Plimoth Patuxet ~ Massachusetts Vacation: PART SIX---I've Come To Look For America

~~~~~(I've)  Come to Look For America ~~~~~

As we drove along I-90 from the Great Midwest to New England,  this Simon & Garfunkel song played in my head  almost the entire trip,  even while listening to SiriusXM  Beatle Channel,  60s Gold,  50s Gold,  40s Junction,  Classic Vinyl,  Willie's Road House,  and Underground Garage.

Cuz that's exactly what we were doing - looking for America.

And enjoying every mile of this great country!

("Patty",  I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh

"Michigan seems like a dream to me now,

It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw

I've gone to look for America")

~I changed  'Kathy's'  name to  'Patty'~

This is the last of my May Massachusetts vacation photo blogs.  Due to unforseen circumstances,  we had to cut our vacation a couple days short,  yet...

Oh,  and be prepared - there are over a hundred photos here.  Almost like being there!

 

One of the interesting things I noticed when we were in Plymouth,  Massachusetts is how familiar it all seemed.  No,  not deja vu familiar...you see,  most of my earlier life was spent on the lake - Lake Huron - where we had a family cottage,  and I spent an awful lot of time in the lakeside community of Lexington,  Michigan.  And the stores in Plymouth,  Massachusetts were so very similar to those in Lexington,  Michigan - same type of souvenirs and look & feel.  The whole town of Plymouth felt like lakeside towns back in Michigan.

But this wasn't Lake Huron that we saw...it was the Atlantic Ocean!

Yes---we made it!  We were at Plimoth Patuxet!!
And it was just as wonderful as I had hoped!

0~~~0

We took our Massachusetts vacation about six months ago from the time of this writing  (see links at the bottom of this post),  but,  due to the subject matter of this week's posting - our visit to the Plimoth Patuxet  (open air)  Museum in Plymouth,  Massachusetts - I purposely saved it until now...for it is Thanksgiving Day 2025 as I post this,  the holiday that comes directly from the Pilgrims and Indians harvest celebration of 1621.  What I very much enjoyed was the idea that we were there at Plimoth Patuxet in May - in the springtime of the year - and not during harvest time,  which I've read about countless times and have enjoyed numerous quality pictures and movies  (click HERE  and HERE).  In that way,  by visiting in May we were able to see the Pilgrims in a bit of a different light.

And now,  so will you!

When I began to plan for this vacation,  Patty left it up to me what spots I wanted to hit.  She expected that it was going to center on history,  and knew it was going to be a spectacular trip---plus she was just glad we were going on vacation!

But I've been asked by several people:

"Why did you choose to go to Plimoth Patuxet over Old Sturbridge Village?"

"Well,"  I replied,  "I can see the 19th century most anywhere I go,  especially in Michigan.  But to see the 17th century come alive only happens in one place here in the United States,  and that's in Plymouth,  Massachusetts!"

Maybe one day I'll make it to Old Sturbridge Village,  but before that I would again like to visit with the Pilgrims at least once more!

And now you know the reason behind the name!
These rather large banners were hanging in a hall in the visitor center,  so I grabbed a few photos.

We very much enjoyed traveling to the past as we moved through a path in the woods.
As it is supposed to do,  it set the mood.

Self-explanatory

The gathering circle of stones esxplained above

From here,  we continued our journey through the woods...

As we moved on,  we then came to the native Patuxet Village,  which,  of course,  was our first stop,  and there we went inside a wetu  (native language for house).  

The Wampanoag wetu
From what I understand,  because it has multiple fire pits inside,  it is called a Nush wetu

While inside we sat on the soft fur-lined benches and learned about the home itself and of 17th century native family life of the Wampanoag communities. 

This is a traditional Wampanoag dwelling,  also sometimes referred to as a  "longhouse"  by the English.  

"At Plimoth Patuxet,  the Wampanoag Homesite features a wetu with fire pits inside for warmth and cooking.  Specifically,  the nush wetu is a longhouse with three fire pits,  used by extended families.  These traditional homes are built with a frame of cedar saplings and covered with bark or cattail reeds.  The fire pits are used for heating and cooking,  with smoke escaping through a hole in the roof."

 

The multiple fire pits inside the Nush wetu provided heat for the dwelling,  making it a comfortable space for multiple families to live in together during the cold New England winters. 

These structures were typically used during the winter months for communal living and were designed to be larger and more insulated than the smaller,  reed-covered wetus used in the warmer seasons.  

Here is the opposite end.

After we enjoyed and learned about the daily lives of the natives,  we went out to watch others work on making a mishoon, using fire as a tool to shape the vessel.

What's a mishoon? 

"Mishoon"  refers to a dugout canoe historically used by the Wampanoag people,  particularly at Patuxet.  

These boats,  crafted from single tree trunks,  were vital for transportation,  fishing,  and trade on the waterways.  The Patuxet were a Wampanoag band known for their skilled craftsmanship in creating these mishoonash. 

