Author: clermontstatehistoricsite
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Archival Treasures: Wedding Remarks
I was scanning through some old research files and was thrilled to come across the transcript of a document written by Margaret Beekman Livingston in 1798. I have been researching \”Peggy\” for a talk in March and have found precious little written by this driving force of Clermont life. The remarks were written for Margaret…
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"The Cries of my Baby": the Sorrowful Tale of Nancy Shippen, Part 5
May 28–I was wake\’d this Morning at five o\’clock with the cries of my baby… I jum\’p up–frighten\’d half to death–run to mammas room where the child was, & found it almost in fits with pain. In the middle of an intensly emotional debate about custody of her only daughter, young Nancy Shippen faced one…
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The Mother: The Sorrowful Tale of Nancy Shippen, Part 4
For a full month Nancy Shippen Livingston\’s return to her parents\’ home in Philadelphia freed her to attend to parenting her little daughter Peggy. The warm April air carried hope as the lilacs and weeping cherry trees began bloom. So what was motherhood like for Nancy? Like most elite women, Nancy hired a nursemaid–Besty–for her…
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Back on Track
As some of our followers may have noticed, we\’ve been awfully silent for the past few months–two months to be exact. Well, as the primary blogger for Clermont, I have to appologize! Just when the story of Nancy Shippen Livingston was building to a crescendo with the birth of her daughter, I was sidetracked by…
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The Young Wife: The Sorrowful Tale of Nancy Shippen, Part 3
The Shippen family had much to celebrate on New Year\’s Day in 1782. In the 18th century, New Year\’s Day was celebrated with social events, dancing, dinners, and gifts, often overshadowing the smaller, more religious holiday of Christmas (quite the reverse of today). Their only daughter Nancy could not take part in these social events.…
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The Angel Child: The Sorrowful Tale of Nancy Shippen, Part 2
A full week of festivities would most likely have left the Shippen family exhausted and exhilarated in March of 1781. They had much to celebrate. Their daughter Nancy had, at 18 years old, secured herself into the prominent Livingston family, and to her fate must have seemed secure. Nancy, her new husband Henry, and her…
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The Lover and the Suitor: the Sorrowful Tale of Nancy Shippen Part 1
I have alluded several times to the sad story of Nancy Shippen but always avoided it on the blog because I try to stay at least a little upbeat. But Nancy\’s story is interesting in so many ways, and her richly-detailed journal adds depth to the story. Since it is such a good story, I…
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Ghosts in the Basement: Clermont Gets Ready for Legends by Candlelight
Clermont State Historic Site’s basement is full of ghosts! Volunteers and staff are getting their corsets and tricorn hats ready to play historic spirits in the Legends by Candelight Spook Tours. I\’ve already spent several afternoons digging down through boxes of petticoats or borrowing from near and far to be sure that every spirit has…
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Weddings at Clermont
Over seven generations of Livingstons, Clermont has been the home of about 33 children, and during that time, it has seen its fair share of weddings. What did these weddings at Clermont look like? Well, it depends on which one you mean. Stretching over a span of 191 years, these weddings would have differed greatly…
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Archival Treasures: Janet\'s Silhouette
With all of the interest we\’ve had in our silhouette postings, I try to keep my eye out for Livingston silhouettes while I am going about my usual business. While doing some research about Janet in the archives Saturday, I was lucky enough to happen across this. This silhouette, marked 1921, shows Janet Livingston at…
Clermont State Historic Site 