BELLAMY MANSION MUSEUM
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

English Pirates & Naval Commodores

2/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
     Though these two men never stood side by side and their voyages never caused them to cross paths, Blackbeard and Isaac Hull mark are unified in their position as two prominent figures in Wilmington's history and North Carolina's former Deputy State (Underwater) Archaeologist Mark Wilde-Ramsing's career. Our very own Cape Fear River and neighboring waters were frequented by these men and their vessels, beginning with Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge in the early eighteenth century, and later in the mid-nineteenth century by Isaac Hull's namesake, the USS Commodore Hull.  The journeys that these two ships and their crews took on the waters bordering Downtown Wilmington were significantly different in their geography, motivation, and on-board lifestyle. Through the remains of an eighteenth century pirate ship and a nineteenth naval vessel, we are offered a lens into two tremendously different tales; not only of two captains, but of their crewmen and the citizens of historical Wilmington.
Picture

      Queen Anne's Revenge, pictured to the left, is speculated to have been constructed in 1710. As a 200-ton frigate used firstly as a French merchant ship, then later as a privateer fleet in the Triangular Trade, she was appointed as Blackbeard's flagship upon her capture in 1717. In May 1718, having been Blackbeard's flagship for just under a year, she was run aground in Topsail Inlet.
     
​     After her discovery in 1996, Mark Wilde-Ramsing's archaeological research confirmed that the wreckage was in fact that of Edward Teach's flagship. The archaeological record shows that when QAR was run aground, the process was slow and allowed enough time for Blackbeard and his crew to safely evacuate and take their belongings (or, rather, Blackbeard and a few men to claim the entire loot and leave the majority of the crew with nothing). 
      While many of the men's more personal and valuable belongings were taken off the ship by the crew, the materials left on the ship and discovered by Mark Wilde-Ramsing provide insight to the lifestyle and every day practices of the men on the ship. Among the loaded cannons and general weaponry, a unique conglomeration of items were found that tell us about the beliefs, practices, and routines of not only the men on the ship, but of society. 

Picture
A urethral syringe recovered from the QAR; this syringe, in particular, contained mercury and is believed to have been used in the treatment of syphillis.
     One of the ​most significant discoveries was the collection of medical and surgical equipment left on the ship. What makes the discovery of these so poignant is that it reveals both information surrounding eighteenth century medicinal practices and shows that Edward Teach was conscious that the health of his crew was key. Prior to this discovery, little was known about how illness was recognized and/or treated on ships like the QAR. Aside from the revelations of the shocking treatments and medicines used (for example, mercury-infused mixtures in syringes, like the one pictured above), the equipment's French origins and first-hand accounts of crew members reveal that Blackbeard had captured French surgeons, formulating a crew dedicated strictly to maintaining the health of his men. This recovered equipment paints a picture of the surgeon's responsibilities, treatments and recipes, and the cognizance of Edward Teach in maintaining his ship and crew.
Picture
     Jumping into the mid-eighteenth century, the recovery of the USS Commodore Hull similarly provides a unique scope into history and lifestyle of life on the open waters. The USS Commodore Hull, originally the civilian ferryboat Nuestra Señora del Regla, was built in New York City, then later purchased by the Union Navy in 1862. She was re-outfitted as a gunboat, and was utilized in the North Atlantic blockade and the Seige of Plymouth. After being heavily damaged in the Siege, she was repaired and further utilized throughout the Civil War, only to be abandoned here in the Cape Fear River in Downtown Wilmington in late 1886. 

Picture
A letter aboard the USS Commodore Hull, posted on September 11, 1861 in Pendleton, SC.
     Akin to the discovery of Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, the artifacts recovered from the USS Commodore Hull offer a scope into the landscape of the eighteenth-century waters in which she voyaged. Including recovered materials that tell us about life of the members on the ship, letters like the one above speak to the journey of the ship itself. Letters like these help paint a picture of the logistics of the ship's journey through their postage and content. Mail like that of the above picture are significant indicators in identifying contraband on captured blockade runners; the CSA postage shows us ​a timeline of the journey from Charleston, SC to New York that the ship took.
     Despite the height of their journeys being taken hundreds of years ago, these ships aren't done yet; even in their wreckage, sites like that of Queen Anne's Revenge and USS Commodore Hull can tell us the tales of the waters they sailed, the crews that called them home, and the citizens that saw them from the riverbanks and coastlines. To hear more about the discovery of the wreckage and the archaeological treasures they have to offer, attend Dr. Mark Wilde-Ramsing's lecture tonight, March 5th, at 6:30 PM here at Bellamy Mansion. As usual, doors open thirty minutes before the lecture, at 6:00 PM, and are first come, first serve!
Picture
Written by UNCW Anthropology student and Bellamy Mansion Intern, Payton Schoenleber.

