1733 - 18th-Century American Women - Tea Saves a Marriage

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This painting is the 1758 John Potter Overmantle at the Newport Historical Society in Rhode Island. John Potter & his family are taking tea with a young male house slave attending them.

This story about the miraculous virtues of tea was printed in the British American colonies in 1733. Tea was introduced into the colonies in 1714. This hilarious gentle woman's story from an early Pennslyvania newspaper has it all. It tells of the 18th century woman having to give all her money to her husband when they marry, but holding a little back, just in case. He drinks & gambles & pays little attention to his business. She uses tea to lure him back & build a happy home. She is a one woman consumer revolution!
Pennsylvania Gazette May 31, 1733 (From the Rhode Island Gazette)

THE TEA TABLE

SIR,

I am an honest Tradesman's only Daughter, and some Years ago marry'd a Tradesman of his Town. You will believe I lov'd him, when I inform you, that he had nothing to depend on But his Trade, and I was Owner of an Estate, left to me by my Father, richly worth, at that Time of Day, near a Thousand Pounds, part of which consisted of a good House well furnish'd.

My Husband was before Marriage something addicted to Drinking & Gaming, which I did not very well like, but had the Vanity to think I could cure him by good Management of his Temper, which I thought I pretty well knew.

The usual Diversions of a Wedding being over, we did well for about six Months. My Husband was careful and diligent: His Affairs in the Shop went on smoothly and prosperously, and my Kitchen (tho' I say it) was as well manag'd as any in our Town.

But, to my Grief, I afterwards found, that my Husband renew'd his Acquaintance with his old Companions, and needed no great Invitation to a Tavern.

His Shop was left often to the Care (or rather Carelessness) of his Apprentices, and at some Times when his Presence was most wanted in it. They spoilt as much Work as they did, when they happen'd not to stand still for want of Work laid out for them.

His Customers, on this Account, had almost all left him, and yet I was urg'd, Time after Time, to call in my Money at Interest to buy Stuff, as he said. I call'd all in that he knew was out, but reserv'd the rest for my own Support; apprehending that this way of buying Stuff would bring me to Beggary.

After most of the Money call'd in was spent upon Stuff, my best Household Goods were sold to buy Stuff too; and it came to that Pass at last we could scarcely get any thing to stuff our Bellys, or cloath our Backs.

As it is not the Business of a Woman to command, I began, in this Extremity, to project Relief. I knew he lov'd Gaming, and to please him this Way, I bought a Wheel of Fortune, a Snake Board, a Back Gammon Table, a Set of Nine Pins, and had a good Alley made in the Garden. If I could have afforded it, I would have purchas'd a Shuffle Board and Billiard Table; for I had two large Rooms stripp'd of all their Furniture to buy Stuff, where they might have been very conveniently plac'd.

However, I took a Game now and then with my Husband, either on the Wheel of Fortune, at Cards, or some other Game I had Materials for; which had this good Effect, that it kept him something more at home than formerly.

Yet strong Liquor he must have, and for this he went to the Taverns. To cure him effectually of rambling abroad, I concluded to buy a Stock of Liquors which pleas'd him best, and keep them in the House for him.

This is the 1755 painting by John Greenwood of Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam. It is one of Greenwood's best known works, a drunken scene featuring various prominent Rhode Island merchants, including Declaration of Independence signatory Stephen Hopkins, Governor Joseph Wanton, Admiral Esek Hopkins, and Governor Nicholas Cooke.

But happily for me, an old Woman to whom I communicated my Design, inform'd me, that she heard Madam Such a One say, Tea was as spiricus, and more wholesome than any strong Drink, be it Punch, be it Wine, be it Cyder, be it Brandy, be it Rum, be it what it will.

This Information of my Neighbour alter'd my Resolution, and I bought a Tea Table, with its Appurtenances of Earthen, Bath Metal, and Nine Canisters of Tea. I confess my covetous Humour and Unaquaintance with Tea had like to have ruin'd me: For the Cups were so small, and the Tea so weak my Husband said it was drinking Water by Drops.

Staffordshire Red Stoneware Teapot c 1740-50

I therefore bought a large home made Tea Table, and a Set of Earthen Plates and Punch Bowls; one of which Bowls (by the Direction of a Gentlewoman in the Neighbourhood) I fill'd with good strong Tea for my Husband, who then thought it was something like Drinking.

By Degrees his Desire of strong Liquor wholly left him, and he became an Admirer of Tea; but I found the Love of it did not grow upon him so fast as to oblige me to buy larger Bowls. In a Months Time he was contented with the small Tea Table and Cups and Saucers.

By his Consent I sold the Punch Bowls to a Tavern Keeper, and (to my great Comfort) he has not seen them since. His Inclination to Gaming abating, I burnt my Nine Pins, Frame and all, and dispos'd of all the rest of my Gaming Tools, except the Back Gammon Table, on which we sometimes take a Game in an Evening for a Cup of Tea in the Morning.

This Way of Living has made so great an Alteration in my Husband, that he does not require the tenth Part of the Stuff he us'd to do, and yet does more Work, gets more Money, and is in good Credit with his Neighbours.

The Money and Time he would have spent in Drinking and Gaming, had he not left them off, has, within these two Years past, by my Reckoning, refurnish'd my two great Rooms, supply'd the Tea Table, and purchas'd two good Milch Cows.

So that besides our having always Milk enough and to spare, for the Family, (and other Wholesome Provisions) I am never at a loss for Cream and Butter with my Tea; and in short, as the saying is, we live together as happy as the Days are long.

