May 2025

I can’t believe it’s already May! After a packed travel schedule, we’re back home for a bit and hard at work in the shop. Once again, our team bent time and space to be in two places at once. While the main Samson Historical tent—complete with Samsons—along with the Sign of the Red Lion Fabric Store journeyed from Maryland to Virginia, a Regency tent sprang up in Ohio, manned by four of our sewing team members.

With seven to ten of us on the road at once, it was a logistical feat—but thanks to the team members who stayed behind, everything kept humming along at home. We’re grateful for both our crew for their flexibility and our customers for their patience.

I am particularly proud of this month’s newsletter. Within these pages, you’ll find a tale of modern patriotism, inside information about upcoming mailings, and—hopefully—a chance to learn something new about our shared interest: American history.

--

Your Founding Father

Father’s Day is right around the corner—June 15th to be exact—and we’ve got just the thing for the history-loving dad (or the dad who just appreciates a good laugh). Our newest book offering, Fart Proudly by Benjamin Franklin, is a witty collection of satirical essays that’s sure to entertain. Whether your gift recipient is a scholar, a jokester, or both, this little volume is full of charm and cheek. Pair it with one of our shaving kits or a period tobacco tin for a thoughtful and memorable present. As always, we’re happy to ship directly to Dad if you’re short on time!

--

The Receipt of Our Correspondence

The 2025 catalog has started appearing in mailboxes over the last few weeks. If you have received yours, please leave us a note letting us know your name. This helps us see what geographic areas are experiencing delays. If you aren't sure if you are on our mailing list, please feel free to reach out and we will help.

On this same note, dearest gentle readers, you may notice those of you in search of Regency items are coming up at a loss in this recent edition. Not to worry! Our services and goods provided for such interests have reached new heights, such that they require their own publication. If you have procured services in this era from us previously, you will see specialized literature for your own perusal arriving in due course.

--

An Act of Civil Disobedience

If you follow us on social media, you may have seen mention of the challenges we’ve been facing here in our hometown—challenges involving access to critical infrastructure and a city official who used their political position and influence to try and push us out of our buildings. While we won’t get into the full details here today, we do want to say this: we are humbled and profoundly grateful. Casey and I (Abbie) were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support—your comments, messages, and in-person handshakes came from across the country.

As people who spend our days studying what like-minded citizens can accomplish, the historical parallels were flooring. We’re approaching the 250th anniversary of a document that was, with every pen stroke, an act of civil disobedience—a clear statement of facts and intention against an overreaching government.

Many of you attended our city council meeting when we could not, and in your refusal to let the facts and your voices be silenced, you were the embodiment of civil disobedience—perfectly peaceful, perfectly principled. For that, we are deeply thankful. And, just as much, we are in awe.

The Declaration of Independence states:

“When a long train of abuses and usurpations... evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government...”

And also: “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”

Thanks to your participation, our city council was empowered to stand against the usurpations, and institute a governance that protects small businesses, and are working to create safeguards not just for us, but for others like us in the future.

--

The Illusive Mrs. Franklin

When people think of Benjamin Franklin, they often picture the statesman, the inventor, the witty philosopher of the Enlightenment. Less often do they consider the woman who anchored his domestic life: Deborah Read, his common-law wife for over four decades.

Their partnership was anything but conventional—marked by long separations, deep practicality, and a quiet resilience that shaped both of their lives. Deborah, bound by an early, ill-fated marriage, could not legally wed Franklin, yet together they built a household, raised children, and ran a successful business. While Franklin traveled the world as a diplomat and thinker, Deborah remained in Philadelphia, managing affairs at home and enduring his frequent, extended absences.

Theirs was not a storybook romance, but rather a relationship grounded in duty, loyalty, and endurance—a reflection of the complicated human stories behind the grand figures of history. This is the story of Deborah and Ben, lived in the margins of greatness.

Following is a copy of the Power of Attorney declaration Franklin made for Deborah to act with full, unfettered authority on his behalf, dated April 4, 1757:

Know all Men by these Presents, That I Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia Printer Have constituted, made and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute, make and appoint, my trusty and loving Friend and Wife Deborah Franklin, to be my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my Name and Stead, and to my Use, to ask, demand, sue for, levy, recover and receive, all such Sum and Sums of Money, Debts, Rents, Goods, Wares, Dues, Accounts, and other Demands whatsoever, which are or shall be due, owing, payable, and belonging to me, or detained from me any Manner of Ways or Means whatsoever by any Person or Persons whatsoever or whomsoever.

Giving and Granting unto my said Attorney, by these Presents, my full and whole Powers, Strength and Authority, in and about the Premises, to have, use and take, all lawful Ways and Means in my Name for the Recovery thereof, and upon the Receipt of any such Debts, Dues, or Sums of Money aforesaid, Acquittances or other sufficient Discharges, for me, and in my Name, to make, seal and deliver; and generally all and every other Act and Acts, Thing and Things, Device or Devices, in the Law whatsoever, needful and necessary to be done in and about the Premises, for me, and in my Name, to do, execute and perform, as fully, largely and amply, to all Intents and Purposes, as I myself might or could do, if I was personally present, or as if the Matter required more especial Authority than is herein given;

And Attorneys one or more under her for the Purpose aforesaid, to make and constitute, and again at Pleasure to revoke; ratifying, allowing and holding, for firm and effectual, all and whatsoever my said Attorney shall lawfully do in and about the Premises, by Virtue hereof.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, this fourth Day of April in the twenty-ninth Year of his Majesty’s Reign, Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-seven.

B. Franklin

To learn more about Benjamin and Deborah—as well as the other strong female forces in his life—pick up a copy of Poor Richard's Women. This insightful read delves into the personal correspondences and complex relationships that shaped Franklin’s world, offering a fuller picture of the women who stood behind—and sometimes apart from—one of America’s most iconic Founders.