Read More
0 Comments

Frederick Douglass: The Journey that Made Both a Hero & a Villain

2/13/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Frederick Douglass in his early 30's (circa 1847-1852)
When we learn or hear about Frederick Douglass today, his name is often preceded or followed by words like 'hero' and 'inspiration.' Albeit true considering the success and power of his activism in a structure that was designed to marginalize him, in his day, Frederick Douglass' name wasn't always accompanied by such admiration. As a free and educated young black man, originally born into slavery (the child of a slave and her slave master), many citizens of the Confederacy thought of Douglass not as a hero, but a villain. 
Picture
Picture
An article from the Fayetteville Weekly Observer reporting on the death of Frederick Douglass, referring to him as the ultimate enemy of the South and whites.
     As a leading activist in the effort to end slavery, while Frederick Douglass was harrowed as a hero and treated (relatively) as an equal in the Union, the South, rather, viewed him as undeserving of not only the title of hero, but of recognition at the expense of Confederate soldiers. Being a former slave, they questioned and invalidated his qualification both during his life, as a leader in the abolition movement, and in his death, to be recognized before Confederate heroes, like Robert E. Lee and George Washington, mentioned in the excerpt from the Fayetteville Observer to the left.
     How can a man be so equally loved and hated? In developing an understanding for the divide that existed between the Union and Confederacy, in regard to ways of life and opinions on Frederick Douglass himself, we can start by looking into Douglass' journey from boyhood to manhood, uneducated child to young author, voiceless slave to social reformer and orator.
​
     Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born into slavery in Maryland around 1818. Young Frederick experienced a tumultuous childhood in slavery and was no stranger to separation: having been separated from his mother in his infancy, then from his maternal grandmother at the age of six, and again relocated to a plantation in Baltimore around the age of eight, he developed an independence and self-sufficiency that his Baltimore slavemaster's wife, Lucretia Auld, recognized and cultivated. Though forbidden, Lucretia began not only teaching Douglass how to read and write, but treated and tended to him more so as an equal than a slave.
PictureAn illustration of Lucretia Auld, slavemaster Thomas Auld's wife, teaching a young Frederick Douglass the alphabet.
 Despite abruptly ending their tutoring sessions at the command of Douglass' slavemaster, Thomas Auld, the independence that had originally drawn Lucretia to Douglass only grew; in secrecy, Douglass continued to educate himself in any way that he could. He furtively collected and studied any materials he could get his hands on.
  Douglass's passion for knowledge didn't stop after his youth; years later, Douglass began hosting private Sunday school classes for fellow slaves, marking the beginning of his philanthropic work. The hosting of these classes was pivotal in marking a transition from a self-propelled desire for knowledge, to his developing a passion to educate and liberate others. Douglass's private Sunday meetings went relatively unnoticed for a six-month period before they were found out by their slave-owners and Douglass was subsequently sent to Edward Covey, or rather, the "slave breaker."
     The irony behind Covey's title as the "slave breaker" can be found in the first sentence of Douglass's autobiography, stating: "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man."  Covey broke not the slave, but the slavehood, of Douglass. Five years after his relocation from the plantation in which he hosted his Sunday schools, at the age of 20, Douglass became a free man by a journey that took him less than 24 hours to complete. Resettling in an abolitionist hub in Massachusetts, Douglass attended and later led segregation protests, joined abolitionist organizations, became a licensed preacher, and cultivated his oratory skills that led him to become one of the greatest speakers of his, and arguably of all, time.