From what I understand,  "Mishoon"  is the more commonly used term in general conversation,  while  "mishoonash"  is a more specific,  original language name for the vessel. 

Over where they were cooking,  we learned about the Wampanoag seasonal diet.  We caught them on a good day and were able to watch them cook and ask questions.  From what we were told,  cooking there doesn't happen everyday.  

The Wampanoag,  including those from Patuxet,  cooked a variety of foods using locally sourced ingredients and traditional methods.  They were skilled in cultivating crops like corn,  beans,  and squash,  and also relied on hunting,  fishing,  and gathering wild plants.  

Their cooking techniques included roasting over open fires, 
boiling in earthenware pots,  and using stone mortars and pestles for grinding. 

According to what I've read,  only those who are actually of native blood
wear the Indian clothing at Patuxet Museum.

Roasting Rabbitt

~~17th Century English Village~~

"The Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower seeking religious freedom,  but their first year was marked by disease,  hardship,  and a high death rate,  with only 52 of the original 102 surviving the first winter.  The history is now interpreted by the museum,  formerly Plimoth Plantation,  which has a Wampanoag homesite and the English village to tell both the colonists'  and the Indigenous peoples'  stories."
(From the Plimoth Patuxet web site)

A souvenir of the Mayflower I purchased from the Plimoth Patuxet Museum store.
The detail is pretty awesome.  Methinks this will probably remain a part of our Thanksgiving decor'.  The only thing missing are the two flags that flew from the Mayflower masts.  More on the flags coming up toward the bottom of this post  (they will also be a part of our Thanksgiving decor' as well).

One we stopped at each stop in the Wampanoag Village,  we were pointed in the direction of the English Village.  I have to tell you,  I was simply shaking with excitement---this was a dream come true for me!

Now,  here are a couple more banner pictures that I took for a little more explanation:

As you will see,  I had this same view!

Interesting information~

Most of the following information comes directly from the Pictorial Guide for Plimoth Plantation.

Now to the Village itself:

Welcome to New Plimoth~

I went directly to the Village entrance.  Though there were many,  many school kids there,  they were polite and not bothersome at all. 
When we reached the village entryway - right here - I just stood there for a moment.  Like the Freedom Trail in Boston and Battle Road in Lexington & Concord,  I was truly so very excited---I was really here!!
Just...unbelievable~~

And I took this photo looking at the 17th century English  (Pilgrim)  village from just inside the doorway of the Meetinghouse.

My wife and I,  like millions of others,  had our photo taken at this most well-known spot of the Village.

Here is the photo of Patty and I about to visit the English Village at Plimoth Plantation.  In this photo you can see,  behind us,  the replicated village of where the pilgrims first settled,  along with the Atlantic Ocean there in the distance.  The Pilgrims began building their village after landing in Plymouth Harbor in what is now Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  It was on Christmas Day in 1620 that they started construction on the common house,  and soon after began building individual houses for each family.  The Pilgrims named their village New Plymouth in late December 1620,  after their final port of call in England. 
Before this I had only seen the Pilgrim Plimoth English Village in books and on line.
It was also our first time ever seeing the Atlantic Ocean,  and so there it was as well.
But wait...Cape Cod - - - 

Upon a closer look,  we could see a light house out there...can you see it?
On that little patch of jutting land to the upper left.

My son,  Miles,  loves light houses,  so I put on my zoom lens.
Oh,  it's nowhere near professional quality---yet,  I still captured it~~
I have it circled.

Plymouth Light,  also known as Gurnet Light,  is a historic lighthouse located on Gurnet Point at the entrance to Plymouth Bay in the town of Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  The original lighthouse was built in 1768,  burned down and rebuilt in 1801,  when the single light became a pair,  and rebuilt again in 1842,  again as a pair.  The light is the oldest wooden lighthouse in the United States. 

However----did you know that Michigan has more light houses than any other state in the union?
Yep---true dat!  I mentioned this fact to one of the people working at the motel we were staying at,  but he didn't believe me.  I told him to look it up.  Once he did he said,  "Well I'll be!"

From the Plimoth-Patuxet web site:

"Welcome to the 17th Century!  Plymouth Colony comes to life in our recreation of early Plymouth,  complete with timber-framed houses furnished with reproductions of the types of objects that the Pilgrims*  owned,  aromatic kitchen gardens,  and heritage breeds livestock.  When you encounter someone wearing historical clothing,  they are playing the role of an actual inhabitant of Plymouth Colony.  They will talk about historical events and lifeways as if they are happening in the present,  and will express their hopes,  fears,  and viewpoints."

1st person at its best!!

" *Although not commonly used until the 19th century,  for the sake of convenience,  we often use the popular term Pilgrim when talking about the Plymouth Colonists."

Since today's post is a sort of a souvenir remembrance for us,  you may see the same photos from slightly different angles and perspectives.

Ready to march into the Village and meet a few Pilgrims?

