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I love Canada because . . .31 May 2008
Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Sara, Triangle 4-H Club
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Samuel Leonard Tilley experienced a rather ordinary and typical early 19th century childhood. His father kept a store and built houses for a living while his mother stayed at home, managing the household, raising the children and doing the indoor chores of spinning wool raised on the small farm and weaving material for clothing. This heckle, used for separating flax fibers for making linen material, belonged to the Tilley Family.3
Heckle belonging to Tilley Familyc. 1830
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of Margaret Tilley Mears, 1967
Queens County Historical Society & Museum Inc.
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New Brunswickers of the early 19th century made utensils and tools from whatever material they had on hand. The Tilleys, even with the general store, were no different. Wooden tools were especially popular with the vast forests in New Brunswick. This handmade wooden scoop belonged to the Tilley Family.5
Wooden scoop used by Tilley Familyc. 1820
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of James Barker, 1967
Queens County Historical Society & Museum Inc.
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Candles were also made at home. Candles made of beeswax were used on special occasions but for everyday use, the candles were made of tallow, a fat from sheep or cattle. This candle mold belonged to the Tilley Family. String or twine was threaded through one end of the candlemaker and tied in a knot at the other. Warm melted tallow was then poured or pressed into the mold. When cool, the knots were cut and the candles removed. Unfortunately tallow candles were rather smelly and smoky, but were very economical to produce since every family had a few sheep or cows from which they obtained the fat.7
Candle mold used by Tilley Familyc. 1830
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of James Barker, 1967
Queens County Historical Society & Museum Inc.
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While a mostly ordinary family, the Tilleys must have enjoyed a few niceties, including this scissor-like tool to extinguish a lighted candle. This candlesnuffer belonged to the Tilley Family.9
Candlesnuffer used by Tilley Familyc. 1840
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of James Barker, 1967
Queens County Historical Society & Museum Inc.
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Susan Tilley's indoor chores of household management included the daily ironing. This extremely heavy iron belonged to the Tilley Family; if used by Susan Tilley then her strength was impressive!11
Iron used by Tilley Familyc. 1830
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of Alice Tilley MacKeen, 1967
Queens County Historical Society & Museum Inc.
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No images of Thomas or Susan Tilley as young people exist; however some time in the late 1820s, they commissioned local artist Thomas MacDonald to paint the portraits of their eldest children, Samuel Leonard Tilley and his sister, Elizabeth. This portrait of Samuel Leonard Tilley is a rare image, being the oldest and earliest image of a Father of Confederation. It remained with the Tilley Family until donated to the New Brunswick Museum in 2007.13
Painting: Samuel Leonard and Elizabeth Tilley1825-1831
Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada
Credits:Gift of Judith Tilley Moreira in memory of her grandfather, Leonard Percy DeWolfe Tilley, 2007
New Brunswick Museum
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Samuel Leonard Tilley had many brothers and sisters. The Tilley children were educated in the local school and could both read and write at early ages. This small Hymn Book belonged to Margaret Tilley, his youngest sister. |
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