Home Life in Colonial Days

by Alice Morse Earle

• Sabba-day house. See [Noon-house].
• Sabin Hall, [14].
• Sack, law of sale, [357].
• Sacjes, [386]–[387].
• Saco, communal privileges in, [390].
• Safeguards, [295].
• Salem, coloring houses at, [23];
  • lobsters at, [117];
  • fisheries at, [121];
  • milk in, [148];
  • sumptuary laws in, [283];
  • taverns at, [356]–[357];
  • night-watch in, [363];
  • meeting-house in, [364];
  • seats for boys at meeting in, [372];
  • swineherds in, [403].
• Saler, [78].
• Salisbury, meeting-house at, [369].
• Salmon, price in Boston, [123];
  • low regard of, [123];
  • fishing for, [124].
• Salt-cellar, [78]–[79].
• Salting of fish, [124];
  • of meat, [153].
• Samp, mode of preparing, [131]–[132], [134];
  • porridge of, [134].
• Samplers, [265]–[268].
• Samp-mills, [133].
• Samp-mortars, [133].
• Sap-buckets, [112].
• Sap-yoke, [113].
• Sassafras, as dye, [194];
  • for soap, [255].
• Sausages, making of, [154]–[155].
• Sausage-gun, [154].
• Save-alls, [42].
• Scaffold, name for pulpit, [368].
• Scarne. See [Skarne].
• Sconces, [42].
• Scouring-rush, [85].
• Scutching. See [Swingling].
• Scythe snathe, [309]–[312].
• Seal of Germantown, [181].
• Seating the meeting, [370]–[371].
• Seats, at table, [101];
  • in New England meetings, [369];
  • in Virginia churches, [383]–[384];
  • in Dutch churches, [386]–[387].
• Section. See [Bout].
• Sedan-chairs, [356].
• Sermons, length of, [376].
• Sewall, Samuel, quoted, [354]–[356];
  • character of, [418].
• Shad, low regard of, [123]–[124];
  • price of, [124];
  • fishing for, [124];
  • salting of, [124].
• Shallop, [328].
• Shed, in weaving, [221].
• Sheep, in Massachusetts, [188];
  • laws about, [188], [189];
  • herding of, [409].
• Sheep-folds, [401].
• Sheep-herds, [401].
• Sheep-ranges, [401].
• Shelburne, girls work in, [262].
• Shepster, [187].
• Sherry-vallies, [296].
• Shingles, making of, [316]–[317].
• Shingle-bolts, [318].
• [Shingle-mould], [317].
• [Shoe-pegs], [315]–[316].
• Shuttles, for loom, [224]–[225].
• [Sign-boards], name on, [358]–[359];
  • historical value of, [359];
  • of Philadelphia, [359];
  • of Baltimore, [359].
• Sigourney, Mrs., quoted, [277]–[278].
• Silk-grass, [211].
• Silver, use of, [89]–[92].
• [Skarne], [216]–[217].
• Skeins, of flax thread, [175].
• Skillet, [50].
• Skilts, [236].
• Slave-kitchen, [54].
• Slave quarters, [14].
• Slavery, in New England, [163];
  • in Virginia, [164].
• Sleds, [343].
• Sleighs, in New York, [355].
• [Sley], of loom, [219]–[220];
  • price of, [224].
• Slice, [67].
• Slippings, of flax thread, [175].
• Smith, John, quoted, [115]–[116];
  • plants corn, [127];
  • description of first Virginia church, [381]–[382].
• Smoke-house, [153].
• Smoke-jack, [65].
• Smoking tongs, [68]–[69].
• Snake-fence, [25].
• Sneak-cups, [106].
• Snow, name of vessel, [328].
• Snowstorm, in New England, [410] et seq.
• Snuffers, [42].
• Snuffers tray, [42].
• Soap, making of, [253]–[255].
• Society house, [396].
• Sorrel, as dye, [194].
• South Carolina. See [Carolinas].
• Southernwood, [428].
• Spatter-dashes, [296].
• Spelling, varied, of squashes, [144].
• Spenser, quoted, [319].
• Spermaceti, [42].
• Spices, in cooking, [153];
  • ground at home, [158].
• Spice-mills, [158].
• Spice-mortars, [158].
