MEET THE 18^TH CENTURY

Saturday, October 17^th, 2026 from 10am to 5pm

at Westmoore Pottery, 4622 Busbee Rd, Seagrove, NC

In the year of the 250^th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it seems fitting for one of Westmoore Pottery’s 2026 events to concentrate on the 18^th century.  “Meet the 18^th Century” will have both outdoor and indoor components.            

Militia Muster:  Aproaching Revolution

Outdoors:  In the field beside Westmoore Pottery’s parking lot, the Orange County Militia will set up to portray an 18^th century North Carolina civilian militia group.

Leading up to the American Revolution, colonists in our state were increasing dissatified with the corruption of officials serving Governor Tryon and with the lack of understanding that government showed to the more “backcountry” colonists. Clashes between the Governor Tryon’s military and these loosely formed groups of people called “Regulators” were frequent.  The volunteers here today are active at Alamance Battleground State Historic Site in Burlington, NC,  where one of those battles took place, pitting the wealthy more eastern NC backers of Governor Tryon against the more westerly less affluant residents, some of whom did not even have weapons.

During this day the milita encampment will carry out the following:

Inspection of arms                                An officers’ afternoon tea

Cooking of meals                                  Explanation of medical practices of the time

A bit of “speechifying”                           A tavern tent

Military firing demonstrations

Visitors are welcome to mingle among the members of the militia, ask questions, and learn a bit about life in a militia encampment in 1700s North Carolina.

Pottery in 18^th Century North Carolina: a Migratory Mix

Indoors:  In the 1700s, pottery was an important part of life in North Carolina.  Its presence in kitchens, dairies, bedrooms, and in other household rooms was a testament to how much it was needed.  This was especially true in areas of the “backcountry” where iron cookpots were not so readily available. 

During this century much of the pottery used in North Carolina came from elsewhere.  A large quantity was from England due to that country’s dominence in trade to the colonies, some was imported from other faraway countries such as Germany, and some arrived from other American colonies -- from Virginia, from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and occasional pieces from Massachusetts.  Starting mid-century the state began to see potters of European background settling in and making pottery in North Carolina. This was the beginning of pottery-making in our state other than by various Indigenous American tribespeople.

For this event there will be:

• Informational displays about 18^th century pottery in North Carolina
• Replicas of the types of pottery which were used in NC in the 1700s.
• Examples of receipts (recipes) from 18^th century cooking.
• Demos of making pottery on the wheel and/or decorating pottery
• A few fun other activities related to this topic

Come visit!  Stay for a while or for the entire day!

Learn about life in the times of America’s Revolutionary War.

For more information contact:

Mary Farrell

Westmoore Pottery

westmoore2@gmail.com

or 910-464-3700