American Independence Museum:
Keeping the Flames of Colonialism Alive
by Patricia L. Cummings
all photos, except one, by James Cummings
American Independence Museum
Did you know that Exeter, New Hampshire once served as capital city of the state of New Hampshire? Were you aware that from 1775-1789 the coffers of the State Treasury were stored in an iron trunk located within a room of the Ladd-Gilman House on Water Street in Exeter? This is just some of the information that you would learn, were you to visit the American Independence Museum, located just off of Water Street, Exeter’s main street in the downtown area.
Rivers Spawn a Bustling City
Sited on both the Exeter River and the Squamscott River, the first settlement of the area that is now known as “Exeter” occurred in 1638 after Reverend John Wainwright purchased a large tract of land from the local Indians. The two rivers, one of fresh water, the other of sea water, provided ample water power to turn the wheels for local mills. Exeter soon became a thriving industrial town. A brochure published by the American Independence Museum states that inhabitants included “merchants, soldiers, slaves, servants, shipbuilders, sea captains, and political leaders.”
Museum Honors History and Those Who “Wrote It”
The American Independence Museum is a private, not-for-profit institution, which was established in 1991. The Ladd-Gilman House, an expansive yellow colonial building sits atop a hill overlooking one of Exeter’s busiest downtown streets. The edifice was initially constructed by Nathaniel Ladd in 1721 and was intended to be used as a family dwelling. The Gilman family inhabited the home for 180 years. Today, the house seems to be a very appropriate place to display artifacts associated with the American Revolution. The use of the Gilman family residence, for this purpose, honors Nicholas Gilman and his two sons who were totally dedicated to public service.
The Ladd-Gilman House is in close proximity to Swasey Park on the shores of a river that was once the site of much ship traffic. Located close to the water’s edge is a brick building called the Powder House. This small structure is reported to have supplied gun powder to soldiers during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Upon stepping into the museum, one begins to feel a sense of excitement at the anticipation of seeing antique items of weighty historical importance. On the hot summer day that we toured the house, guide Ann Clark patiently answered our many questions and explained some of the quaint objects found in the house, such as the leather fire buckets, individually inscribed with the names of their owners, the Hessian andirons, the examples of old currency, and many other objects.
Hessian Andirons at the American Independence Museum
Heavy Iron Trunk Held State Treasury Funds
Our first stop was to see the huge black iron trunk that was made in Germany, circa 1700. The Society of Cincinnati, New Hampshire chapter “suggests that it (the trunk) was imported by Nicholas Gilman and was used to store the NH treasury funds” from 1776-1814, according to the museum’s accession sheet. Two very heavy iron padlocks were probably added at a later date. No doubt that those locks could keep even the most determined thief at bay!
Trade by Barter or Coin Preferred
Ann told us that, “In those days, people didn’t trust (paper) money. They were more accustomed to trade by barter or by coins.” She showed us some examples of early paper money that was scripted in English pounds, or were backed by the Spanish government. Each bill was intended for a one time use only. Then a hole was punched in the middle of the bill, rendering it void.
The first Treasurer of the State of New Hampshire was Nicholas Gilman. The five dollar note, shown here, is an example of early New Hampshire money. At first, each state printed their own currency.
photo courtesy of American Independence Museum
This particular piece of currency is dated April 1780 and its center has a “devaluation hole,” meaning that it has been processed. The back is signed by John Taylor Gilman. This provides evidence that John acted as State Treasurer during times when his father was away. Nicholas Gilman commanded the Fourth Regiment of the New Hampshire militia throughout the Revolution.
Yet Another “John Hancock” Signature
Upon the wall, in the same room, a large, framed document hangs. This document, a bill of lading for coffee and other goods that had been shipped into Boston Harbor, is signed by John Hancock, one of our leading fathers who also signed the Declaration of Independence.
Amazing “Secret” Uncovered: Precious Artifact Revealed
Old houses do hold many potential secrets. To date, the greatest "discovery” at the Ladd-Gilman House happened in 1986 when a workman stumbled upon an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, two hundred and ten years after its signing. The document had been hidden underneath a floorboard.
This important piece of ephemera has been authenticated to have been printed in Philadelphia by John Dunlap. This priceless artifact is now stored off-site in a secure location, and a reproduction has been created for public display. Once a year, the original document is available for viewing, but not without security personnel in place.
Declaration of Independence Read to Crowd by John Taylor Gilman
New Hampshire did not receive a copy of the Declaration of Independence until two weeks after it had been announced elsewhere. Nicholas Gilman’s son, John Taylor Gilman, was given the privilege of reading the document to the people of Exeter. John later served fourteen, one-year terms, as the Governor of the state of New Hampshire, until 1816. His brother, Nicholas Gilman, Jr., also entered public service, and was a state delegate to the Constitutional Convention.
The history of Exeter includes a visit from President George Washington in 1789 when he stopped by the Folsom Tavern to eat breakfast during his presidential tour of New England. At the time of this writing, the Folsom Tavern, located behind the museum, was being renovated and was scheduled to be open for public viewing beginning May 20, 2006.
