| 2nd Quarterly | April - June 2005 Page 3 |
What’s in a name? What is our name all about? What does it represent? What does it say about us? Is a name simply a word or words used to speak to or of an animal, person, place or thing? Is it a title or word of distinguishment by rank, fame or reputation? Is it to identify ones name sake? Is it heritage or blood line? Maybe ranking or station in life? So what is our name and why do we use it, better yet… how did they use names in the 18th century? This is a query that a good trail friend of mine named Ed Robey and I asked ourselves some thirteen months ago. We where in the woods celebrating George Washington’s birthday with a crisp and frozen trek on a trail in Thomlinson Run State Park, New Manchester, West by God Virginia as they say. Or as a really good friend of some of ours, Monte Pearson, would say, “real America”. We questioned how they would refer to one another in the 18th century. We feel that to properly and entirley immolate the 18th century, or any century for that matter, that one should understand and implement every aspect of life of the time period we portray that we can. We spend great amounts of money and time recreating clothing, tools, and weapons, everything we can about the time period. We plan great events with great people to carry all of these great creations of ours to show them off and use them. Yet once we are there at the event and among these great people who also work so long and hard at recreating all of their gear… we forget the most important tool of all. That important tool being Language, whether it is English, French, Spanish, German, or combination of two or more. What ever persona and time period you portray, the most important tool we can recreate is the language of the time period and location that we portray. It may not be the easiest, but is the most available one that we can recreate or learn and the most rewarding. As well as free or at least low cost. Just our time and some gray matter. The frontiersmen may have lost or not even had a weapon, or they may not have had the most stylish of clothes – but they all communicated. How did one learn from another or teach something to pass on, through communication. Through your local library or even the internet and even some events now days are having language work shops or seminars. Some courses you can teach yourself, or learn from and with others. But learning even a small piece of the language or terms of the time can make the difference between a good event and a great event. We can have the best clothing, the finest rifle, all the gear needed… but if we do not know how to use it, or even use it, than what good is it in the first place? Nice to have stuff? Frame of mind plays a large role in how you feel going through an event. What better way to get mind set than atmosphere and language. Certainly some are more compelled to “get more period correct” than others. I have no problem with that, I feel there is room in this way of life for everyone no matter what level or how detailed we get, as long as we are mindful and respectful to others. We each are doing what we are doing for different yet similar reasons in our hearts and minds, as each of will draw something different from each experience that we have and are hopefully sharing them. So this is why I am taking the time to pen you on my experience and findings about this query that I have shared with others on the trails of the past year. Maybe you will draw something from them. Obviously we know that when someone attains a rank or position of authority, royalty, title… they where commonly referred to with such titles and their name. Especially in the military or in the presence of royalty or wealth. There are countless examples of such references. I don’t know many of you that run the woods portraying General George Washington or King George III, or other well known people of history. Most often we choose to portray the common frontiersman or woman, or merchant, farmer, what have you. So how did the citizens of the 18th century refer to each other? Certainly if one was living in Williamsburg or Philadelphia or had daily dealings with the upper class, one would certainly have manners and etiquette. But that is not what I am trying to relate here. What did they call each other? From my personal findings of the books and journals that I have read over the last year I have made the following observation. I came to the conclusion that the people that we portray in the 17th and 18th centuries, where not unlike us today in our name calling. My given name is David. But those that know me call me Dave. A slang version of my given name. Strangers call me Mr. McGee. Some even call me Devil Dog, or Traveler. Those of you who know me through this hobby or way of life call me Colonel, Governor, Mr. McGee, or even Dave. Some younger trekkers even refer to me as sir. Sure makes you feel old when they do, but its nice to meet young adults with manners. So which is period correct? I am called Colonel out of a respect and a leadership role. I am called Governor for my position in representation in the Coalition of Historical Trekkers. I am called Dave out of a slang to my given name, sir because I am male and Mr. McGee also because I am male and married. So which is correct? What would be the correct term to use when referring to me or you when we are immersed