Category Archives: American History

The “British Aliens” in America During the War of 1812

Posted on September 29, 2021 by reginajeffers

While writing “Captain Stanwick’s Bride,” I spent a great deal of time researching personal papers, diaries, journals, and the like of people who lived during this second war between American and Great Britain. Many “Americans,” at the time, still claimed … Continue reading →

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The First Labor Day Celebration

Posted on September 6, 2021 by reginajeffers

New York City saw the celebration of the first Labor Day on 5 September 1882. The celebration marking the event was designed by the Central Labor Union.    According to the Department of Labor, “While most sources, even the Department of … Continue reading →

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Christopher Jones and the Voyage of the “Mayflower “

Posted on August 25, 2021 by reginajeffers

Some of you have heard me say previously that my 10th great-grandparents were John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of Pilgrim and the Mayflower fame. So, when I came across a piece about Christopher Jones, I, naturally, stopped to read more … Continue reading →

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Edward Jenner, Father of “Vaccination”

Posted on August 23, 2021 by reginajeffers

With all the debate still going on about whether to vaccinate or not for COVID-19 and all the variants in the news, I thought we might have look at the first vaccines. Born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, in May 1749, the … Continue reading →

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A War Between the U.S. and the U.K. Over a Pig

Posted on June 7, 2021 by reginajeffers

We are all aware of the history of “disagreements” between the United States and England that resulted in the American Revolution and the War of 1812, but what do you know of the 1859 Pig War? Never heard of it? … Continue reading →

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The “Feejee Mermaid,” Another P. T. Barnum Hoax

Posted on May 21, 2021 by reginajeffers

I have always been a Hugh Jackman fan, first for his musical performance, and, then, because he portrayed my favorite X-man, James “Logan” Howlett, on a string of Marvel Universe films. Therefore, I dearly loved the film, “The Greatest Showman.” … Continue reading →

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Origin of a Sea Shantie: “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?”

Posted on May 5, 2021 by reginajeffers

“What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song, mainly sung on ships with a large number of crewmen. According to Song Facts, it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon sea shanties, one sung by the Indiamen … Continue reading →

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A Great Hoax: Sawing Off Manhattan Island

Posted on April 30, 2021 by reginajeffers

Whether this story of true or not, it does make a fabulous read. “Supposedly,” in 1824, a retired ship carpenter convinced the people of New York that the southern tip of Manhattan Island was getting too heavy because of the … Continue reading →

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What Do You Know of Gail Borden, American Inventor of “Condensed Milk”?

Posted on April 28, 2021 by reginajeffers

Born November 9, 1801 in New York state, Borden spent parts of his childhood in New York, Kentucky, and Indiana. When his father expressed a desire for more fertile lands than he owned in New York, the elder Borden made … Continue reading →

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The Real-Life Myles Standish’s Influence on “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst”

Posted on April 21, 2021 by reginajeffers

As my previous two posts on John Alden and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have indicated, my most recent tale, “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” was inspired by Longfellow’s narrative poem, “The Courtship of Myles Standish.” Other than the knowledge of Standish … Continue reading →

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