When I ran across this account, even though it has nothing to do with Eliza Hamilton, I thought it would be interesting to share. It took place in 1804, the same year Hamilton died–and the year my book is set. This is a diary entry from a man who took his family from Connecticut to Upstate New York in the dead of winter. I thought it was very sweet that their journey stopped long enough to celebrate the holiday with their children–and that they prepared for it in advance of the trip.
Here is piece from John Gibbs journal:
“My wife and I realized that it was Christmas eve, and the children had anticipated its coming for many days. The night was dark in the extreme and I feared for the oxen, but arranged a pen for them in which they remained in safety during the night."
“When the children were ready to go to bed they talked incessantly of the morrow and what it would bring. Roxy and I had prepared for just such an emergency. Before we left Meriden we bought several pieces of the candy in sticks and lump form. Roxy also made some doughnut men, and women, fashioning them in the image of beings. Too, the children’s aunt made a rag doll for the girl and a jack-on-the-stick for the boy. These we placed in a box aside from the rest of our goods and they made the journey with us."
“When the children went to bed they hung up their stockings on the sticks that came down from the roof of the shanty. They were confident that Santa Claus would find them and their confidence was rewarded yesterday morning when they woke and found the gift tucked into the little stockings. Their joy at the gifts was beyond their power of expression.”
If you are interested in this family and their journey, you can read more here:
If you’d like to make a ragdoll, check out this video: No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll
If only we could keep Christmas like this.
How I love this and the gratefulness, joy the children showed for what was received yet their life was very hard without our modern means. However, some folks in this Era don't habe the comforts of modern means. It depends on where one is in this life. We all have something to be restful for and blessed by.
I love how simple the gift giving was back then and how easy it was to delight the young children of that time. I also try to give my grandchildren easier things and not be over extravagant in gift giving. I want them to find joy in little things too. I did that a lot with my own kids. I rarely bought them overly expensive things either.
Cindi Knowles
Super cool to hear how Christmas was celebrated by a family then. The core anticipation on behalf of the children (and it seems the adults) doesn't seem to have changed much in the ensuing years. It was really neat to hear that the doughnut had a starring role in the festivities.
When I first clicked the link for the journal it wouldn't open. I've since gone back and opened the journal and bookmarked the site. What a great find!!! So much to read and learn. Thank you for sharing this information.