Best references(s) for Colonial America daily life?

[tourdeforce]

References / resources providing insiht into what it was like living in America 1770 - 1776 for the average citizen as opposed to he major players o the Revolution.

Any recommendations?

[Puma]

You might try Thomas Paine who was aide de camp to (this may be wrong because my memory is finking on me) General Nathaniel Greene. He was actually writing Common Sense sitting at campfires during the Revolution.

There are a large number of accounts of phases of the revolution - try Goggling the Wyoming Massacre (in quotes) as an example of some of the hardships and atrocities. There's also an excellent genealogy site - Tri Counties in Pennsylvania run by Joyce Tice that has a lot of non genealogy information on it. Pennsylvania also has some pretty good county history information.

As far as one work to look at, I don't have any suggestions at the moment. Puma

[TheIT]

Some towns on the east coast are historical reenactments of colonial life. Williamsburg comes to mind. Maybe something like that could help you?

Here's a link:

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/

I haven't explored the site, but it seems to have a virtual tour of the town.

[robeiae]

Some towns on the east coast are historical reenactments of colonial life. Williamsburg comes to mind. Maybe something like that could help you?

Here's a link:

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
There's a short movie shown in the Williamsburg Visitors Center. It's pretty good. It gives a good visual view of daily life. Maybe it's online. It stars Jack Lord, from Hawaii Five-O.

As to written stuff, find a book like this one (http://www.amazon.com/American-Artisans-Crafting-Identity-1750-1850/dp/0801850304/sr=1-4/qid=1166453916/ref=sr_1_4/104-9242220-8487118?ie=UTF8&s=books). Then, check its sources.

[pdr]

Sighs and shakes head in wonder.

We do have a very good set of resources stickied to this board, and David Thomson (sp! Sorry, David)) posted a long list of exactly what you're looking for!

Happy researching and Merry Christmas everyone.
I'm going bush for three weeks, with my family in NZ. No mod cons especially electricity so no e-mnail. Just sea, shore, bush and my southern stars! Bliss!

[robeiae]

I'm going bush for three weeks, with my family in NZ. No mod cons especially electricity so no e-mnail. Just sea, shore, bush and my southern stars! Bliss!My NZ wine just came today. I ordered it when I went to NZ a few months back. Very tasty! Enjoy your family time!

[NeuroFizz]

If you want to get close and work backwards, you can go here (I have no connection to the work or the author):

http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Life-1800s-Students-Historians/dp/1582970637

[BrianTubbs]

- try Goggling the Wyoming Massacre (in quotes) as an example of some of the hardships and atrocities.

Interesting information. And I found someone involved with my last name (Lt. Lebbeus Tubbs). I wonder if he's an ancestor of mine.

Anyway, I didn't know anything about this incident. Very interesting.

[johnnysannie]

Everyday Life In Colonial America From 1607-1783
by Dale Taylor, one of The Writer's Guide To Everday Life series from Writer's Digest Books.

Great starting place for everyday details like food, dress, social customs and the like.

[Marlys]

Women's Life and Work in the Southern Colonies, by Julia Cherry Spruill. Wonderful book.

[blackpen]

if you get the "american girls" books on the felicity character (it's children's fiction) they have very nice historical notes at the end of the actual story. felicity is a character in 1776 and the very last chapter of each book in the series provides some great everyday life details and pictures.

[Stew21]

I had a history class in college that focused on the years in America up to 1860's. I had some great texts and extra reading material. It didn't just focus on historical events, but also daily life kinds of things. I'll have to go to the basement to find them and their titles (after all, college was a long time ago), and I'll come back with some titles for you to check out.

[alleycat]

Colonial Living and other books by Edwin Tunis are pretty good. They're well illustrated.

If you're interested in some of the more rustic aspect of life back then, Backwoodsman Magazine publishes a few "best of" issues which have articles on how to do all sorts of things; everything from making your own gunpowder, chipping flints, making fishing lures, building a cabin, etc.