The Cultural History of Marlborough, Virginia Part 28

XVII

_Objects of Personal Use_

Costume accessories recovered at Marlborough are extremely few. There are six metal b.u.t.tons, all of them apparently 18th century. One of flat bra.s.s (USNM 59.2004) has traces of gilt adhering to the surface; another of similar form (USNM 60.85) is silver; a third (USNM 59.2004) is copper. The silver b.u.t.ton, 7/8 inch in diameter, could be one of two dozen vest b.u.t.tons bought by Mercer for 18 pence each in 1741. A bra.s.s b.u.t.ton with silver surface was roll-plated in the Sheffield manner (USNM 59.2004), thus placing its date at some time after 1762. "White metal"--a white bra.s.s--was commonly used for b.u.t.tons in the 18th century, and is seen here in a fragmentary specimen (USNM 59.2004). One hollow b.u.t.ton of sheet bra.s.s shows the remains of gilding (USNM 60.73).

Only one example was found--a dark-gray sh.e.l.l b.u.t.ton--that was used on under-garments (USNM 59.1819).

Among the personal articles are two bra.s.s buckles, one a simple half buckle (USNM 70.72, fig. 83d, ill. 48), the other a knee buckle (USNM 60.139, fig. 83e, ill. 49). Except possibly for a pair of scissors to be mentioned later, a bra.s.s thimble is the only artifactual evidence of sewing (USNM 60.74, fig. 83b, ill. 50). Four thimbles, mentioned in Ledger B, were purchased in 1729, and four in 1731.)

Parts of a penknife that were found consist of ivory-casing fragments, steel frame, knife blade, single-tined fork, and other pieces (USNM 50.1665, fig. 85). Two chalk marbles attest to the early appeal of that traditional game, as well as to the ingenuity that went into making the marbles of this material (USNM 59.1682). Chalk also was used to make a bullet mold, half of which, bearing an M on the side, has survived (USNM 59.1682, fig. 84b, ill. 51). A musket ball (USNM 59.1682) from the site could have been made in it. Two gun flints (USNM 59.1629 and 59.1647, fig. 84a) are of white chert.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 48.--Left, bra.s.s buckle (see fig. 83d). Same size. (USNM 60.72.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 49.--Center, bra.s.s knee buckle (fig. 83e).

Same size. (USNM 60.139.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 50.--Right, bra.s.s thimble (fig. 83b). Same size. (USNM 60.74.)]

An English halfpenny, dated 1787, was found near the surface in the kitchen debris of Structure E (USNM 59.2041, fig. 83c). Considerably worn, it may have been dropped after the destruction of the building.

Two fragments of flat slate were found (USNM 60.95 and 60.113), as well as a hexagonal slate pencil (USNM 59.1685, fig. 85, ill. 54). It is clear that slates were used at Marlborough, probably when Mercer's children were receiving their education from the plantation tutors.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 51.--Chalk bullet mold with initial "M"

(fig. 84b). Same size. (USNM 59.1682.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 83.--SMALL METALWORK: a, copper and white metal b.u.t.tons; b, bra.s.s thimble; c, English halfpenny, 1787; d, bra.s.s buckle; e, bra.s.s knee buckle; f, bra.s.s harness ornament; g, escutcheon plates for drawer pulls and keyholes; h, drop handle; i, curtain and harness rings; and j, bra.s.s strap handle.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 52.--Left, fragments of tobacco-pipe bowl with decoration molded in relief. Same size. (USNM 59.2003.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 53.--Above, white-kaolin tobacco pipe (fig.

84f). One-half. (USNM 59.1714.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 84.--PERSONAL MISCELLANY: a, chert gun "flint;" b, chalk bullet mold and bullet; c, bullet; d, marble; e, piece of chalk; and f, white clay pipes and fragment of terra-cotta pipestem.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 85.--CUTLERY: a, chopping knife; b, table-knife blades; c, parts of penknife; and d, pieces of slate and slate pencil.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 54.--Slate pencil (see fig. 85d). Same size.

(USNM 59.1685.)]

As usual in colonial sites, quant.i.ties of pipestem and bowl fragments were recovered. Virtually all the bowls reflect the typical Georgian-period white-clay pipe form, with only minor variations. Most of the stems have bores ranging from 4/64 inch (1750-1800) to 6/64 inch (1650-1750). A single stem fragment from a terra cotta pipe of a kind found at Jamestown and Kecoughtan, probably dropped by an Indian or early white trader, is early 17th century (fig. 84f), while two white-clay stem fragments have bores of 1/8 inch (1620-1650). A fragment of a pipe bowl has molded decoration in relief, with what appear to be masonic emblems framed on a vine wreath (USNM 59.2003, ill. 52).

XVIII

_Metalwork_

SILVER

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 55.--Left, fragment of long-tined fork.

