to the nickname “Mary’s desk.”
The desk showing a balance, mortar and pestle, spice pouches, letters, papers, quills, and all the necessities for an 18th century woman to manage the complicated business arrangements and contracts related to running of a household.
We hope you will stop in soon to see all of the new additions to the Washington house furnishings …and maybe figure out where Mary hid her secrets! Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore both open for the season this Friday, March 1. Click here to plan your visit.
Meghan Budinger
Aldrich Director of Curatorial Operations
Another new piece of furniture has arrived at the Washington house at George Washington’s Ferry Farm! Introducing the “Old Desk,” as listed in the “Parlour” on Augustine Washington’s 1743 probate inventory. This desk was copied from an original piece in the collections of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation that dates to ca. 1710-1730, making it one of the earliest pieces represented in the house. So, why was it called the “old” desk in the inventory? And why are we now calling it “Mary’s desk?” And what are all those squiggly lines all over its surface? And does it have any secret compartments? Read on for the answers to these, and many other questions.
