Author: clermontstatehistoricsite
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That "Witty Boy": Robert Livingston, the Builder of Clermont
I have posted little regarding the Builder of Clermont–one of many Livingstons named Robert–on this blog, but it is largely because I\’ve had few opportunities to study him. Since no portrait survives of him, probably having been burnt in the 1777 fire, we do not even have a face to put with his name. Nevertheless,…
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Deciphering the Cipher Chair
The Livingston Cypher Chairs are an unusual set of eighteenth-century furniture that has long been the source of some curiosity at Clermont. Their high quality and exceedingly rare style and poor condition seem at odds with one another. What happened to these high-style beauties? In 1742, pretty young heiress Margaret Beekman married her distant cousin…
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Mrs Livingston, I Presume: Part 3
So Louise settled in with Edward Livingston as the new Mrs. Livingston, and Edward opened his arms to her family. And the D\’Avezac family responded by moving in with the newlyweds. Louise\’s grown brother Auguste and little Anglea (the sister whom she had carried across the Caribbean Sea two years before would now have been at least…
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Being a teen during the Revolution: Alida Livingston
Budding historian and Clermont tour guide Susan Naramore has developed a deep personal connection with Clermont over the years. Growing up, she attended our history day camps, most events, and every single Old-Fashioned Independence Day for her entire eighteen-year life. As our guest blogger, she uses this connection to develop Alida Livingston Armstrong (daughter of…
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Mrs. Livingston, I Presume: part 2
So there was Louise D’Avezac de Castera Moreau, 17 or 18 years old, and a sodden refugee on an English Frigate and headed towards Jamaica with a handful of other displaced wealthy women from her family at her side. It appears that whatever friends she had made in Jamaica during her three years there were…
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Mrs Livingston, I Presume: Louise D\'Avezac Livingston, Part 1
So many women of Western history are lost under the title of Mrs. So-and-So. Or you know, she was the mother of So-and-So. It is enough to drive young women out of the study of history and into–say–computer science. Well Louise DAvezac Moreau Livingston is a woman with a history of her own! She was…
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Welcome to the Second Floor: A Photo Tour Continued
For those of you who\’ve been waiting on pins and needles for the second installment of my photographic tour of the mansion, I am finally making good on my promise. In the Part One we toured the first floor of Clermont. To be honest, these are the most glamorous spaces; upstairs we are more homey. …
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History Mythical Enemy No. 1: Times Were Simpler Back Then
Lot\’s of people say it. Lot\’s of people think it: \”I wish I lived back then, when times were simpler.\” I remember the first time the absolute balderdash of this saying really hit me. I was watching a television show (which shall go unnamed), where the host was staying with an Indonesian tribe, who happened…
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The Chancellor\'s Sheep & Wool Showcase 2012!!!
Sat., April 21st (raindate April 22nd) 11am-4pm $8 per vehicle Hmmm….Maybe those exclamation points were a little bit of overkill, but I get a little revved up for the Showcase. Maybe it\’s all the caffeine, or maybe it\’s the weeks of contact with vendors, performers, and demonstrators, but for me it is a high-energy kick-off…
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Quick Curiosity about Nancy and Otto
In paging around through the internets for information on my last Nancy Shippen blog (part 11 of the ongoing tragedy!), I happened across a reference to The Sylph on \”The Dutchess of Devonshire\’s Gossip Guide to the 18th Century.\” It\’s one of my guilty history pleasures (okay not so guilty because it is well-researched, just…
Clermont State Historic Site 