Plantation Desk
Hannibal Hamlin’s Plantation Desk c.1840
What is a plantation desk?
Plantation desks were originally used for carrying out to the fields. They were also used commonly for postmen. Plantation desks were the size of an average adult work desk. England made plantation desks, however they were much larger. In the 19th century almost everybody had a type of desk. It got its name from being used on Southern plantation. Desks like this were very popular in the 1800s.
Who was Hannibal Hamlin?
The desk was owned by Hannibal Hamlin. Hannibal Hamlin was born August 27, 1809 in Paris Hill Maine. His parents were Dr.Cyrus Hamlin and Anna Livermore Hamlin. A family story says an Indian Princess saved Hannibal’s life by telling them about nourishing food to help the sick.
Hannibal won the U.S. Senate on 1851. Hannibal joined the Democratic Party on June 12, 1856. When he joined the Republican Party they decided that slavery must no go beyond the Southern States. In September of “56” he married his dead wife’s sister. When Abraham Lincoln was President Hannibal assisted him as vice president. Shortly before the election in 1864 he was called to active duty in the Coast Guard. Sadly, Hannibal died while playing cards on July 4, 1891 at the Terratine club. The couch he died on is at the Bangor Public Library.
4th Grade Guest Curator, Amelia, 2009
Civil War Boots
The boots you are observing are captain’s boots.
There were many different boots. There were also shoes in the Civil War. They were terrible. Some were so thin they would get soaked on wet ground.The boots of the Civil War had a short life span some would only last a month. Only officers would wear boots. Soldiers that weren’t officers would wear shoes. The boots you are looking at were worn by Captain Samuel Thomson during the Civil War. A lot of soldiers wore boots. But not all of them wore boots. Some didn’t get to keep their boots. Some had left them on their dead feet.Bangor Public Library.
4th Grade Guest Curator, Christopher, 2009