The Dining Room

The connection to the basement kitchen and outdoors allowed for food to be brought into the dining area. The plantation was large and made up of many unrelated individuals and frequent visitors during most of its lived-in era. Smithfield's influence was at its peak between 1774 and 1865. In this room, issues like the American Revolution, relations with Indigenous Peoples, the War of 1812, abolition of slavery, and the Civil War were discussed with great uncertainty.

The Prestons left behind recipes of the food that was likely eaten in this room. Wife of William Preston, Jr. Caroline Hancock’s Recipe Book circa 1808-1827 includes recipes for delicacies such as fried cow heels and crab apple preserves. Several pages include the names of the women who gave Preston the recipes.

Two corner cabinets that are original to the Preston family are located in the dining room. These pieces and much of the other furniture located in the house would have been made in similar fashion as the cabinetry in the video below.

Media Collections, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.