Thanks, Bob, for reminding me to read the article about George Washington's home online. I read the story in the Baltimore Sun, in case other people want to check it out. This was appropriately timed for July 4th celebrations across the country. Estelle in Georgia ----- Original Message ----- From: "FamilyHistoryBK" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:24 AM Subject: [VAFAUQUI] Fourth of July Reading > Our 17th and 18th Century ancestors probably had really bad teeth, and > although those living near the coast ate seafood, they really didn’t like > salmon. > They imported utensils from England, but the rounded-point knife did not > gain acceptance as fast as the fork that had led to its development in the > first place. Instead, they used their spoon to hold their meat while > cutting it, then put down the knife and used the spoon to bring the food > to their mouth. That’s why European table manners are still different from > American. > These are just a few of the interesting facts from "Everyday Life in Early > America" by David Freeman Hawke, the best source I have found for learning > about, well, everyday life in early America. > For family historians who want to learn how their ancestors lived, not > just their vital statistics, this book is the best I have found. It was > published in 1989, but still available either new, or used for less than > $6 including shipping. (Check bookfinder.com for sources.) 195 pages, > paperback, indexed. Most public libraries probably have it on their > shelves, too. > When practices and conditions varied from New England to the Mid-Atlantic > to the Chesapeake, the book points out the differences. One recurring > theme, though, is that many ideas and adaptations from one place > eventually found their way to others where they worked just as well. > * * * > Meanwhile, did you see the story today about how the exact location of > George Washington’s boyhood home has been found and excavated by > archeologists? It is on the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, perhaps 40 > miles from early settlement locations near the same river in Fauquier > County. Many of our ancestors would have seen the house on their way to > and from Fredericksburg, the major commercial center for that part of the > colony. For those interested in archeological research of colonial > Virginia sites, read any of several books by Ivor Noel Hume, who worked > several decades ago at Jamestown and other locations. > > Bob Kamman > Phoenix AZ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

There is an article on the front page of the online version of the Sun telling about the evacuations being done at Mt. Vernon.

Does anyone on this list know what Harle family the Sarah Harle who worked for George Washington came from? I am working on the Harle families of N.Va.. Thanks, G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va.