Second-half (?), 17th century. One-half. (USNM 59.1663.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 56.--Center, fragment of long-tined fork.

Early 18th century. One-half. (USNM 59.2029.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 57.--Right, fork which had two-part handle of wood, bone, or silver. One-half. (USNM 59.1939.)]

Mercer, as we have seen, had a lavish supply of plate. Little of this, understandably, was likely to have been thrown away or lost, except for an occasional piece of flatware. One such exception is a teaspoon from the Structure B foundation (USNM 59.1827, fig. 86). It has a typical early Georgian form--ribbed handle, elliptical bowl, and leaf-drop handle attachment on back of the bowl. As in the case of small objects worked after the marks were applied, this has evidence of two distorted marks. Corrosion has obliterated such details as may have been visible originally, although there are fairly clear indications of the leopard's head crowned and lion pa.s.sant found on London silver.

TABLE CUTLERY.--Fragmentary knives and forks from the site date mostly from before 1750. Forks are all of the long, double-tine variety. One, which may date back to the second half of the 17th century, has a delicate shank, widening to a tooled, decorative band, with shaft extending downward which was originally enclosed in a handle of horn, bone, or wood (USNM 59.1663, ill. 55). A fragment of a narrow-bladed knife (USNM 59.1882, fig. 85) may be of the same period as the fork. Two forks, each with one long tine intact, show evidence of having had flat cores for wood or silver handles (USNM 59.2029, 59.1939, ills. 56 and 57). The shanks, differing in length from each other, are turned in an ogee shape. Three blades, varying in completeness, are of the curved type used with "pistol-grip" handles (USNM 59.1667-1668, 59.1939). A straight blade fragment (USNM 59.1999) is probably contemporary with them. Only two knife fragments (USNM 59.1799 and 59.2082) appear to be 19th century (fig. 85).

One of the most unusual artifacts is a half section of a hollow Sheffield-plated pistol-grip knife handle. Sheffield plate was introduced in 1742 by a process that fused sheets of silver to sheets of copper under heat and pressure.[212] The metal, as here, was sometimes stamped (USNM 59.1668, fig. 86b).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 86.--METALWORK: a, rim of pewter dish; b, table knife with Sheffield-plated handle; c, lid of pewter teapot (ill. 60); d, silver teaspoon; e, wavy-end pewter spoon, early 18th-century shape; f and g, two trifid-end pewter spoons, late 17th-century shape (holes in g were probably drilled to hold cord for suspension from neck).]

FOOTNOTES:

[212] SEYMOUR B. WYLER, _The Book of Sheffield Plate_ (New York: Crown Publishers, 1949), pp. 4-5.

PEWTER

Three, whole pewter spoons, as well as several fragments of spoons, were salvaged from the large trash pit (Structure D). Two whole specimens and a fragment of a third are trifid-handle spoons cast in a mold that was probably made about 1690. One of these (USNM 59.1669, fig. 86g, ill. 58) has had two holes bored at the top of the handle, probably to enable the user to secure it by a cord to his person or to hang it from a loop.

This circ.u.mstance, plus the presence of such an early type of spoon in an 18th-century context, suggests that the spoons were made during the Mercer period for kitchen or slave use from a mold dating back to the Port Town period. The spoons themselves may, of course, have survived from the Port Town time and have been relegated to humble use on the plantation.

A somewhat later spoon, with "wavy-end" handle, comes from a mold of about 1710. It has the initial N scratched on the handle (USNM 59.1672, fig. 86e, ill. 59). Another fragmentary example has a late type of wavy-end handle, dating perhaps ten years later (USNM 59.1672).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 58.--Trifid-handle pewter spoon (fig. 86g).

One-half. (USNM 59.1669.)]

A pewter teapot lid with tooled rim and the remains of a finial may be as early as 1740 (USNM 59.1676, fig. 86c, ill. 60). Two rim fragments of a pewter plate also were found (USNM 59.1675, fig. 86a).

KITCHEN AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS

CUTLER'S WORK.--In 1725 Mercer bought a pair of "Salisbury Scissors"; there is no clue as to what is meant by the adjectival place name. He purchased another pair of scissors in 1744. In any case, a pair of embroidery scissors, with turned decoration that one would expect to find on early 18th-century scissors, was found in the site (USNM 59.1680, ill. 61).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 59.--Wavy-end pewter spoon (fig. 86e).

One-half. (USNM 59.1672.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 60.--Pewter teapot lid (fig. 86c). Same size. (USNM 59.1676.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 61.--Steel scissors. One-half. (USNM 59.1680.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 87.--IRONWARE: a, lid for iron pot; b, cooking-pot fragments; c, andiron leg; d, iron ladle; and e, two beaters for box-irons.]