• Spinning, of flax, [174], [230];
  • pay for, [175];
  • in Egypt, [178];
  • in India, [178];
  • in New England, [179]–[180];
  • in Pennsylvania, [181];
  • in France, [230]–[231];
  • day's work in, [185];
  • in modern times, [186];
  • of wool, [196]–[198], [229]–[230];
  • new materials for, [211];
  • race between weaving and, [228]–[229];
  • a by-industry, [228].
• Spinning classes, [180].
• Spinning-cup, [174].
• Spinning-jenny, [229].
• Spinning-matches, [184]–[185].
• Spinning-school, [180], [182].
• Spinning-wheel. See [Flax-wheel] and [Wool-wheel].
• Spinster, legal title of women, [187].
• Splint brooms. See [Birch brooms].
• Spool-holder. See [Skarne].
• Spoons, use of, [87];
  • material of, [87]–[88];
  • types of, [89]–[90].
• Spoon-moulds, [87]–[88].
• Spoon-racks, [68].
• Spreading of flax, [168].
• Spunks, [50].
• Squadrons, of spinners, [189].
• Squanto, teaches fishing, [117];
  • teaches corn-planting, [130].
• Squashes, varied names of, [144].
• Squirrels, abundance of, [110];
  • premium on, [110].
• [Stage-coach], in Great Britain, [331], [345]–[346];
  • in America, [345]–[346].
• Stage-wagon, [345].
• Staircases, [27].
• Standing salt, [78]–[79].
• Standish, Lorea, sampler of, [266].
• Starting a fire, [48]–[50].
• Starving times, in Virginia, [127];
  • in New England, [129].
• Staves, [316].
• Stays, [291].
• Steeples, [366].
• Steep-pool, for flax, [169].
• Stepping-stones. See [Horse-blocks].
• Stitches, names of, [264]–[265].
• St.-John's-wort, as dye, [194].
• [Stockings], knitting of, [190], [262]–[263];
  • weaving of, [190].
• Stocks, location of, [367].
• Stone-bee, [407].
• Stone-hauling, [407].
• Stone walls, [407].
• Stoves, first, [69];
  • in Dutch churches, [385].
• Strachey, quoted, [119].
• Strangers, harboring of, forbidden in New England, [393]–[394].
• Stratford, tithing-man in, [372].
• Straw manufacture, [259]–[261].
• Streets, condition of, [362];
  • lighting of, [362];
  • washing of, [363].
• Strikes, of flax, [172].
• Striking a light, [47].
• Stump-pulling, [407].
• Sturgeon, great catch of, [120];
  • in New York, [120].
• Substitutes for imported foods, [158]–[159].
• Succotash, [134].
• Sudbury, tavern at, [357]–[358].
• Sugar, substitutes for, [110], [111], [147], [157], [158];
  • cutting of, [155]–[156].
• Sugar-bowls, names for, [106].
• [Sugar-cones], [155].
• Sugar-cutters, [155]–[156].
• Summer-piece, [8].
• Sunday, observance of, by Puritans, [378] et seq.;
  • by Rev. John Cotton, [379];
  • by Virginians, [380];
  • by the Dutch, [384];
  • duration of, [379].
• Sun-dials, [299], [442]–[443];
  • inscriptions on, [443];
  • materials of, [443].
• Suppawn, use of, [133].
• Sweep and mortar mill, [132].
• Sweet potatoes, modes of cooking, [145].
• Swifts, [215]–[216].
• Swineherds. See [Hog-reeves].
• [Swingling] of flax, [171]–[172].
• Swingling block, [171].
• Swingling knives, [171], [312].
• Swingle-tree hurds, [172].
• Swingling tow, bonfires of, [177].
• Swing-sign. See [Sign-board].

• Table, description of, [76].
• Table-board, [76], [81].
• Table-cloths, [77].
• Tallow, lack of, [34].
• Tambour work, [269].
• Tankards, original meaning, [83];
  • of wood, [83]–[84];
  • of silver, [99].
• Tapping-gauge, [112].
• [Tape-loom], various names of, [225];
  • described, [225]–[227].
• Tap-room, of Wayside Inn, [357]–[358].
• Tarboggin. See [Chebobbin].
• Tar-making, [33].