I was asked how I snapped such a photo without having modern people in the back ground.

My answer?
You go on a Wednesday in May.  Then go have lunch and return in the afternoon.

So,  upon our first time entering the English Village we made our first stop the home of Myles Standish and his wife,  Barbara.  Though Mr.  Standish was not there,  Mistress Standish was.

I commented that we named our son,  who was with us,  after her husband.  She had a questioning look upon her face and asked how old he was.  I mentioned he was 29,  and you could almost see the question mark above her head  (lol),  and said that her husband would have been only four or five years of age when our Miles was born - why would we name our son after such a young lad?
Wow---I had no response---by remaining in 1st person,  she got me---and I loved every second of the interplay! 

I wish I could do 1st person as well as these folk.

The Home of Myles Standish

Myles Standish was well respected within the Plymouth Colony,  and held a number of  positions of authority.  He made several trips to England to bring trading goods back and to negotiate with the Merchant Adventurers who had financially  sponsored the joint-stock company that funded the Pilgrims'  voyage.  

Myles Standish's first wife,  Rose,  came with him on the Mayflower,  and died the first winter.  His second wife,  Barbara,  arrived on the ship Anne in 1623,  and they were apparently married before the year was out.  Nothing is known about either of his wives.

Standish lived out his later years in Duxbury,  a town of which he was one of the founders,  dying in 1656  "after his suffering of much dolorous pain,"  apparently from  kidney stones.

Wait--wait--wait---later this night,  after a fulfilling day here at the Village and shortly after returning to our motel later that afternoon,  my own wife ended up in the hospital with---you got it---a kidney stone!
Whew!
Thank God for modern medicine!

The Standish House~
Do you see the black armor-like object in the corner there?
It’s a chest protector and a neck collar;  most of the men on the Mayflower went through military training with Miles Standish,  and they received old armor for the New World that was almost obsolete in England.  

Being almost obsolete mattered little to those living in the new world,  due to advanced musketry warfare in England.  But since they were no longer in England,  the old-style armor helped with protection from bow and arrow and spear.

The Standish House~

I was snapping pictures of everything.  I just couldn't stop taking pictures.  I knew it could possibly be my one and only visit so I was clicking here,  there,  and everywhere.  My only regret is that I did not ask more questions about the houses and the objects inside.  But it was my first time and I was so excited to be there.

As a lantern collector,  I have one similar to the one hanging here,  including the cow horn translucent.  The lantern is the reason for this picture.

Whups!
Mistress Standish!

I very much enjoyed listening to the presenters speak  "Pilgrim."   There's a certain charm that helps to make it all come to life.

The Standish House~
Since little is known about the actual interiors of the original houses,  it takes archeological evidence and historians who study the period with great intent and detail to put together as close of an idea as their knowledge and research will allow,  giving visitors a strong and somewhat accurate depiction of what such a house here may have looked like in the 1620s.
The chair here is very similar to an original I saw in Pilgrim Hall Museum.
Man!  I just love  early American history!

The Standish House~
I've read that there were no fireplace mantels until the early 19th century.
Hmmm...clIck HERE

Bedding being aired out and cleaned.

Beating bedding with a stick to clean it was common in the 17th century as part of the process for airing and removing dust,  bugs,  and dirt.  This method was used on both dry bedding for airing and on wet items after washing.  Tools for beating bedding were called  "beetles,"  "bats,"  or  "sticks". 

I very much enjoy the idea that the presenters here show the daily life,  not unlike many presenters at Greenfield Village,  but here at Plimoth Patuxet English Village,  not only do they walk the walk,  but they literally talk the talk.

But to do 1st person at a place such as Greenfield Village would be most difficult,  for while Plimoth Village in Massachusetts shows the 1620s,  Greenfield Village encompasses 300 years of history,  dating from roughly 1620 through the 20th century.

I wish I could remember what she was speaking of here. 

(Taken from Google A.I.):

"Pilgrim houses were simple,  often one-room timber-framed structures,  a large chimney,  and a wattle-and-daub or thatched roof,  reflecting the Pilgrims'  focus on building quickly with available materials."

Barbara and Myles Standish were married in New Plimoth in 1623.

Though the Standish roof looks to be thatched  (meaning made from dry vegetation like straw,  reeds,  and leaves),  wattle and daub is a roofing method that uses woven wooden sticks as a base,  which is then covered with a plaster-like mixture made of clay,  sand,  and other natural materials.  This was historically used in timber-framed buildings,  providing insulation,  creating walls,  and even for building fences.  

I plan to have a wheel barrow made similar to this.  From the 1620s through the 1770s,  wheel barrows changed little,  so it is something that would still work well in the later colonial period I usually represent.

The front of the Standish House

The rear of the Standish House.

And we have a bit of the kitchen garden here.
It's mid-May---planting season.

The Standish House~
After having our lunch,  we went back to the Village and I caught Mistress Standish making up the bed.  I realize there's nothing special in that activity,  but I usually find menial tasks far more interesting when shown being done centuries ago.