A Special Fire Screen and the Gilman Legend
The textiles in the house are not extensive, yet are very meaningful. A wooden "fire screen” (which is actually an upright wooden stand) sports a needlepoint panel which served a unique purpose. Surprisingly, we were told, the duty of the panel was to prevent the heat from the open flames of the fireplace from melting the (wax based) makeup of the lady of the house, as she sat warming herself by the open hearth.
Update 3/31/07: A recent exhibit at the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C. reveals that firescreens were rare in Colonial America, and American women customarily did not wear makeup. This information was shared by Lucinda Cawley in an online post on March 20, 2007.
The image of this particular fire screen is associated with what has come to be called, "The Gilman Legend.” As the myth is recounted, one of the Gilman ancestors wanted to steal the book of knowledge from the demons. Before he left on this quest, he was instructed not to go near running water. After successfully stealing the book, Gilman chose an alternate path home, not realizing that it would take him in close proximity to a stream. As a result, his leg turned black. For this reason, the embroiderer has stitched a tall, black boot into the center of a light blue background, lest the tale not be forgotten.
Hessian Andirons Tell a Story
In another room, with yet another fireplace, there are a pair of Hessian soldier, cast-iron, andirons. This type of andiron was popular following the American Revolution, and the tradition was revived in the late nineteenth century. The Hessians were soldiers from Germany who had been called upon by Britain’s King George III to fight in the British/American conflict. The King was from Hanover, Germany and so, enlisted the help of his compatriots.
When General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River in the middle of the night on December 25, 1776, they surprised and defeated the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. After an hour long battle, 23 officers and 896 Hessians and British soldiers had been captured. Only two Americans were killed and six were wounded, so this was a decisive victory!
Of the andirons, it has been stated that they have symbolic meaning to the effect: “May the Hessians burn forever.” This statement may sound very impassioned, but it is passion that won the fight for freedom and independence!
Lucy Ann Mill Sampler - 1809
A Tale of Two Needlework Samplers
An intriguing schoolgirl Sampler, embroidered by Lucy Ann Mill in 1809, “in the 11th year of her age” features letters and numbers that little girls were taught to stitch in girls‘ schools of the era. The antiquated piece of linen also contains the following embroidered message which shows a clear awareness of the fragility of life in the early nineteenth century, and the knowledge that many individuals succumbed to death at a very early age due to diseases such as cholera, diptheria, and smallpox.
Lucy Ann wrote:
Friends nor physicians cannot save
My mortal body from the grave
Nor shall the grave define me there
When Christ commands me to appear.
Gilman Family Sampler Passed Down Through the Ages
A less gloomy Sampler by Ann Taylor Gilman was made circa 1740. This item is believed to have been stitched by Ann during her childhood and consists of the alphabet and the words: "ANN + TAYLOR +/HER + SAMPLER.”
The Gilman Sampler
In the book, Samplers and Samplemakers: An American Schoolgirl Art: 1700-1850, author Mary Jane Edmunds mentions that little girls were taught to embroider, partially so that they could “make initials on clothing and household linens.” Textiles were so valuable, it was important to “mark” every one of them in this way.
*Kits for the Ann Taylor Sampler are now available in the museum's gift shop. (update October 13, 2007).
Usually, all textiles were noted in household inventories. However, the Gilman Sampler was not included. One explanation could be that it is thought that making a Sampler was an educational activity, but had no high monetary value, at the time. The practice of creating an inventory stems from a common practice in English law which insured that all household goods be listed so that division of property be fair and equitable, when settling an estate.
The inventory of Nicholas Gilman, Esq. in 1783, includes: 15 Blankets, 1 Chints (Chintz) Bed Quilt, 1 Quilt, Coverlids, 14 Pillow Cases, 10 Sheets, and 3 Counterpains,” to name just a few of the items considered to be of value.
Bedhangings
One of the most valuable parts of any house were bedhangings. The museum retains a (framed) linen panel that once hung on one side of a bed, as a valance.
Part of a bed valance at the American Independence Museum
This piece was worked with wool yarns for Crewel Embroidery, and the design which is a vine and floral motif, was embroidered by Deborah Folsom Gilman (1753-1791), John Taylor Gilman’s first wife. She is believed to have spun and woven the cloth herself, before embroidering it. If anyone knows about the processing of flax into linen, and the weaving of those fibers, then you understand what a formidable task this was!
Other sections of the Gilman bed dressings are in the collection of the York Historical Society, York, Maine.
Original Purple Heart from circa 1782 Discovered in Deerfield, New Hampshire Barn
Did you know that in 1782, George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit award, known today as the Purple Heart? According to a book, New Hampshire, Its Cincinnati, and the Revolution by Edward F. Woods, DMD (Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire, April 1995), the American Independence Museum “displays the only known original Purple Heart."
Purple Heart Award
This 2” x 2” lavender color, silk heart features some decorative silver-color embroidery and was mounted onto navy wool. The purple heart award of Washington’s time was awarded for meritorious action as a way to honor enlisted men, whose pay was meager. This particular example is believed to have been awarded to Daniel Bissell, a Connecticut soldier.* It was found appliquéd onto an old coat, and was discovered in an unidentified barn in Deerfield, New Hampshire in the 1920s by Captain William Willey.
