Early Furnishings

The earliest settlers made their own furniture. This is what had happened with Uncle Roy in my historical novel, CLEARED FOR PLANTING. The pieces ended up being crude or well-made, depending on the skill of their maker. This continued in the rural areas, although town dwellers might eventually go to a cabinetmaker, sometimes called a "joiner," or some other craftsman. 

Fathers, especially those of German descent, made a dower chest to give to their daughters. Cupboards were commonly built in two sections. Sometimes they had panes of glass, if the owner could afford it. Straight chairs and deacon's benches often provided seating.

Almost all beds were double ones. They were most often made from poplar or pine, but some came from walnut, maple, or cherry. Beds were rarely decorated beyond the initial design. A trundle bed might be pushed under the double bed for children. Ropes were strung to hold a shuck or feather mattress, and there was a tool to tighten the ropes when they began to sag.

The kitchen would have a table, and smaller tables might dot other rooms to hold candles and other items. People had less furniture than we think necessary today. Pegs often dotted the wall to hold clothing and other items. 

As some of the colonists became more affluent, the furnishings became more elaborate. The old homes we tour today usually display these furnishings, because they're what have survived. Most of the simpler pieces either wore out or was not saved by later generations.

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