in our persona? Those are some examples of terms that we use or may use when referring to one another in our 21st century personas…if we were in a good respectful mood. What if we where upset, angry, or disliked one another? How many times have we referred to some one as a louse, looser, obnoxious, jerk, or worse? We have all done it from time to time (under our breath or even behind ones back if not face to face), just some to different degrees of severity at times. So did they have such references to one another in the 18th century? Or were they the pristine example of manners of etiquette? I have found that they referred to one another than as we do today. Both in formal rank or station, slang, nick name and hate. George Washington’s mother was called “The Rose of Epping Forest” (1). William Franklin was referred to as the “Greatest Villon on Earth” and at times “Base born Brat” (2). By both friends and his own father, Benjamin Franklin. So they used names to praise and adore someone, as well as put downs or slanderous slur. They also used terms such as blockhead (3), country bumpkin American (4), dear child (5). They used terms to hate and demean others such as the term Palatine Boors as a ethnic slur, as I am sure there were others as well. Just as we do today as we shorten a given name like David to Dave, they did so in the 18th century as well. Abigail Adams was called Nabby by family and those that knew her (7). Sarah Jay was called Sally (8). Benjamin Franklin was known by some as simply Franklin (9). Francis Franklin was known by Franky (10). They used the same practice of nicknames as we do today even. For example, James Perkins goes by Wart, Thom Stanek Jr. is nicknamed BushWacker, and Mark Wetzel goes by Weaser. They too used the practice of nicknames. William Clinkenbeard in an interview gives an account of General McIntosh’s Campaign in 1778. In which he states, “General Lachlan McIntosh Campaign in 1778, McIntosh’s son was along in that campaign. Crabbed sort of fellow. We called him tow-head” (28). William Clinkenbeard also goes on to refer to Joshua Stamper as “Old Daddy” in an account of a late night hunting trip. “Old Daddy Joshua Stamper and myself were out coon hunting one night, just up the head of that hollow, above where the cornfield was, to the right of the now turnpike.” (29) Elizabeth Freeman went by mumbet (11). Mary Jefferson was called Polly (12) as was Mary Stevenson (22). While her sister Martha Jefferson was called Patsy (13). Martha Washington’s niece’s given name was Eleanor and was called Nelly (14). Marry Morris was called Molly (15). While Governor Morris was not only called Governor, but also he was called “The Tall Boy” (16). Anne Randolph was called Nancy (17). Catherine Greene was called “Lady Greene” (18) and most often called Kitty by friends and family (24). While James Madison was called Jemmy by most who knew him (19). Even Benjamin Franklin Bache was called “Lightning Rod Junior” by his enemies (20). Sarah Franklin was often called Sally (21). Because of his views and support of his fellow Americans in the colonies. Thomas Pinckney was called “The Little Rebel” by those in England (23). In a letter dated January of 1755 when Esther used manners to refer to Sarah Prince as Miss Prince (25). Catherine Ray Greene was called Caty more often than not (26, 27). These are just a few of the references that I have come across in my readings and research. It has been interesting to find them. It has been just as interesting to wonder about how and why they were called such names. Some make complete sense while others leave you wondering… where do they get that from. Sometimes the way people get their nicknames can be so entertaining. I have been at some great events that were made so, by those in attendance sticking to period terms and greetings. It is something that takes time and even practice. My eldest daughter and I used to practice at home quite often when we passed each other. But period Language adds just as much to an event as period music does. So start out small, and build on it. But as I gather and review these findings, I feel that the frontier people we work so hard to emulate and relive, where just as prone to use nicknames and name calling as we are today. Maybe I should have said, we are just like them… seeing they did live first and coin the names before we did. Catch you on the Trail!
YMHS,
Colonel Dave McGee Great Lakes Governor
1.5 cups of Nora's Speical batter mix (see below)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup beer (any variety EXCEPT "light")
1 cup of vegetable oil
Lemon wedges
Combine 1.5 cups unsifted all-purpose flour, 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda,and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt . Mix Well!Place fillets on towels and pat dry. Roll fillets in batter mix. In a large bowl,combine the remaining batter mix with lemon juice and beer ( the mix will foam-don't be alarmed!)Stir until the mixture is the consistency of pancake batter.In a large cast skillet, heat oil. Dip rolled fillets into the batter and place a few at a time in the hot oil, Pan is hot when a few drops of water dance on the surface! Fry about three minutes on each side or until "Golden Brown". Serve immediately withsides of fried taters and coleslaw. You don't have to call me twice!!!
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