I am Sir, Yours, Patience Teacraft.

18th-Century American Women - 1740s Portraits

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1740 John Heaton (American colonial era artist, c 1695-a 1742) Magdalena Douw (Mrs Harme) from Albany, New York. (This artist's name also spelled in records of the period Iten, Eyton, Eaton, & Easton.) He married Maria Hooghkerk (daughter of Lucus or Luycas & Judek Marselis) who was born about June 1698, in New Albany, NY. They married June, 1730 in Albany, NY. During the 1730s & early 40s, these Heatons lived in Albany, where their children were baptised in the Dutch church in 1736 & 1738. After 1742, they appear to have relocated to New Jersey, where they joined the Reformed church in Bergen County.

1740 John Smibert (American colonial era artist,1688-1751). Portrait of a Lady.

1740 Unknown Artist. Woman Gathering Roses.

1740s Artist Unknown. Jocohabed Michaels (Mrs. Judah Mears).


1745-47 Unknown Artist. Martha Salisbury Quincy (Mrs. Norton Quincy).

1745-49 John Wollaston (American colonial era artist, 1733-1767). Lucy Parry, Wife of Admiral Parry.


1746 Joseph Badger (American colonial era artist, 1708-1765). Eliz Storer (Mrs. Isaac Smith).


1746 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Anne McCall.  Robert Feke was born on Long Island, New York. Little is known of his life until 1741, when he painted the Family of Isaac Royall. There are about 16 portraits known to be painted by Feke plus others argued to be by him. Feke worked in Boston, painting the families of wealthy merchants & landowners and seemed to disappear from the records about 1750.


1746 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Anne Shippen (Mrs. Charles Willing) 1710-1791.


1746 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Mary McCall (1725-1799) (Mrs William Plumstead).

1748 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Grizzell Eastwick (Mrs. Charles Apthorp).

1748 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Mrs. Isaac Winslow.

1748 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751) Mrs John Banister

1748 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751) Elizabeth Erving (Mrs. James Bowdoin II)

1748 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Susannah Faneuil (Mrs. James Boutineau).


1749-52 John Wollaston (American colonial era artist, 1733-1767). Portrait of a Woman.

1749-1752 John Wollaston (American colonial era artist, 1733-1767). Mrs. Joseph Reade.

1749 John Greenwood (American colonial era artist, 1727-1792). Mrs. Henry Bromfield (Margaret Fayerweather) John Greenwood was a portrait painter & engraver born in Boston, Massachusetts. He apprenticed with Thomas Johnston, a sign painter & engraver from 1742 to 1745, where he copied various English mezzotints. Besides portraits, Greenwood painted satirical works. The artist left Boston in 1752, sailing to the Dutch colony of Surinam & then on to Paris & England. Greenwood died in London, England in 1792.

1749 John Wollaston (American colonial era artist, 1733-1767). Margaret Tudor Nicholls (Mrs. Richard Nicholls).

c. 1749 Robert Feke (Amerian colonial era artist, 1707-1751). Mary (Mrs. John Channing)

1740s Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751) Portrait of a Young Lady

c. 1749 Joseph Badger (American colonial era artist, 1708-1765). Elizabeth Campbell (Mrs. William Foye)

1749 Robert Feke (American colonial era artist, 1707-1751) Mary Ward Flagg
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18th-Century American Women - Hats & Hair 1670-1750

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1670 The Freake Limner (American Colonial Era Painter, active 1670-c 1680)

1679 Captain Thomas Smith (American Colonial Era artist and mariner, active c 1650-1700)


Henrietta Johnston (American Colonial Era artist, 1674-1829)


1715 Charles Bridges (American Colonial Era artist, 1670-1747)


1723 Gerardus Duyckinck (American Colonial Era artist, 1695-1746)


1725 Charles Bridges (American Colonial Era artist, 1670-1747)


Henrietta Johnston (American Colonial Era artist, 1674-1829)


1730 John Smibert (American Colonial Era artist, 1688-1751)


1730s Charles Bridges (American Colonial Era artist, 1670-1747)


1730s Charles Bridges (American Colonial Era artist, 1670-1747)


1740 Unknown American Colonial Era artist


1739 John Smibert (American Colonial Era artist, 1688-1751)


1740 Unknown American Colonial Era artist


1740 Unknown American Colonial Era artist


1740s William Dering (American Colonial Era artist, fl 1735-1751)


1740s William Dering (American Colonial Era artist, fl 1735-1751)


1740s William Dering (American Colonial Era artist, fl 1735-1751)


1746 James Claypoole, Sr. (American Colonial Era artist, 1720-1784)


1746 Robert Feke (American Colonial Era artist, 1707-1751)


1747 Unknown American Colonial Era artist


1748 John Greenwood (American Colonial Era artist, 1727-1792)


1748 Robert Feke (American Colonial Era artist, 1707-1751)


1749-1752 John Wollaston (American Colonial Era artist, 1733-1767)


1749-1752 John Wollaston (American Colonial Era artist, 1733-1767)


1749-1752 John Wollaston (American Colonial Era artist, 1733-1767)


1749-1752 John Wollaston (American Colonial Era artist, 1733-1767)


1750 John Wollaston (American Colonial Era artist, 1733-1767)


1750 Joseph Badger (American Colonial Era artist, 1708-1765)


1750 Joseph Badger (American Colonial Era artist, 1708-1765)


1750 Joseph Badger (American Colonial Era artist, 1708-1765)
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