Picture
Douglass's anti-slavery speeches, where he cited his own trials and tribulations as a slave, were attended by many in Europe.
     Perhaps one of the most significant tenets of his dedication to ensuring equal rights was Douglass' commitment to intersectionality. Not only a campaign-leader for the  abolition of slavery, but for women's suffrage, Douglass's activism was especially remarkable for its inclusiveness. Douglass's awareness for issues outside of his own, despite having a story that would have made it so easy to concentrate on issues concerning those strictly affecting him, are part of what makes Douglass's activism so profound and, at the time, so influential.
     Douglass went on to travel abroad, write five autobiographies (and countless other important works), fight for emancipation and suffrage, deliver the Emancipation Memorial speech, serve as president and chairman of newspapers and governmental positions before dying of a heart attack at home at the age of 77. Through following his journey from slavery to freedom, we concurrently watch the journey of a young boys' hunger for and acquisition of knowledge, grow into the desire to share his wealth. Douglass' humble beginnings in contrast to the accomplishments he had accumulated by the time of his death in 1895 were what painted him to some, a seasoned hero, and to others, an unqualified villain.  
Picture
To hear more about the life and work of Frederick Douglass and celebrate his 202nd birthday, come join us at Bellamy Mansion tonight (Thursday, February 13th) for a free lecture given by Dr. Bill Lawson from 6:30pm-8:30pm. There will be limited seating, so doors open at 6:00pm!

Written by Bellamy Mansion Intern and UNCW Anthropology student, Payton Schoenleber.

Read More
1 Comment

A Very Victorian Wedding

2/10/2020

0 Comments

 
With wedding season just around the corner, brides and grooms are busy picking out their rings, dresses, food, and venue. We thought it would be fun to look back and take a closer look at Victorian America, and how some of these aspects that brides and grooms are looking at now could parallel with back then. Though only one of the Bellamy daughters ended up married, several sons tied the knot, and it is very likely that the family attended many weddings given their high wealth and status in Wilmington.

The Courtship
Before a wedding could take place, a courtship began. Between the months of April and July, new couples would start off their courtship under the watchful eye of a chaperone,  usually a female family member. The couple would meet together, but only speak and perhaps share a walk on a sunny day. When the courtship was successful, an engagement followed which lasted between 6 months and 2 years. 
This stark contrast to modern dating was meant strictly as a predecessor to an impending marriage that would eventually happen. After all of the formalities were completed, wedding planning could commence! 

​The Ring 
The phrase “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” applied in the Victorian Era, and maybe even more so than today. In addition to wearing jewelry, mostly which was a gift from her now husband, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for the Victorian bride to wear a dazzling tiara depending on the family’s financial status. Gorgeous gemstones also became more and more popular in this era. Rings in gold and silver with intricate bands containing elaborate designs sometimes featuring animals like snakes were popular among those who could afford them. Similar to today in western culture, the more jewelry one owned, and  the better the quality, the higher one's social status. 
The Dress
Brides today focus on finding that perfect dress to wear to their wedding. Whether it be sleeveless, sequined, have lace or have an open back, the dress is often the main showcase of the wedding. Today, that dress will typically come in a shade of white or ivory. This fact was the same for our Victorian Era brides. It wasn’t until after Queen Victoria got married in 1840 that the idea of having the color white on your wedding dress became extremely popular. Much like today, it is popular to style yourself after the royals. For example, look how Meghan Markle's wedding dress style flew off the racks!
The bride pictured below on the left is wearing a white gown, however it is still laced with red, flowery vines. Color combinations such as white with a pop of red flowers or lace were popular in the Victorian Era, and could even be seen as a prediction on what was to come for the wedding dresses we see today. Much like the bride in the photo below, it is a trend to add floral patterns or lace to the wedding dress today. 
Picture
Victorian bride wearing an ivory dress with pops of red floral and lace
Picture
Queen Victoria wearing the white dress that started the trend still used today. Dress also covered in floral pattern with lace sleeves
The Food 
For many couples today (and their guests), food and catering are one of the most important parts of the big day. This was no different in Victorian Era America. In those days, wedding receptions were known as “wedding breakfasts” regardless of what time of day the wedding was held. Here, the food that was served also was a sign of social status. If a family had just come into their wealth (considered “New Money”), the food was more abundant and elaborate. However, if the family was more established in society, they did not need to go through the process of preparing large meals for their wedding guests. Their wealth was already known, so it was considered rude to show off with an abundance of food. However, the food that was served was always delicious and well prepared, such as pastries, tea, and other snack-like items. One element that was always elaborate and often times over the top was the wedding cake. Like the white wedding dress worn by Queen Victoria, the elaborate wedding cakes we have today can be attributed to her. Not only did her cake show wealth, but also a rebellion of traditional one tiered cakes common during this time, and also featured an elaborate cake topper. 
​
Picture
Queen Victoria's wedding cake (1840)
Picture

