Cultivating the Carolina Backcountry: A Look at the Life of a Pioneer Woman in America

A Look at the Life of a Pioneer Woman in

America

Southern Appalachian Historical Association, Inc., 501(c)3

“Horn in the West” Outdoor Drama

One of three “legacy

outdoor dramas” in America

Hickory Ridge Living History Museum

Eight log structures + Tatum, Coffey and Hayes family artifacts

Where was the “backcountry”?

• The Western

frontier of colonial

settlement

• Along the Great

Philadelphia Wagon

Road, Pennsylvania

to Georgia

Migrating through Shenandoah Valley1750

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Fort Dobbs: located near what became Statesville, NCWesternmost fort in NC during the

French and Indian War: 1755-1763

“Colonel Hugh Waddell” at Fort Dobbs

“She is a very civil woman and shews nothing of ruggedness, or Immodesty in her carriage, yett she will carry a gunn in the woods and kill deer, turkey, &c., shoot down wild cattle, catch and tye hoggs, knock down beeves with an ax and perform the most manfull Exercises as well as most men in those parts.”

-William Byrd, 1710

• Appalachian valley land for sale.

• Land companies had to divide their parcels.

• Large tracts for low cost…

and the beauty of God’s Country.

Huckleberries

Wild onions

Wild greens

Chinquapins,

chestnuts

Wildcrafting

Deer

Bears

Buffalo

Elk

Boars

Geese

Ducks

Turkeys

Rabbits

Squirrels

Hunting

Cows

Hogs

Chickens

Raising Animalsfor Food

• Saved Seeds

• Corn, Squash,

Beans

• Onions,

potatoes,

cucumbers,

asparagus

(sparrow grass)

and red cabbage

Cultivating Seeds

Roasting young ears

Dried and turned into meal with a tin grater, or pounded

Johnny cakes, ash cakes

Hasty Pudding, mush

Replaced the Ulster Scots’ oat cakes and oatmeal

“[they eat] fat rusty Bacon, and fair Water, with Indian Corn Bread.”

– Charles Woodmason, Anglican Missionary 1776-8

Vegetables and meats were often put in a stew.

Meat was easily roasted.

PlantainNettlesLambs-quartersRhubarb (Dock)ComfreyDandelionSorrelSpinachCabbageLettuceEndiveCressesPurslane

Common

supper for

children

Fried Apple Pies and Milk!

Tatum Cabin ca 1785

• New River

• James and

Amey Tatum:

Ten children

• Eldest was Sarah

Tatum b. 1780.

She married the

grandson of Sarah

Boone Wilcoxson

The Backcountry Housewife: Kay Moss, Kathryn Huffman

The Gardener’s Pocket-Book: R. S. Gent

Boone, A Biography: Robert Morgan

Early American Cookery: Margaret Huntington Hooker

Fort Dobbs Facebook page

H. David Wright, artist

Steve White, artist

Southern Appalachian Historical Association, Inc.

www.horninthewest.com

Cultivating the Backcountry: A Look at the Life of a Pioneer Woman in America

Southern Appalachian Historical Association, Inc., 501(c)3

www.horninthewest.com

www.hickoryridgemuseum.com

www.booneheritagefestival.com