In today’s busy world, it’s hard to think that going shopping would be anything special. In the 18th century, however, heading into a town to go to market allowed for families who lived in the countryside to come into town, stock up on goods, and catch up on the latest news. Dedicated market days were often scheduled to go along with militia musters. Musters were regularly scheduled times for all able-bodied males between the ages of 16 and 60 to come together and practice their drills in case the local militia was needed to be called up to defend the peace. In 1774, a law was passed that reduced the required amount of militia musters to two a year. The lack of practice showed during the Revolutionary War when George Washington noted that militias were “totally unacquainted with every kind of military skill.”
Colonial Market Day captures both aspects of a colonial market day. Our military interpretive unit representing the militia that Governor Tryon called out in 1771 to face off against the Regulator Movement. We will also have demonstrations of colonial era skills and trades, many of which would have been wares that would have been able to be found at different colonial markets.
By Matthew Arthur, Living History Program Coordinator, Tryon Palace
Tryon Palace • 529 South Front Street • New Bern, NC 28562 • 252-639-3500 • www.tryonpalace.org