In her memoir Back With The Tide, Ellen Bellamy remembers the family celebrating the wedding of 2 cousins in the mansion. She describes this saying, “I can remember how beautiful everything was, especially the long table set in the dining room laden with everything conceivably good!" (Bellamy 39). She goes on to describe what was served saying, “Hot food and drink brought on from the kitchen across the hall. My father being such a strict temperance man, would have no cocktails (unheard of in those days but now an introduction to every feast) or any strong drink, not even wine—but plenty of coffee, tea, and chocolates (Bellamy 39). Since this celebration wasn’t the actual weddings of her cousins, it is hard to say what social rules the family followed during this party. However, considering that Ellen was only about eight at the time of these "wedding celebrations," the fact that she remembers anything at all suggests that it was an elaborate enough affair to stick in her memory for decades. 

The Utensils 
For those families who were proving their wealth and had an abundance of food to be served at the wedding breakfast, table utensils were absolutely vital. For those who were wealthier, utensil sets were often given as gifts. Regardless of what financial scenario a family was in, table utensils were very popular in the Victorian Era. For "New Money" families, these sets would be out in full force on wedding day. Beautiful, articulately designed silverware to be used for particular foods were common and collected. Silverware sets were sold for a high price, so collecting various different sets was a sign of wealth. Each piece was designed for a particular purpose. For example, a table may have many different fork-like objects however, only one fork was designed for strictly ice cream, while another fork would be only for pastries. The incorrect usage of any of these utensils was not only considered rude, but also an indicator to bad social standing. That being said, a wedding was a very important place to make sure you were all caught up on the current table manners.  
​
PictureExamples of various fork-like silverware options

The Etiquette
PictureVictorian etiquette book
In addition to the proper use of utensils, there were other social mores developing around celebrations and feasting in this era some of which remain germane today, and many others which we would consider archaic or even rude by today's standards. What was considered polite was always changing, so luckily for people back then, a trusty etiquette book would help keep you from embarrassing yourself at a wedding or other social events. These books would list out some of the rules as followed: In the Victorian Era,  it was extremely improper for guests to speak to any sort of servant at all, not even to share a compliment about the food. In addition to this rule, it was also improper for the bride and the groom to sit down while their guests were standing up.  It was also the Victorian Era that brought on the infamous rule of keeping one's elbows off the table. Elbows on the table was considered one of the worst possible manners a person could have.
Interestingly enough, today, it is considered extremely rude to completely ignore the paid help, yet at the same time the idea of elbows on the table has slightly relaxed around the country. Thankfully, you are unlikely to be more or less shunned from society and party going if you find yourself accidentally resting your elbows on the dinner table in most circumstances.



​Though it feels like so long ago, several traditions and customs of Victorian Era America have carried over into the wedding traditions that we know today. From the dress, to the rings, it is easy to see where our traditions came from. One main factor that still reigns as true in society today as it did in society back then is that money plays a critical role in how the wedding ceremony is shown.
 Written by UNCW English Student and Bellamy Intern, Hailey Morrison 

                                                                                                             

​                                                                                                                   Works Cited

Bellamy, Douglas Ellen. Back With The Tide, edited by Janet K Seapker, Bellamy Mansion Museum of  History and Design Arts, 2002.
Cordea, Otilia Diana.“The Victorian Household and Its Mistresses: Social Stereotypes and  Responsibilities.” Journal of Humanistic and Social Studies. 2011.
https://doaj.org/article/811e9714d6cc421b97c37115605c2d25
Stewart, Claire. "ALL IN GOOD TASTE: THE VICTORIAN WEDDING BREAKFAST." Phi Kappa   Phi Forum, vol. 97, no. 3, 2017, p. 20+. Gale General OneFile, https://link-gale- com.liblink.uncw.edu/apps/doc/A512184828/ITOF?u=wilm99594&sid=ITOF&xid=8fb6a8fe. Accessed 3 Feb. 2020. 
Turner, Noel. American Silver Flatware. South Brunswick,  A.S. Barnes, 1972. 
“Victorian Betrothal Rings, Victorian Era Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings.” , Victorian Era Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, victorian-era.org/victorian-betrothal-rings.html.
“Victorian Wedding Fashion – 27 Stunning Vintage Photos of Brides Before 1900.” TheMindCircle, 25 Dec. 2019, themindcircle.com/victorian-wedding-fashion/.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftrc-leiden.nl%2Ftrc-needles%2Findividual-textiles-and-textile-types%2Fsecular-ceremonies-and-rituals%2Fqueen-victorias-wedding-lace&psig=AOvVaw1acQvgw0TGlX9MgDuZ4LJg&ust=1581442118741000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCOiGlJbBx-cCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO 

