July 23, 2014

At Old Sturbridge Village Hitty Finds George Washington!

We Are of Old New England...
Hitty waving her flag on the fence at the edge of the Common at Old Sturbridge Village!
Hitty finds a patriotic display with a splendid eagle and American flag!
My 6th great grandfather Nehemiah Lyon represented the Woodstock, Connecticut area in the protest of the Stamp Act in 1765. Nehemiah Lyon's wife was Mehitabel (Child) Lyon. Hitty again says "That's my name, too! My nickname is Hitty, from Mehitabel!" There are many Mehitabels in our family!

We at the Corgyncombe Courant love how Tasha Tudor illustrates July in "Around The Year" and "A Time to Keep". Tasha shows picnics, flying and displaying the American flag, firecrackers, and fireworks. In "Around the Year" the page with the eagle, stars, and flags catches our eye!

Some of the writings and photographs on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant and from our previous writings elsewhere on the internet.

How lovely and pleasant the old wheels looked!

My 5th great grandmother Martha (Lyon) May, daughter of Nehemiah Lyon, was reported in 1766 by The Hartford Courant (The Connecticut Courant), to have "spun 194 knots of good linen yarn in one day." It was considered patriotic during this time to boycott British products and to spin their own threads and yarns. Spinning and knitting bees were very popular.


Hitty has been looking for George Washington and inside the Bullard Tavern she spies the portrait of George Washington over the mantel! Hitty is excited and asks "Please take my likeness under the portrait of George Washington!"


Hitty waves her flag in great joy!

My 4th great grandfather Elias Taylor served under Gen'l George Washington during the Revolutionary War.




 In the tavern in a glass display box, Hitty finds a pretty bird whistle and says "It's carved from wood just like me!" Hitty was carved by talented dollmaker Judy Brown.
Tasha Tudor had a doll named Emma Birdwhistle.


"The bonnet is so beautiful!" exclaims Hitty when she sees this old bonnet on display.


Hitty in the Corgyncombe Garden of Herbs
amongst the bee balm and echinacea.
The teapot is a replica of an antique
"No Stamp Act" teapot.


A Guide to the Wild Flowers", written by Alice Lounsberry and illustrated by Mrs. Ellis Rowan.
The well worn book was originally owned by Mrs. T. B. Shepherd.


There are many handwritten notes by previous owners on the pages of the book noting the date and location that they found the particular wild flower. Although the book was written at a later date, the earliest date in the handwritten notations is an 1848 sighting.

Oswego-Tea, also called Bee Balm: in the book is written, "Found in Grandmother's garden, near her bee house when a child - West Martinsburg"

In Revolutionary times some folks would use Oswego Tea as an alternative to the imported tea taxed by the British.


Hitty's sweet frock and pinafore were made by Gail Wilson.

The book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" was written by Rachel Field. The book "Hitty" was inspired by an old wooden doll found in an antique shop. The doll was named Mehitabel, "Hitty" for short and the book is about her many
adventures. In the book "Hitty" by Rachel Field, Hitty is carved one winter by an old peddler in the old Preble House in Maine.





Be sure to check in again as there are more Hitty at Old Sturbridge Village posts to come at the Corgyncombe Courant!!!

Here is a link to our previous post:
Hitty Visits Old Sturbridge Village, Freeman Farm!

Here is a link to:
An Original No Stamp Act Teapot
at Colonial Williamsburg

Here is a link to:
Old Sturbridge Village


http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2014/07/at-old-sturbridge-village-hitty-finds.html
copyright © 2014 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 comments:

Simply Shelley said...

Some great history here. Hitty looks as if she was enjoying herself very much. Love the tea pot. Blessings friend

Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson said...

Dear Shelley,

Hitty enjoys the history, too! She was so thrilled to find George Washington!

Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe

The BUTT'RY and BOOK'RY said...

Dearest Diane and Sarah,
I just realized that this is a part 2 post!!
Hitty was in one of the best of her elements at the museum!! She fits right in and found so many interesting things!! She still must be basking in the memories!! It also looks as though the weather could not have been any more perfect!! A lovely wonderful visit!!
Many Blessings, Linnie and the Mousiekins, and the Doll family :-D

Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson said...

Dear Linnie,

You're right, Hitty felt perfectly at home at Old Sturbridge Village! She had a great time and has wonderful memories!

Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe

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