The Standish House~
Putting the bedding back on the bed.

The Standish House~
Mistress Standish is preparing the long pillow called a bolster for she and her husband,  which were fairly common during this period.

The Standish House~
The breast plate in the corner.

The opposite corner from the previous picture in the Standish House~

The Standish House~
A closer look at the items in the above picture's corner.
In Part 5 of my postings on our Massachusetts visit,  where we visited Pilgrim Hall Museum  (click HERE),  there is an original cabinet that once belonged to William White that somewhat reminds me of this one.
Obviously they are not using originals from the 17th century in these houses,  but this is a wonderful replication.

The Standish House~
And now looking back at the other corner again,  but only from a wider perspective.

The Standish House~
Notice the two-handled cup on the right.
Two handles?
I was told for sharing.

The Standish House~
Cast iron cookware.

The Standish House~
I took this picture solely because I liked the view.

Wiltshire Horned sheep shed their wool naturally,  as you can see blotches on the ground here.  These sheep are also called  "self-shedding"  or  "easy-care"  sheep because of this.  They grow a thick,  coarse coat of wool for the winter that sheds naturally in the spring as warmer weather arrives,  leaving them with a short,  hair-like coat for the summer.  

 I took the sheep shots in the Standish yard.

Wiltshire Horned sheep are one of the historic breeds of livestock raised at the Plimoth Patuxet English Village.  The museum uses these rare breeds to represent the types of animals that were found in the Plymouth Colony in the 17th century. 

The sheep living at Firestone Farm at Greenfield Village are also heirloom sheep, 
except they are from the 19th century.
I very much enjoy the extremes such places will go for authenticity.

Looking down the road from the Standish House we see the home of Francis Cooke there on the right.

The home of Francis Cooke.

Francis Cooke was a woolcomber.

In the 17th century,  a woolcomber was a skilled laborer who prepared wool for spinning by combing its fibers to straighten them and remove short "noils"  (noils are what is left over from combing of wool).  Combing wool was a crucial step for creating high-quality worsted yarn used for items like stockings,  hats,  and gloves,  and it often involved using heated,  fine-toothed steel combs,  sometimes with one fixed to a post.  The occupation was typically part of a domestic or cottage industry,  where a woolcomber might supply enough combed wool for about ten spinners and six weavers,  and the industry was a significant part of the economy,  with specialized towns focusing on wool production. 

Unfortunately,  Master Cooke was not in this day.

He arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 with his son John and was an active member of the community,  serving on juries and committees to lay out highways. 

Initially,  I was wondering why these homes had fireplace mantels,  even though mantels for fireplaces were not a thing - really not even invented until the early 19th century - around 200 years after the 1620s.  So I did a look up and learned that what we have here were functional mantels rather than decorative ones,  used for catching smoke,  protecting the wall above the hearth from heat damage,  and providing a surface for drying clothes or cooking food.

  

This looks to me to be a typical crude,  homemade broom of the period and place,  

made from the available natural materials like tree branches---looks almost like 

cedar branches.  Some were made using twigs,  straw,  hay,  or corn husks,  

tied onto a stick or handle. 

  

The versatility in baskets cannot be over-stated.  They would have been used to carry produce,  grains,  and eggs,  as well as storing food,  tools,  and clothing.  They were essential for transporting goods,  including those for construction and trade.  I mean,  if Mr.  Cook was a woolcomber by trade,  then these would have been essential in carrying the wool he carded  (or combed)  to its owner. 
In these baskets I see kindling in one and logs with no bark in the other.

No,  that's not a popcorn popper,  but,  rather,  a bedwarmer.
A bedwarmer was common in houses during the 18th century and earlier in northern Europe and the northern colonies.

It consisted of a metal container,  usually fitted with a handle,  "filled with hot coals and placed under the covers of a bed,  to warm it up and/or dry it out before use."  (from THIS page)

Pilgrim beds at Plimoth English Village were often four-poster beds that
featured heavy curtains for warmth,  privacy,  and decoration. 

As for the beds being smaller,  I finally found a very sound answer in an article by Tess Rosch in an issue of Early American Life magazine:

Rosch pointed out research done on antique bedding owned by Colonial Williamsburg:

"Since there were no standardized beds until the Industrial Revolution,  that should prove revealing.  No bed was shorter than 6'3"  and many were 6'8"  long,  the same length as today's  'king'!"

But why do the beds look so short?

"Optical illusion!"  writes Rosch.

With all of the posts,  testers,  drapery,  canopies,  etc.,  that surrounded the bed vertically,  it made them look smaller horizontally.

And with that being said,  let's dispel the myth that  "people were shorter back then."

No they weren't.

Well,  maybe slightly...like about an inch or so.  

But the myth that the average height of a colonist was  5'4"  or whatever 

is just that - a myth.

"But the ceilings were so low and the beds were so small!"

