Special Exhibit: Liberty’s Daughters in Northeastern Connecticut: Women, Textiles, and the Nonimportation Movement in the Revolutionary Era. Sat., June 29 through Sun., Oct. 20, 2024. When in the 1760s and 1770s, American colonists decided to protest laws and taxes enacted in Parliament — indeed, to protest the entire notion of Parliamentary supremacy — they put teeth in their protests by boycotting British manufactured goods. The male leaders of this Nonimportation Movement quickly realized that, in order for it to succeed, it needed the energetic support of American women, for it was women who knew how to spin thread and yarn and weave it into cloth. This exhibit examine the contributions of patriot women — called the Daughters of Liberty at the time — to the success of the Nonimportation Movement. It also explores how women’s vital role in the Movement may have — or may not have — transformed women’s political and economic roles in the New Republic following the Revolution, interweaving conclusions reached by mainstream historians with local examples. The exhibit will be staged in the Mill Museum’s main exhibit room, the Bev York Room. There will be demonstrations of how to use preindustrial textile technology and other’s women’s crafts. And on Saturday, August 17, the Museum and friends will reenact a Revolutionary Era spinning bee on Windham Green. The exhibit is part of the national observation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

Special Exhibit: Liberty’s Daughters in Northeastern Connecticut: Women, Textiles, and the Nonimportation Movement in the Revolutionary Era. Sat., June 29 through Sun., Oct. 20, 2024. When in the 1760s and 1770s, American colonists decided to protest laws and taxes enacted in Parliament — indeed, to protest the entire notion of Parliamentary supremacy — they put teeth in their protests by boycotting British manufactured goods. The male leaders of this Nonimportation Movement quickly realized that, in order for it to succeed, it needed the energetic support of American women, for it was women who knew how to spin thread and yarn and weave it into cloth. This exhibit examine the contributions of patriot women — called the Daughters of Liberty at the time — to the success of the Nonimportation Movement. It also explores how women’s vital role in the Movement may have — or may not have — transformed women’s political and economic roles in the New Republic following the Revolution, interweaving conclusions reached by mainstream historians with local examples. The exhibit will be staged in the Mill Museum’s main exhibit room, the Bev York Room. There will be demonstrations of how to use preindustrial textile technology and other’s women’s crafts. And on Saturday, August 17, the Museum and friends will reenact a Revolutionary Era spinning bee on Windham Green. The exhibit is part of the national observation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

I will be marching in the parade with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia and spinning on a spindle.

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.  I will be demonstrating while riding in the back of the cannon trailer during the Gaspee Days Parade.

I will be marching in the parade with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia and spinning on a spindle.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on spindles and a spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on both spindles and spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I always have a variety of spinning tools, as well as different types of fiber available for viewing (and touching, of course!!).

Leffingwell House Museum invites you to Midsummer Living History Day on Saturday, August 13, 11-3pm. The Lebanon Militia will be on site with their skilled crafters, as will Big Bear Trading Co. who can fulfill all your colonial needs! In addition we will have a special exhibit, from our Archives, of two personal Whaling Journals, actual accounts written on Whaling voyages. In addition, visitors can talk with Mary Brewster, wife of the captain of Whaling ship Tiger, who went a-whaling with her husband in 1845. Learn about life aboard the ship which was written in the journal she kept during the voyage. See another journal from the same voyage, which was written by a young seaman from Norwich!! Men from CT went down to the sea, as did some courageous women!

I will be demonstrating spinning, on spindles and on a spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia at the Orange History Day.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on spindles and a spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

Lebanon Town Militia Encampment Day

On the grounds of the Beaumont House
Event to include some militia and settlers.

Demonstrations include:

leather working, spinning and other colonial crafts and stories

As a special treat, colonial chocolate, hot chocolate and tea will be sold.

Free and open to the public

I will be demonstrating spinning, on spindles and a spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.  I will be demonstrating while riding in the back of the cannon trailer during the Gaspee Days Parade.

Lebanon, CT

We will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia while riding in the Cannon Trailer.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on both spindles and spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I always have a variety of spinning tools, as well as different types of fiber available for viewing (and touching, of course!!).

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia while riding in the back of the cannon trailer. 

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.  I will be demonstrating while riding in the back of the cannon trailer during the Gaspee Days Parade.

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

 Sunday, June 2, 2019

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Militia Day

Welles- Shipman-Ward House

972 Main Street South Glastonbury

It is the spring of 1779 and Danbury has already been burned. A series of raids have been planned along the Connecticut coast by the English forces. British spy John Andre has put ashore on the banks of the Connecticut River to explore the shipyards of Middletown and Glastonbury for future raids. Witness the excitement when this famous spymaster and his trusted steed Huckleberry encounters the Lebanon Militia defending the shipworks in town!

The militia will be busy at work in the encampment from 1:00 to 4:00 with the main skirmish scheduled to take place at 2:00

Walk through Ye Olde Lebanon Militia’s encampment to speak with soldiers and see them drilling and firing their artillery. Visit the doctor who will discuss medical tools and techniques used on the battlefield. The wives of the militia will be present, working on their spinning and weaving with their own stories to tell about camp life.

Admission: $5.00 per person. Children under 10 are free.

Lebanon, CT

We will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia while riding in the Cannon Trailer.

We will also be demonstrating after the parade, so please stop by for a visit!!

I will be demonstrating spinning, on both spindles and spinning wheel, with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I always have a variety of spinning tools, as well as different types of fiber available for viewing (and touching, of course!!).

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on both spindles and spinning wheel. 

I always have a variety of spinning tools, as well as different types of fiber available for viewing (and touching, of course!!).

I will be marching in the parade with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia and spinning on a spindle.

I will be demonstrating spinning, on both spindles and spinning wheel. 

I always have a variety of spinning tools, as well as different types of fiber available for viewing (and touching, of course!!).

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

Hale at the Homestead: Revolutionary War Encampment

Suggested donation of $5.

Saturday, July 28, 2018
11:00am-4:00pm

Visitors will learn about the daily life of soldiers at this Revolutionary War military encampment. Witness tactical demonstrations, craft demonstrations, children’s activities, meals cooked over a camp fire & more. Hosted by the Nathan Hale Ancient Fife & Drum Corps.

I will be demonstrating spinning with the Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia.

Sundays in the Yard

The Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust will host an Open House and "Historic Craft Demonstration" on July 22 from 1-3 pm at the Franklin Johnson Mansion, 153 South Main Street, Wallingford. 

The Lebanon Militia (see www.lebanonmilitia.com) will be featured, portraying historic 18th century characters and demonstrating historic skills and crafts. These include a spinner, a basket weaver, a weaver with a loom, and a leather worker. Two "Men at Arms" will demonstrate black powder muskets, rifles and pistols. A Militia member will also portray a military surgeon with replicas of medical equipment and describe medical procedures of that era. We are grateful that they are putting on this wonderful demonstration at our museum.

This event is presented by the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust and will be held rain or shine. There will be docent tours of the Mansion too. It is open to the public and free, although donations are greatly appreciated. There is parking at the Mansion and more parking behind the Town Hall.