• Taste of a dinner, [418].
• Tasters, [86]–[87].
• [Taverns], establishment of, [356];
  • titles for, [356];
  • prices at, [357];
  • values about, [357];
  • names of rooms at, [357];
  • in southern colonies, [360];
  • in New Netherland, [361].
• Tea, substitutes for, [158]–[159];
  • first sales of, [164];
  • queer mode of cooking, [165].
• Teazels, [232].
• Teazeling, of cloth, [232].
• Temperature, of houses, [70]–[71];
  • of churches, [374].
• [Temple], of loom, [223].
• Tennessee, hand-weaving in, [249].
• Tenting, of cloth, [232].
• Terbobbin. See [Chebobbin].
• Terrapin, [120].
• Thatch, for roofs, [15].
• Threshing, [313]–[314].
• Thumbing, in weaving, [218].
• Thumb-rings, [298].
• Tin, slight use of, [58].
• Tinder, [48].
• Tinder-box, [48].
• Tinder-mill, [50].
• Tinder-wheel, [49].
• Tithing-men, [372], [373].
• Titles, old-time, for women, [187].
• Toasting-forks, [60].
• Tobacco, as currency, [189];
  • use forbidden near meeting-house, [379].
• Tomble. See [Temple].
• Tongs, [236].
• Tow, garments of, [235]–[236].
• Town, unit in New England, [390];
  • narrow feeling of, [391].
• Townsend, revolutionary story of, [203].
• Toys, of wood, [306].
• Trammels, [53].
• Transportation, on horseback, [176], [336] et seq.;
  • by wagons, [339] et seq.
• Trees, girdling of, [403];
  • drive of, [404];
  • under-cutting of, [404].
• Trenchers, description, [80];
  • material, [82].
• Trivets, [60].
• Troughs, making of, [311].
• Trumbull, Jonathan, chaise of, [353].
• Trunks, [348].
• Trunk pedler, [300].
• Tumble. See [Temple].
• Tummings, [195].
• Turkeys, wild, [109];
  • size of, [109]–[110];
  • price of, [110].
• Turkey wheat, [129].
  • See [Corn].
• Turkey-wings, [309].
• Turnips, [145].
• Turnpikes, [349]–[350].
• Turnspit dog, [65].
• Tusser, Thomas, quoted, [35], [168], [255], [321]–[322].
• Twifflers, [106].

• Van der Donck, quoted, [118], [119], [120].
• Van Tienhoven, quoted, [2].
• Veils, interference about, [285].
• Venison. See [Deer].
• Vermont, candle-wood in, [32];
  • broom-making in, [303].
• Victualling, name for tavern, [356].
• Violins, in meeting, [378].
• Virginia, early houses in, [11];
  • palisados in, [24];
  • candle-wood in, [32];
  • first fork in, [78];
  • silver in, [91];
  • table furnishings in, [104];
  • deer in, [108]–[109];
  • birds and fowl in, [110];
  • lobsters in, [118];
  • crabs in, [118];
  • oysters in, [119];
  • plenty of fish in, [118]–[119];
  • corn in, [127];
  • massacre in, [127];
  • windmills in, [133];
  • toll in, [133];
  • starvation in, [127], [144];
  • pumpkins in, [143];
  • locust groves in, [163];
  • flax culture in, [181]–[182];
  • wool culture in, [189]–[190];
  • cloths in, [237];
  • broom-corn in, [256];
  • sumptuary laws in, [285];
  • outfit of settlers, [289];
  • roads in, [331];
  • taverns in, [361];
  • Sunday observance in, [380];
  • churches in, [381]–[382];
  • cows in, [400];
  • fences in, [402].
• Virginia fence, [25].
• Voiders, [106]–[107].
• Voorleezer, duties of, [386].

• Waffle-irons, [61].
• Wagon. See [Conestoga wagon].
• Warming-pans, [72].
• Warning out, [392];
  • a mystery in, [393].
• [Warp], [218].
• [Warp-beam], [214].
• Warping, [217]–[218].
• Warping-bars, [217]–[218].
• Warping-needle, [219].
• Warp-threads. See [Warp].
• Washing, domestic, [255].
• Washington, George, home of, [13];
  • outfit of his stepdaughter, [291];
  • dress of, [293];
  • as canal promoter, [353].
