WE DO PAID GROUP TOURS OF OUR PERIOD HOME IN 18TH C. COSTUME AND SERVE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS. PLEASE EMAIL US TO SCHEDULE A TOUR.

We are living history reenactors. Adam is a graphic designer, and Mary an antiques dealer. We are also public speakers, and present a number of different programs to clubs, historical societies and museums. We reenact several different time periods, from c. 1660 through the 1770’s, at various living history events.

Our most popular program is called ‘DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY’. Due to the wonderful reviews we get, New Hampshire Humanities Council has contacted us about applying to have this program on their list. At present, we get our speaking engagements and appearances through the flyers we send out, but mostly from word of mouth, and have excellent references from historical societies and clubs throughout New England.

We are gratified to see how much interest there is in how our ancestors dressed and lived life every day, over 200 years ago. Men, women, and children seem to love this program very much! When we arrive, Adam is in full colonial attire of the mid 18th century, and Mary is dressed only in a long white linen shift---the basic undergarment of colonial women, regardless of social status. She wears long cotton stockings with leather buckled knee garters, which were quite often home made, as ours are. Layer by layer, her husband Adam helps her to dress in a typical day gown of a middling woman of the 1700’s. The audience will learn that women’s clothing of the period never had buttons---only tapes made on a tape loom, and why it was necessary for her to have assistance with the sometimes difficult and restrictive clothing. Adam jokes that that is why there were not any “minute women”!

When we arrive, we bring many articles of women’s 18thc. style clothing items. We have small printed tags with the name of each item. We place these items, with tags, over one or two tables. After the program, the audience is invited to come up and look and handle, and ask about the various items. During the program Adam first laces Mary into ‘stays’. These, as well as the period gowns were custom made for Mary, from 18thc. patterns, and are stringently historically correct. All hems that show were sewn by hand. The ‘stays’ are followed by ‘pockets’, tied around the waist, a ‘hiproll’ or ‘bumroll’, and an under-petticoat of heavy linen. Depending on the style, the dress itself is actually several pieces, and can consist of a stomacher, petticoat, the robing or gown, or a short jacket, and a ‘modesty piece’. After all that, there is an apron, a cap, and a straw hat! Depending on the weather, Mary may wear a long wool hooded cloak and a pair of ‘mufftees’.

The audience will learn the purpose of all of these items and more.They will learn what a ‘huswife’ and a ‘bodkin’ are, and what they were used for! Mary’s shoes are also period-correct. The audience will come away with a real appreciation for how an everyday woman of the period would dress, and still perform her duties and chores in clothing that is so restrictive, that they as 21st century people cannot imagine wearing! They will learn why ‘stays’ were so important and that a garment would never fit without them, how valuable textiles and clothing were in the 18thc., and much more. During the program, all are invited to ask any and all questions. We feel this program is a fascinating first hand look into another era, and our audiences seem to as well!

We both have extensive backgrounds in living history, and in colonial life, and the clothing of the period. Because we reenact battles and 17th and 18th century life at historical events for museums such as Ft. Ticonderoga, Old Sturbridge Village, Saratoga, Ft. Pemaquid, Quebec, and many others, it is very important that we portray in our actions and our dress, life as it was at the time, and we have considerable experience at doing that. We have also had roles and bit parts in films, such as the documentary on King Phillip’s War, “The First Patriots”, and “The War That Made America”, on PBS.

We sincerely hope that you will visit our website, www.thecountryladyantiques.com to learn more about us, and that you will contact us if you are interested in booking a DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY program!
Sincerely,
Adam and Mary Spencer

FEE FOR THE 'DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY' PROGRAM IS $175. FEES FOR APPEARANCES VARY, SO KINDLY EMAIL US TO DISCUSS YOUR EVENT.

WE APPEARED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE 'GRANITE STATE NEWS'!

WE ARE ACTING IN A DOCUMENTARY FILM, 'THE FIRST PATRIOTS', ABOUT KING PHILIP'S WAR THAT IS BEING SHOT IN MASSACHUSETTES, AND IS ALMOST COMPLETED. YOU CAN GO TO YOUTUBE, TYPE IN "THE FIRST PATRIOTS TRAILER", AND SEE A COUPLE CLIPS OF THE FILM! HERE MARY TALKS TO FRIEND KEN HAMILTON BETWEEN 'TAKES' .

NEW! "ADAM'S TREEN"~ Here is our hand-turned wood replica of a 17thc. Dutch candlestick, handmade by Adam on a 1930s lathe, and finished by Mary in a multi-step process! See Offerings page.

~Comimg Soon~

A BOOK ABOUT OUR HOME AND LIFE

`

We have a hard-cover book about our home and our life currently in the works! Titled 'COME THROUGH A NEW HAMPSHIRE DOORWAY', it is a feast for the eyes, and will contain many new photographs of our home and our 'little piece of heaven' here in rural New Hampshire. Pictures and text about our lives as living history reenactors are included, as well as some of our favorite recipes, and more. It is a small slice of a New England life we want to share with you! We will be selling the book through orders on our website this year~

_____________________________

Adam and Mary’s 18th century wedding, May 27th, 2007.