The ceilings  (and doorways)  were lower to retain the heat from fireplaces 

in the cold months - this they have proven. 

Okay,  now,  back to the Plimoth Village:

Chopping wood was a constant chore,  and it would have been done the year  'round,  for cooking,  cleaning,  warmth on a cool spring,  summer,  or autumn night,  and especially on a cold New England winter's night.

This woman - I did not catch her name - explained to us about
ordering candles from England,

While we were there,  school buses brought in loads of kids.  "Ugghh!!"  I thought.  "Our one and only time here and we have to share it with school kids!"  But it wasn't so bad.  The children were well-behaved and they asked some good questions,  such as,  "Do you make your own candles?"  The woman responded that they do not,  for they do not have the supplies to make candles,  thus they order what they need and await the arrival of the merchant ship with their ordered supplies.  However,  it's unlikely they could rely solely on imports for a daily necessity like lighting.

There are also several sources that detail the process of Pilgrims making their own candles from animal fat  (tallow).  This involved spinning cotton or other fibers for wicks and repeatedly dipping them in melted tallow.  

Let's not forget the grease lamps.   "Grease,"  in this case,  being tallow.

But then,  there's a source that noted that in the early days,  New England lacked enough livestock to provide sufficient tallow,  forcing settlers to find other sources like hunting.  This implies they were attempting to make candles from whatever resources they could find.  And then as the colony developed,  the Pilgrims strived for self-sufficiency,  eventually growing their own flax and hemp to produce materials like wicks. 

Now,  there's a letter from Governor Winthrop in Massachusetts specifically requesting his wife to bring candles from England,  indicating that at least early on,  importing them was an option or even a necessity.

Again,  as with so many historical  "facts,"  oftentimes there's multiple answers.

You may see me write  "I think"  or  "I believe"  or  "This may be"  in some of the writing beneath the photos,  meaning I have,  to some extent,  a degree of uncertainty where they are used.  As I have always tried to do here in Passion for the Past is give truth and factual information,  unless I do not know for certain,  and work on researched educated guesses.  But only when those phrases are used.  I will not write anything out as fact unless I know it to be so.

I think this is the Samuel Fuller House.
Fuller was involved in the church's decision to move to Northern Virginia per agreement with the Virginia Company.  He and congregation members Edward Winslow,  William Bradford,  and Isaac Allerton sent a letter on June 10, 1620, to their agents in England  (John Carver and Robert Cushman)  who were organizing the Mayflower voyage. 

Sam Fuller boarded the Mayflower with only his servant,  William Butten,  leaving his wife Bridget and his young daughter Bridget behind in Leiden,  waiting until the colony conditions would better suit families.

Another shot of what may be the Samuel Fuller House
Fuller received two acres of land in 1623 as part of the allocation of private plots.
Obviously they cannot have one house on two acres of land in the historical museum.  

In looking at my map,  I'm pretty sure this is the Stephen Hopkins House
Hopkins was a tanner and merchant.

Speaking of the Stephen Hopkins House,  watch this video link and you shall meet Mistress Hopkins and even take a tour of the house.
Plus,  I very much enjoyed listening to the Pilgrim talk:

"Scholars affirm that Stephen Hopkins was the only Mayflower passenger who had previously been to the New World."   Hopkins worked and lived from 1610 to 1614 in Jamestown.

The first formal meeting with the natives was held at Hopkins's house,  and he was called upon to participate in early Pilgrim visits with the natives'  leader Massasoit.  Hopkins's home was used to house Samoset and Squanto.

The Plimoth Patuxet Museums uses Arapawa goats to represent the types of goats that were likely present in the 1600s,  as they are believed to be descendants of the extinct Old English Milch goat.

Hopkins was a member of the early Mayflower exploratory parties while the ship was anchored in the Cape Cod area.  He was well versed in the hunting techniques and general lifestyle of the Native Americans from his years in Jamestown,  which was later found to be quite useful to the Pilgrim leadership.

We are hoping to head back to Plimoth sometime in the not too distant future,  and I will then take a book of notes to confirm which houses belonged to whom.

These houses all look alike to me - at my next visit I will take more notes - but I believe
this is the storehouse,  of which the inside is closed to the public.  I remember asking a worker if this was a cooper's house,  due to all of the barrels and staves,  but was told it was the storehouse.

I am almost positive this is the home of Edward and Suzanna Winslow

The Winslow garden I believe

Plimoth Plantation has recreated what pilgrim gardens would have looked like.
Pilgrim and colonial kitchen gardens were narrow,  raised beds,  designed for easy tending.

 

It was interesting to hear her informative 17th century kitchen garden information. 

For the farmer's wife,  spring was her time to plan and prepare to plant the all-important food she will need on a daily basis right outside her door...  

Though there would be vegetables,  herb seeds were among the first things to go into the ground.  Some herbs were even used for pesticides to deter flies,  fleas,  and moths.  And dill,  fennel,  rosemary,  tansey,  thyme,  sorrel,  and basil were considered to be essential to any colonial garden.

