Mondays at the Manor - Table Settings

Welcome to a new blog series with volunteer, Beth Goldworthy, where we will explore the home life of a farm family in the 1850s. With many of us at home these days, this will give us an idea of how our ancestors lived 170 years ago.

This week and next week, we will be taking a look at family dinners. Family dinners in the era would vary with the social class of the home.  Working class families would often eat together, while the upper classes would have the adults eating together, while the children ate in the nursery.  Once a child became of marriageable age, they were allowed to join their parents. Many of the more formal dinners were an opportunity for marriages to be arranged.

Dinner for families was often a formal occasion.  Seats at the table were assigned according to a person’s importance in the family and society.  Even the tables were set with exact rules and everything on the table had its place.  For many of us in the 21^st century, these rules can be overwhelming, and most of us will not be facing the formal dining situation.  Still, having some knowledge might some day come in handy.

The most formal table setting would be used only for multi-course meals. These might be very special occasions, such as upper-class society weddings or royal and court meals. Most working people would not be facing such an extravagant meal. Of course, there would special wine served with each course.

Formal Place Setting for Upper Class Families

  

The Andrew Backus family was considered an upper-middle class family. They would have used the less formal place setting for special meals, still keeping to the more formal rules, but with less flatware. There were also fewer courses, usually one main meal, and on holidays and special events, there would be what we know as an appetizer, a salad course, the main entrée, and then a nice simple dessert. There might have been separate wines served.  For those of us in the 21^st century, this is the place setting that we would find in a fancy restaurant or what to us is a formal dinner.

Semi-Formal Place setting for Upper-Middle Class Family

  

In the 21^st century, the idea of family meals has been interrupted by after school / after work activities. Perhaps with our present Stay-Home days, this would be a good opportunity to return to family meals, and re-learn and teach younger members of the family the lost art of setting a proper table.  The basics to learn are quite easy, and even the younger family members can be included. You can also use this as a craft project. All you need is a Bristol board, construction paper, old wrapping paper, or simply crayons or makers. Once the place-mat is designed, cover it with clear shelf plastic. Each family member can have their own special place, and the decorations can be made to suit each person. 

         

Here's an example

Or use this template and customize them with each person's name.

Have fun with this, and enjoy your meals together!

Next week, we’ll take a look at table manners of the Victorian era and how we can use some of these manners in our everyday meals.

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