Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object |
Trough, Dough |
Year Range from |
1750 |
Year Range to |
1777 |
Description |
Wood kneading bowl from the Dewey Family. Rounded rectangular shape with gently sloping sides and slanted ends. Family tradition claims that Mary Tilden Dewey made 80 loaves of bread in preparation for the Battle of Bennington using this bowl. |
Width (inches) |
34.500 |
Depth (inches) |
18.500 |
Height (inches) |
7.750 |
Information |
Women in the English colonies were legally barred from nearly all forms of public and political life, but they found numerous ways to actively support Patriot forces during the American Revolution. On August 16, 1777 American forces successfully defeated two detachments of the British invading army. Family tradition claims that Mary Tilden Dewey used this dough bowl to make 80 loaves of bread to feed soldiers before the Battle of Bennington. Mary Tilden Dewey was 26 at the time of the Battle and had lost a son in July, barely one month before his first birthday. She also had a two year old and was pregnant with her third child. Her husband Eldad was a lieutenant in the local militia. Most women and children fled Bennington as the British approached, and Eldad encouraged his wife to leave also. When she refused, he left a horse with her in case things went badly for the Americans. On the day of the battle, a doctor appeared at her door. His horse was lame, and unable to make it the remaining few miles to the battlefield. She insisted that he take her only means of escape and reassured women staying with her that they could boil up some hasty pudding to throw at the invaders, should their home be threatened. |
Related People |
Dewey, Mary Tilden |
Credit line |
Gift of Charles Dewey |
Catalog Number |
2020.6.3 |