Alongside the herbs,  this is what many colonials planted in their kitchen gardens
in April or May in the northern colonies,  as well as in the upper middle colonies, 
and even in the settlements on the frontier Great Lakes region: 
onions,  potatoes,  peas,  skirret,  lettuce,  leeks,  cabbage,  seasoning,  and asparagus.

Parsley,  skirret,  and sorrel were planted for use in salads  ("sallets")  as well as seasonings for meats that had been heavily salted for preservation.

Seeds for planting were either brought or bought from Europe or traded with Native Americans.  The natives thankfully guided their European bretheren and sisters in the North American growing process

The Wampanoag shared methods like fertilizing the soil with herring  (fish)  and planting corn,  beans,  and squash together in a mutually supportive system known as the  "three sisters".

We've planted from seed in our own kitchen garden at the historic cabin where we practice our living history research at,  and oftentimes the plants just tend to not grow.  Most of what we plant,  however,  are successful.

Kitchen gardens continue on to this day.  Now known simply as a garden,  gardening in general seems to be at a re-birth.  It seems more and more people are
wanting less chemically-grown and sprayed vegetables and more naturally grown. 
That's how you beat companies like Monsanto!

Again---not sure who this house belonged to...

But it certainly had a wonderful collection of 17th century items  (replicated,  of course).

The eye is drawn to this~~~
Looks like a painting.

Come a little bit closer...
As you will see toward the bottom of this post,  my friend Brian has quite an amazing Pilgrim/17th century items.

And this is why we chose to visit Plimoth Patuxet over Old Sturbridge Village
 - to see early America that one cannot see elsewhere.
Amazingly wonderful!

And a slight move to the left.
I do not know who has claimed this house,  but I do very much like
seeing the furnishings.

My wife snapped this picture looking toward the front - up the slight hill.
If you look close you can see the meeting house at the end there.

Patty also caught me and my son Miles speaking to one of the presenters.

Here is a men's doublet  (jacket)  from the 1620s.
This is why I like when Patty has a decent camera,  because she captures
images that I may over-look.

This was the manservant of,  we believe,  William Brewster.
My wife,  same as me,  was simply walking around and snapping pictures of
anything we thought was interesting,  so we are doing our best to pinpoint which
house each photo is from,  though we're not always sure.  

I put two photos from slightly different angles together to have a better look at the wattle fence.
This is a pretty low fencing - not sure what they'll keep out - perhaps sheep.

Walk along this rocky road...the road less traveled part one~

The road less traveled part two~
This road runs sort of behind - or alongside - of the Plimoth Village from the front to the back:  a  "backroad.".

"The Pilgrims had two dogs on the Mayflower—an English mastiff and an English spaniel—as well as likely cats for rodent control.  Other livestock such as chickens,  sheep,  pigs,  and goats were also brought to Plymouth Colony shortly after their arrival,  with larger animals like cattle arriving later on other ships. 

The road less traveled part three~
This picture shows the road pretty well.  All the way back to the Atlantic Ocean.

Yet I had a  "traditional Thanksgiving meal" 
offered at the restaurant.

Imagine my elation when we took a short lunch break and ventured inside the main  (modern)  building and went to the lunch room/cafeteria and saw a  "traditional Thanksgiving meal"  available for dining!  So you know what I ordered!  

Of course I did!!
Why wouldn't I??

Imagine eating turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce right there at Plimoth Plantation!

Whereas the original harvest feast lasted for three days,  mine last about a half hour  (lol).  But I consider it a part of my own personal Plimoth Adventure~~~ 

I snapped this photo inside the meetinghouse.

Unfortunately,  at the time we were there,  there was no one inside to give us information. 

But I like seeing the uses of the St.  George's Cross flag.

The following photos,  some featuring my 17th century living historian friend,  Brian,  and after that a few that I'm in,  were not taken at Plimoth Village but,  instead,  at Greenfield Village and Waterloo Historic Farm Museum,  both in Michigan.  My good friend,  Brian Dewey,  is a 17th century living historian and has authentic period replicated clothing that I put on.

Some of Brian's collectibles depicting the 17th century.
Some are replications,  but some items here are the real 1600s deal!

Archaeological digs of the period have turned up many examples of three handled cups.

Then we had a little fun making up scenarios and vignettes~~~

A typical 17th century table set up.
See the pewter plate?
That's an original from the 1600s!

As many of you may know,  I collect historic  (replicated)  flags,  nearly all from America's colonial period.  And when I learned of the strong probability of which flags were flown on the original Mayflower  (of which are still flown atop the Mayflower II's masts unto this day---except when we were there lol),  I felt the need to purchase the replications,  if for nothing else,  to fly off of my porch on Thanksgiving - not that anyone would actually know  (lol),  but that's kind of the point,  I suppose.

Here are the two flags that I was told were flown at the top of the masts of the Mayflower:  St.  George's Cross on the left,  being held up with the halberd,  and the King's Colours on the right.
