cultivating the carolina backcountry: a look at the life of a pioneer woman in america
TRANSCRIPT
A Look at the Life of a Pioneer Woman in
America
Southern Appalachian Historical Association, Inc., 501(c)3
“Horn in the West” Outdoor Drama
One of three “legacy
outdoor dramas” in America
Hickory Ridge Living History Museum
Eight log structures + Tatum, Coffey and Hayes family artifacts
Where was the “backcountry”?
• The Western
frontier of colonial
settlement
• Along the Great
Philadelphia Wagon
Road, Pennsylvania
to Georgia
Fort Dobbs: located near what became Statesville, NCWesternmost fort in NC during the
French and Indian War: 1755-1763
“She is a very civil woman and shews nothing of ruggedness, or Immodesty in her carriage, yett she will carry a gunn in the woods and kill deer, turkey, &c., shoot down wild cattle, catch and tye hoggs, knock down beeves with an ax and perform the most manfull Exercises as well as most men in those parts.”
-William Byrd, 1710
• Appalachian valley land for sale.
• Land companies had to divide their parcels.
• Large tracts for low cost…
• Saved Seeds
• Corn, Squash,
Beans
• Onions,
potatoes,
cucumbers,
asparagus
(sparrow grass)
and red cabbage
Cultivating Seeds
Roasting young ears
Dried and turned into meal with a tin grater, or pounded
Johnny cakes, ash cakes
Hasty Pudding, mush
Replaced the Ulster Scots’ oat cakes and oatmeal
“[they eat] fat rusty Bacon, and fair Water, with Indian Corn Bread.”
– Charles Woodmason, Anglican Missionary 1776-8
PlantainNettlesLambs-quartersRhubarb (Dock)ComfreyDandelionSorrelSpinachCabbageLettuceEndiveCressesPurslane
Tatum Cabin ca 1785
• New River
• James and
Amey Tatum:
Ten children
• Eldest was Sarah
Tatum b. 1780.
She married the
grandson of Sarah
Boone Wilcoxson
The Backcountry Housewife: Kay Moss, Kathryn Huffman
The Gardener’s Pocket-Book: R. S. Gent
Boone, A Biography: Robert Morgan
Early American Cookery: Margaret Huntington Hooker
Fort Dobbs Facebook page
H. David Wright, artist
Steve White, artist
Southern Appalachian Historical Association, Inc.