Note: A Wikipedia entry attributes the award to Sergeant William Brown, and states this the information listed here is incorrect.
In 1932, President Herbert Hoover, re-established the award, reviving it as a way to honor the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.
Exeter, New Hampshire
New Hampshire became a royal colony in 1679 and some historians consider that date as to be the beginning of the period of time in which Portsmouth, NH served as the provincial or colonial capital, according to Michael Huxtable, Reference Librarian for the city of Portsmouth. During the late seventeenth century and into the mid-eighteenth century (1698-1741), New Hampshire and Massachusetts shared a governor until Benning Wentworth was appointed Royal Governor in 1741. His “regime” lasted until 1766. In the meantime, he had made a fortune from land dealings and the sale of trees for ship masts.
In 1774, the House of Representatives that had been meeting in Portsmouth disbanded. The following year, all provincial records were transferred to Exeter, (in 1775). This action came on the heels of an attack by British warships which burned “Falmouth,” (now called Portland, Maine), not far from Portsmouth, on October 18th of that same year. Several hundred buildings were burnt to the ground, as result of British anger at the unwillingness of lumbermen to continue to provide masts to the Royal Navy.
With the imminent threat of possibly more British attacks by sea, Exeter, a more inland location, became New Hampshire’s capital city from 1776-1788. Twenty years later, in 1808, Concord, NH was officially chosen as the permanent seat of state government in New Hampshire.
Society of the Cincinnati
Items that are owned by the Society of the Cincinnati can be seen in several rooms of the Museum. Founded in 1783, the Society was led by George Washington for sixteen years until his death in 1799. The group’s goals were three-fold: to stay in touch with fellow officers of the Continental Army; to establish charitable funds directed toward helping widows and orphans of the fallen; and to work to secure pensions for Revolutionary War victims.
The name of the organization is based on their role model, Lucius Quintus Cincinnati, who was born in 519 B.C., and died in 430 B.C. A farmer by profession, Cincinnati was appointed dictator and asked to lead the fight in saving Rome from the Aequi tribe. He could have remained in the role of dictator, but having solved the problem in only sixteen days, he returned to the land. George Washington has been called, “the American Cincinnati,” for his parallel actions.
The Society of Cincinnati has owned the Ladd-Gilman House since November 1, 1902 and considers it to be one of its treasures. If you are wondering, the city of Cincinnati is named after the Society. To read more about the oldest hereditary military organization, please visit their online website.
A Place To Go, If You Love History!
The American Independence Museum, housed in a beautiful example of early New England architecture itself, is a joy to visit if you love history! Artifacts too numerous to mention abound within its walls. Each is a very special tribute to the early years of our country.
photo of flag courtesy of the American Independence Museum
A small silk flag with interlocking circles represents the original thirteen colonies. A similar idea is represented in the gift shop: a poster originally engraved by Amos Doolittle (1754-1832) of New Haven, Connecticut. The work was created, (circa 1790), and has fourteen interlocking circles which contain the state seals of the original thirteen states, plus the U.S. Great Seal, to celebrate the Constitution and the new federal government! Copies of the poster are also available, either framed or unframed.
Every year, exactly two weeks after July 4th, about 5,000 people descend on the city of Exeter for a large celebration at the museum to commemorate the reading of the Declaration of Independence there. Invited artisans are on hand to demonstrate various old time crafts.
DIRECTIONS TO THE MUSEUM
To reach Exeter from the west, take Route 101 East. You will see a large sign on the turnpike which directs the driver to take exit 9. A right hand turn at the end of the ramp will bring you to downtown Exeter. A right hand turn onto Governors Lane will bring you to a parking lot at the top of the hill. Museum parking is free.
The American Independence Museum, located at One Governors Lane, Exeter, NH 03833-2420, is open from May 1 to October 31, Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5 p.m. The last hourly tour begins at 4 p.m. A nominal admission fee is charged. A museum shop has many tantalizing books, history-related items, and gifts available. For more information, please call (603) 772-2622, or write to: info@independencemuseum.org
Jim and I would like to thank Funi Burdick, Executive Director of the Museum; Debbie Kane, Development Officer; and Ann Clark, tour guide; for all of their kind assistance in the preparation of this article. I would also like to mention the help of Michael Huxtable, Reference Librarian for the City of Portsmouth. In addition, the book, New Hampshire, Its Cincinnati, and the Revolution by Edward F. Woods, DMD (Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire, April 1995) was of great assistance. Thank you all.
Click here to read about Historic Embroidered Samplers
See an article about Harvest Day 2007 at the American Independence Museum.
Read a related article titled, "Declaration of Independence still inspires/ Annual Exeter celebration of freedom is July 18," by Michael Mccord.
Some of the above information was previously published in a newspaper article in "UnRavel the Gavel," written by Patricia L. Cummings, with photos by James Cummings.
©Copyright 2005. Patricia and James Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All rights reserved.
e-mail: pat@quiltersmuse.com