Hidden History
Forgotten Tools of Colonial America You Should Know About
Discover five fascinating yet forgotten items from Colonial America that shaped daily life.
Colonial America was a time of great innovation and adaptation. Settlers had to be resourceful, creating and utilizing various tools and items to survive and thrive in their new environment. While many of us are familiar with the more iconic items from this period, such as muskets, spinning wheels, and butter churns, there are several lesser-known items that played a crucial role in the daily lives of the colonists. Here are five common items from Colonial America that you’ve probably never heard of.
1. Salt Cellar
In colonial America, salt was a valuable commodity, essential for preserving food and seasoning meals. The salt cellar, a small container used to hold and dispense salt, was a common household item. These containers were often made of wood, pewter, or silver and came in various shapes and sizes. Some salt cellars were simple and utilitarian, while others were ornately decorated, reflecting the wealth and status of the household. The salt cellar was typically placed in the center of the dining table, allowing family members to season their food as needed. Its presence underscored the importance of salt in daily life and the lengths to which colonists would go to ensure its availability.
2. Hornbook
The hornbook was an essential educational tool in colonial America, used primarily to teach children how to read. Originating in England around 1450, the hornbook was not a book in the traditional sense. It consisted of a single sheet of paper or parchment, which was affixed to a wooden paddle and covered with a thin, transparent layer of horn to protect it from dirt and damage. The lesson on the hornbook typically included the alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase letters, simple syllables, and often the Lord’s Prayer. This durable and practical tool was a child's first introduction to literacy and was widely used in colonial schools and homes.
3. Sugar Nippers
In an era before granulated sugar was widely available, sugar came in large, hard cones known as sugar loaves. To use the sugar, colonists needed a tool to break off small, manageable pieces. Enter the sugar nippers, a pair of plier-like tools designed specifically for this purpose. The nippers had sharp, scissor-like blades that could easily cut through the dense sugar loaf. This tool was essential for anyone who wanted to sweeten their tea, coffee, or baked goods, and it was a common sight in colonial kitchens. The process of using sugar nippers required some effort and skill, making the act of sweetening food a more deliberate and mindful task.
4. Warming Pan
Before the advent of modern heating systems, keeping warm during the cold winter months was a constant challenge for colonial families. One ingenious solution was the warming pan, a metal pan with a long handle, used to warm beds before sleeping. The pan was filled with hot coals or embers from the fireplace and then placed between the sheets to take the chill off the bed. Warming pans were typically made of brass or copper and often featured decorative designs. They were an essential item in many households, providing comfort and warmth during the long, cold nights. The use of a warming pan required careful handling to avoid burns or fire hazards, making it a task often entrusted to adults.
5. Flail
Agriculture was the backbone of colonial life, and the flail was a crucial tool for farmers. A flail consisted of two wooden sticks connected by a short chain or leather strap. One stick, the handstaff, was held by the farmer, while the other, the swingle, was used to strike harvested grain, separating the edible kernels from the chaff. This manual threshing process was labor-intensive but effective, allowing farmers to process their crops for storage and sale. The flail was a common sight on colonial farms, symbolizing the hard work and perseverance required to sustain agricultural life. Its use required skill and rhythm, as improper technique could result in injury or inefficient threshing.
These five items may not be as well-known as some of the more iconic artifacts from Colonial America, but they played vital roles in the daily lives of the settlers. From educating children and preserving food to keeping warm and processing crops, these tools and items were indispensable to the colonists. Understanding these lesser-known aspects of colonial life gives us a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the early American settlers.