Colonial Williamsburg

Upholsters’ hammers were used for securing upholstery fabric to furniture using tacks or small nails. These hammers had long heads and claws used for hammering and pulling tacks in small places. One part of the hammer was magnetized to help with placing tacks. A common way to hammer in tacks fast is when an Upholsterer will hold tacks in their mouth and spit them onto the magnetized part of the hammer. Then the tacks are driven into the furniture.

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, Shadwell, VA. He first came to Williamsburg in 1760 as a student at the College of William and Mary. As time went on he became a governor of Virginia, President of the United States, and he was a Founding Father. He had two inaugural addresses, and multiple articles he wrote. The most famous thing he wrote was the Declaration of Independence. After all of these achievements, he died in July 4, 1826 in Monticello, Virginia.

In the silversmith trade, they would craft objects from silver. In the 18th century, being a silversmith required good talent and taste. To begin making a silver item, like a coffee pot, workers would need to heat silver until it was liquid. Then they would pour it into a cast to mold it into the shape they want. Next, they would use a large hammer to hot-forge the silver into a thick sheet. This sheet would be cut into a circle and using multiple tools, it would be hammered and stretched into shape.

Newspapers were an important way to spread and learn information in the colonies. Although, some of the first newspapers learned that criticizing politicians would catch the eye of readers. By the mid-1760s things like this became common in the articles. Then politicians started to confront newspaper publishers away things types of things. In the end, there were 24 weekly newspapers in the colonies.

Lafayette was born on September 6, 1757, in France. He was part of a wealthy noble family, and his father was killed by the British in the Battle of Minden. Later on, Lafayette joined Freemasons at age 17 and joined the American Revolution at age 19. He became close with Washington and soon enough they regarded each other as family. His skills and allies helped the colonies win at the Battle of Yorktown.

King George III was born June 4, 1738 and died on January 29, 1820. He was king of Great Britain and Ireland from October 25, 1760 to his death. His reign was longer than any other leader’s before him, and his was involved in many military conflicts. With one of theses conflicts being with the colonies, he ended up at war with us for independence. Many problems came up between Great Britain and the colonies, and Williamsburg was a important place for things to take place in this time.