• Washington, Martha, thrift of, [237]–[238];
  • netting of, [265].
• Watches, [299].
• Watch-chains, [263].
• Water, as beverage, [147].
• Watering of flax, [169].
• Water-fowl, plenty of, [125];
  • enumerated, [125].
• Watertown, windmill at, [133];
  • restrictions of settlement in, [393].
• Wax, candles of, [37]; bayberry, [39]–[40].
• Waynesville, hand-weaving in, [250].
• Wayside Inn, [357]–[358].
• Weather-skirt, [295].
• Weavers, status of, [212]–[213];
  • seat of, [221];
  • working-hours of, [228];
  • in Narragansett, [241]–[244].
• Weaving, noise of, [212], [220];
  • three motions in, [221]–[222];
  • disappearance of, [227];
  • on tape-looms, [225]–[227];
  • race between spinning and, [228]–[230];
  • of linens, [230]–[231];
  • of rag carpet, [239]–[240];
  • of coverlets, [242]–[246];
  • during Civil War, [249].
  • See [Loom].
• Weaving-room. See [Loom-room].
• Webster, [187].
• Weeds, once garden flowers, [435]–[436], [447]–[449].
• Weight-timbers, [11].
• Weld, quoted, [348]–[349].
• Well-sweep, [443]–[444].
• Westmoreland Revival, [227].
• Whale-fishing, [41].
• "Whang," [417].
• Wheat, planting of, [147].
• Wheel. See [Flax-wheel] and [Wool-wheel].
• Wheel-peg, [198].
• Wheelwrights, early use of wood, [176].
• Whipping-post, location of, [367].
• White-Ellery House, [19].
• Whiteweed, in America, [449].
• Whitney, Eli, invention of, [208].
• Whittemore, Amos, invention of, [205].
• Whittier, quoted, [73]–[74], [181], [370], [413], [436];
  • homespun attire of, [248].
• Whittling, [321]–[323].
• Wicks for candles, [34], [45].
• Wigs, wearing of, [296]–[297];
  • denounced, [296];
  • names of, [296]–[299];
  • cost of, [297].
• Wigwams, [3].
• William and Mary College, tax for, [109].
• Williams, Roger, quoted, [134], [137], [285].
• Windmills, Indian fear of, [130];
  • first erected, [133];
  • of John Winthrop, [133];
  • in Virginia, [133].
• Windows, of glass, [23];
  • of oiled paper, [23].
• Windsor, boys' pews in, [372].
• Wine-taster, [87].
• Winslow house, knocker of, [29].
• Winthrop, John, fork of, [77];
  • jug of, [98];
  • his use of water as beverage, [148];
  • pick-a-back, [329];
  • sedan-chair of, [356].
• Winthrop, John, Jr., quoted, [32]; mill of, [133].
• [Woad-wax], in Massachusetts, [448].
• Woburn, long services at, [376].
• Wolfskin bags in meeting, [374].
• Wolves' heads, nailed on meeting-houses, [364]–[365].
• Wood, trenchers of, [80]–[81];
  • utensils of, [82];
  • spoons of, [88];
  • for shuttles, [225];
  • unusual uses of, [305];
  • toys of, [306];
  • natural shapes in, [308]–[311].
• Wood, quoted, [32]–[33], [137].
• Wool, an ancient industry, [187];
  • early culture of, [187]–[193];
  • manufacture of, [187]–[193];
  • restraints on manufacture, [191]–[192];
  • in England, [192];
  • preparation of, [193];
  • dyeing of, [193]–[194];
  • carding of, [194]–[195];
  • combing of, [196];
  • spinning of, [196]–[198].
  • See [Yarn].
• [Wool-cards], described, [194]–[195];
  • history of, [204]–[206].
• [Wool-combs], [196].
• [Wool-wheel], price of, [177].
• Wordsworth, quoted, on spinning, [179].
• Worsted stuffs, [233].
• Wrathe. See [Raddle].

• [Yarn], spinning of, [197]–[198], [201], [229];
  • winding of, [198];
  • skeining of, [199];
  • cleansing of, [202];
  • water-twist, [229].
• Yarn beam. See [Warp-beam].
• Yarn roll. See [Warp-beam].