https://daily.jstor.org/englands-obsession-with-queen-victorias-wedding-cake/ 

0 Comments

Christmas Cards of the Victorian Period: Beautiful to Peculiar

2/3/2020

0 Comments

 
 With the holiday season over, everyone has put away their Christmas decorations or still needs to put them away. Depending on how sentimental one is, people are also putting away Christmas cards from loved ones. Some may not think much about a Christmas card other than it is an easy way to give a Christmas greeting to people. However, the history of commercially produced Christmas cards is more intriguing than one would think. By the mid-1800s, Christmas cards started being developed as a quick and cheap way to send a greeting to the people you care about. For card publishers of the time, there was an effort to make the images on Christmas cards stand out. It is not known what kind of Christmas greetings the Bellamy’s sent to loved ones, but this was a tradition taking form during the first Christmas they spent in the mansion in 1861. 
Picture
R.H. Pease's Christmas Card (1850s)
In the United States, the commercial printing of Christmas cards began with R.H. Pease in Albany, New York in the 1850s. The subject of Pease’s cards were associated with what we would call modern Christmas traditions, such as Santa, reindeer, and other Christmas fare. By 1870, it was Louis Prang who had helped to popularize the Christmas card in the United States. Prang was a German native who immigrated to the United States in 1850. He first got work as a wood engraver for an art department, and Prang eventually formed a business with a partner doing lithographic and copper plate manufacturing. Prang become the sole owner of the business in 1860 and named it L. Prang and Company. With this company they would print items like business cards, mailing labels, and advertisements. Prang had made improvements to his business by introducing multi-colored lithographic printing and using zinc plates. Around this time Prang started to make a series of over-sized cards called “Prang’s Illuminated Christmas Cards.”
Prang’s business became incredibly successful. In 1875, Prang’s company began printing Christmas greetings on their cards--an idea of a business partner’s wife. Many of Prang’s first cards were quintessential of Victorian cards which were small and printed on one side. Along with that the art also reflected Victorian aesthetics. Cards included imagery of flowers, children, birds, or landscape scenes. Eventually Prang started to make Christmas cards with imagery that we associate moreso with Christmas today such as holly and mistletoe. Prang also increased the size of the cards and decorated both sides of the card. Prang saw that there was a potential to produce and market cards beyond Christmas themes. He used greeting cards as a way to introduce fine art into the homes of the masses on a small but affordable scale. This cheap cost was thanks to Congress standardizing mail delivery which made it more reliable, cheap, and faster to send mail. 

​With companies printing out a great deal of Christmas cards concentrated on the aesthetic and finer arts of the time, there were some Christmas cards that stuck out more than the others. Some cards had strange designs that range from dead robins, dancing frogs, and little girl heads on flowers. Not much is known as to why these cards were designed for Christmas. One explanation from Katie Brown of York Castle Museum is that many of the cards during this time period were meant to be conversation pieces. Victorians collected cards they had received and put them into scrapbooks. Another explanation for the peculiar iconography, is due to mail delivery being more affordable for people. When mailing of letters and cards became cheaper, the production of cards simultaneously became cheaper. This cheaper production leads to a wide variety of imagery for consumers. For Victorians there was more of an interest in having a multitude of images presented on their cards. They were not concerned necessarily with seeing typical Christmas images. Victorians were interested in animals, and during this time Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of Species and changed what people thought about animals.
Looking at the images above we can see that they were some whimsical and bizarre pieces. We see that Christmas cards came at both ends of the spectrum around this time. Either showcasing the fine arts or just being downright silly. The aesthetic cards of the Victorian period are more comparable to modern Christmas cards, but I do not think you would find cards today with dead birds on them. Who knows maybe Hallmark might try to bring back designs of dead birds and or daisyheads. 

By: Thomas Thompson, Bellamy Mansion Intern and UNCW History Major 

0 Comments
    Picture

    About Us

    The museum offers tours, features changing exhibits, and provides venue space for weddings and special events.

    503 Market Street
    Wilmington, NC 28401
    910.251.3700
    Tours:
    Tues - Sat 10am- 4pm
    Sunday 1pm- 4pm

    Categories

    All
    Events
    Mardi Gras
    News
    Restoration

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.