The recent heat wave has sparked a lively discussion of how people coped with the summer heat in colonial Massachusetts. Naturally, they would try to make themselves more comfortable while still maintaining a decent appearance by wearing garments made from lighter fabrics like worsted wool, linen, and cotton.
Some garments were made to be more comfortable and practical for physical work. Farmers working in the field might replace their coat with a lighter, oversized linen shirt called a smock. Women working around the house or yard might wear a loose-fitting “bedgown,” which is much more comfortable than a fitted gown.
When working in warm weather, they often enjoyed a drink called “switchel,” made from water, apple cider vinegar, and molasses. It’s a refreshing drink (yes, we’ve tried it!) that will help you rehydrate and replace essential electrolytes.
Soldiers in war, of course, suffered terribly in hot weather. For example, at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, the heat killed nearly as many soldiers as the enemy. It is safe to say that our 18th-century forebears well understood the dangers of excessive heat. So, as we remember them during our 250th celebrations, be safe and stay cool!
Image above: A living-history impression of a woman wearing a bedgown while working in the house. Courtesy of the Ladies Association of Revolutionary America.
Written by Minute Man National Historical Park and originally appeared on Facebook.
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