Dig the threads I have on~~~
Is this how I would look were I living in Plimoth in the 1620s?
I appreciate Brian allowing me to wear his accurate Pilgrim-era clothing so I could get a good and somewhat unique photo of these two flags.

So,  how about me wearing such fashions?

It was fun,  and I am so glad I had the opportunity to dress this way  (thanks Brian!),  for I do love reading about the era and this was awesome.  Now don't expect to see me diving heavily into the 17th century - this was great,  but it's not my period to reenact.  The last half of the 18th century - roughly 1750s through the 1780s - is the time I prefer.

Above you saw me with my latest two historic flags.  You see,  historically,  there were two flags English ships flew in 1620,  including the Mayflower:  the English Cross of St. George and the Union Flag of 1606.  These are the flags the pilgrims would have known. 

Think of my house as The Mayflower.
For Thanksgiving this year of 2025,  I decided to add to the decorations at my house.  I still have my corn stalks,  hay bales,  and gourds ~n~ pumpkins on my porch,  which I decorated back in September,  but this year I added the flags that flew over the Mayflower in 1620.
I wonder how many of my neighbors understand this?
(Below here is a quick flag explanantion)  

St.  George's Cross:  The St.  George's Cross is the flag of England,  featuring a red cross on a white background,  originating from the Crusades in the Middle Ages and possibly earlier in the Republic of Genoa.  English ships began flying the flag in the 12th century for protection and it became a symbol of English identity during the Crusades and was officially adopted as England's national flag in the 14th century,  with King Richard the Lionheart reputedly using it as his symbol.  The flag was later incorporated into the Union Flag to form the national flag of the United Kingdom.

By the way,  this flag has been in the news lately here in 2025  (click HERE)

One more thing---the  St.  George's Cross flag I purchased and seen in these photos is hand-sewn using high quality woven 100% linen cloth fabric---from England.  The real deal.

The King's Colours:  The  "King's Colours flag,"  or the First Union Flag,  was created in 1606 by King James I  (James VI of Scotland)  to symbolize the unification of England and Scotland.  It combined the red St. George's cross of England and the white St. Andrew's saltire  (X-shaped cross)  of Scotland on a blue field.  This flag was the first flag of Great Britain,  flown on British ships and used by American colonists,  and was replaced by the modern Union Jack in 1801 after the Act of Union with Ireland.

(information for each flag came from a Google search)

The St.  George's Cross flag was difficult to get in anything except polyester or nylon.  If at all possible,  I like my flags to be made from natural fibers of the time,  so when I did a deep search and found one available in linen,  I jumped at the chance.  The King's Colours is made from cotton.

They may cost a bit more,  but to me,  they're worth it.

But...wait---there's more!

In later October of this year  (2025),  Brian and I ventured to Greenfield Village,.  He dressed in his 17th century clothing - I believe around the 1640s period - for there is a house at Greenfield Village that was originally built in England around 1620  (or before),  meaning it was actually standing at the same time the Pilgrims made history with their Voyage across the Atlantic to America and,  in 1621,  celebrated the  "1st"  Thanksgiving.  The Cotswold Cottage is sort of  Michigan's own adopted  Renaissance House,  because of when it was actually built!  

With Brian's period clothing a fashion match,  we thought it a fun thing to do to head there for some photos.

The back part of the Cotswold Cottage has,  to me,  the strongest 17th century visuals.

Standing in a 400 year old doorway.

Inside the 1620 Cotswold Cottage,  Brian eyes the fire.

Looking for nails?
Or perhaps coffee...?

This is inside the Daggett House.
Though the house was built in the 1750s,  the style is of an earlier time,  from around a hundred years earlier.
The great hall hearth truly has a very early look about it.

Harvesting from the Daggett kitchen garden~~

Gathering wood for the hearth.
The Farris Windmill behind Brian was built in Massachusetts in 1633.
The red Plympton House back a little further was built roughly around 1700-1710 and is also originally from Massachusetts.

The Plympton House was built at the turn of the 18th century.  'Tis true that with the Farris Windmill,  the Daggett House,  and the Plympton House we have a bit of that New England colony right here in Michigan!
This is not the first Plympton house that Thomas Plympton built in the mid-1600s, though the fireplace and chimney are originals to that first house.  Rather,  it is the second home of the Plymptons,  built in the early 1700s.  The first house burned down.  The family rebuilt the home around the original fireplace,  which remained standing after the fire.
I would give a good guess this 2nd house probably had a strong resemblance to the 1st one,  though I have no proof.  So I am surmising that Brian's clothing does fit the architectural period.  See him there standing in the doorway?

Since the interior is plexi-glassed off,  I snapped this from the far end window.  I was able to hide most of the plexiglass.

I am wearing Brian's  "pilgrim clothing"

Pilgrims ate pumpkins  (pompion),  but not pumpkin pie as we know it.  The Pilgrims learned from Native Americans to prepare pumpkins by roasting them whole, 
sometimes with milk,  honey,  and spices inside,  or by boiling and stewing them.

