Domestic Life in Virginia in the Seventeenth Century

by Annie Lash Jester

Profusely illustrated, the first half of Mrs. Jester's book lays the groundwork with accounts of the first dwellings at Jamestown, the arrival of women to the colony, living off the land, improvements in supply from England, construction of clapboard houses, typical cargo manifests, and, finally, the appearance of plantation houses. Part II takes an in-depth view of cavalier households, ranging from furniture, utensils, clothing, and jewelry; the status of women, including household servants; and pastimes or traditions such as horse racing, music, drinking habits, travel, and funerals/burials.

Genres: History

110 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2008

Reviews

[Janet Macreery · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative read with excellent details about everyday life in 17th-century Virginia based on surviving estate documents. The wording is straight-forward and easy to understand. You don't need to be a scholar to appreciate this book.

[Debra Booton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much food for thought, here. Cleared up misconceptions of the lifestyle of the early Virginia pioneers, from sources of food to modes of transportation.