About Family Life in Colonial Vermont

From 1777 to 1791, Vermont was disputed territory between the colonies of New Hampshire and New York. This made family life there particularly difficult, as there was often a shortage of goods and a lack of information in comparison with the official colonies.

Geography

Modern Vermont was historically part of a disputed territory, so the official borders of the state were not clearly defined. Due to this, Vermont was also less populated and less developed than other areas, with many small villages featuring just the basic conditions to allow family life. These small villages were often isolated from one another, separated by long stretches of open land or forests. Each village was basically self-sustaining, with professions distributed so that the system could support itself without the aid of outsiders.

The Facts

Family life at the time was heavily task-focused. This was especially true in Vermont, where the weather meant that the land could only be worked during a specific time of the year. Men in the family grew or harvested crops, gathered firewood and hunted small animals, while the women made candles, knitted winter clothes and milked the cows. Most families owned their own vegetable garden, which was tended by the whole family. During winter, the level of activity of the whole family slowed down significantly.

Effects

Because of the focus on labor, children were poorly educated in Colonial Vermont. Most were home schooled, which meant their education was less than basic (as most mothers couldn't read or write themselves). Education was mostly aimed toward teaching life skills, such as cooking and sewing for girls, and farming or a trade for boys. Religious instruction was a big part of family life, with churches often holding special classes for older children. While families in the colonies often had access to tutors, families in Colonial Vermont often learned all they needed from their own family members.

Misconceptions

While it may seem that life was restrictive during Colonial times, the truth is that children were allowed lots of time to play and enjoy the outdoors. Common games included rounders (an early form of baseball), hopscotch and marbles. Girls were often instructed to play more "lady-like" games, such as making their own rag dolls.

Features

Vermont women had a particularly difficult life during Colonial times. Because of the cold Vermont weather, they were forced to spend lots of time indoors, more isolated from their peers than men and children were. Few women could write because it wasn't considered a useful skill at the time. Many were taught to read, however, so they could follow the Bible. Because birth control was considered a sin, women were pregnant often, usually under less-than-ideal conditions (both external and physical) and were at a greater risk of dying young.