Pumpkin roasting in an open fire...

"Pilgrims dressed in colorful,  practical clothing,  contradicting the common image of them wearing only black and white.  Men wore a shirt,  a doublet,  breeches,  stockings,  and latchet shoes,  often with a hat.  Women wore a smock or shift,  petticoats,  stockings,  and shoes,  covered by a dress and a cap or bonnet.  Both men and women wore aprons and linen collars or kerchiefs." 

And after a hard morning's work,  'twas time to take a short break.

Here I am holding a halberd.
According to AI's definition:
"A halberd is a two-handed European polearm combining an axe blade for chopping,  a spear point for thrusting,  and a rear hook or beak for grappling,  unseating riders,  or piercing armor.  This versatile design,  popular from the 14th to 16th centuries,  allowed common soldiers to effectively fight both mounted cavalry and infantry." 

Now...time for a bit about the 1st Plimoth Thanksgiving:

A Description of the feast from those who were there:

 William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation:

William Bradford

"Thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways,  and to bless their outgoings and incomings,  for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity.  They began now to gather in the small harvest they had,  and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter,  being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty.  For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad,    others were exercised in fishing,  about cod and bass and other fish,  of which they took good store,  of which every family had their portion.  All the summer there was no want;  and now began to come in store of fowl,  as winter approached,  of which this place did abound when they came first  (but afterward decreased by degrees).  And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys,  of which they took many,  besides venison,  etc.  Besides,  they had about a peck a meal a week to a person,  or now since harvest,  Indian corn to the proportion.  Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England,  which were not feigned but true reports."

About the local Natives and Massasoit:

Massasoit

Massasoit was the leader of the Wampanoag people in the early 17th century who was important for establishing a crucial peace treaty with the Pilgrims in 1621 that ensured their survival and maintained a peaceful coexistence for several decades. 

When the Wampanoag unexpectedly showed up for the harvest gathering,  they were invited to join the Pilgrims in their feast,  but there was not enough food to feed the chief and his 90 warriors.  “He  (Massasoit)  sent his men out,  and they brought back five deer,  which they presented to the chief of the English town  (William Bradford).  So,  there was this whole ceremonial gift-giving as well.  When you give it as a gift,  it is more than just food,”  said Kathleen Wall,  a Colonial Foodways Culinarian at Plimoth Plantation.

The harvest feast lasted for three days.  What did they eat?  Venison,  of course,  and Wall said,  “Not just a lovely roasted joint of venison,  but all the parts of the deer were on the table in who knows how many sorts of ways.” 

Was there turkey? 

“Fowl”  is mentioned in Winslow’s account  (see below),  and William Bradford mentions turkey by name in his account  (see above).  Kathleen Wall said there probably would have also been a variety of seafood and water fowl along with maize bread,  pumpkin,  and other squashes.

Edward Winslow of Plymouth Plantation: 

Edward Winslow

"Our harvest being gotten in,  our governor sent four men on fowling,  that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor.  They four in one day killed as much fowl as,  with a little help beside,  served the company almost a week.  At which time,  amongst other recreations,  we exercised our arms,  many of the Indians coming amongst us,  and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit,  with some ninety men,  whom for three days we entertained and feasted,  and they went out and killed five deer,  which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor,  and upon the captain and others.  And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us,  yet by the goodness of God,  we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

As you can see,  contrary to what so-called historians and Facebook memes say,  there was turkey and other fowl at this most famous of our Thanksgiving feasts,  as William Bradford wrote.

It's hard to argue with primary sources.

The pilgrims most likely drank water and hard cider at the first Thanksgiving.  They had run out of beer on their ocean voyage,  but had access to fresh water sources in Plymouth and were able to use native crab apples to make cider and hard cider.  The apples we are most familiar with are not native to North America.

~Bringing the water or cider to the harvest feast~
Okay - - a little photo-trickery.
Yes,  I was at Plimoth Plantation English Village,  but no I did not dress the part.  They frown on that there,  so I had a little photo-fun.

Thus ends my five part postings about our Massachusetts adventures.

Of course,  while in Massachusetts we did the Freedom Trail in Boston  (click HERE),  the Battle Road Tour from Lexington to Concord  (click HERE),  and also click HERE to check out the awesome Concord Museum.  Then we toured Mayglower II,  a replication of the original  (click HERE),  as well as Pilgrim Hall Museum  (click HERE).

Interested in learning about historical Thanksgiving?
Well,  then,  click HERE for the 18th century,  and click HERE for the 19th century.

And HERE for a few of us living historians celebrating this Harvest Festival.

HERE is a review I wrote about a couple of excellent Thanksgiving / Pilgrim movies to watch.

By the way,  if you see anything that needs correcting or have additional information,  please feel free to pass it on to me.  I would very much appreciate it.

 

 Vacation