How is life as a Revolutionary War reenactor? Couple in 50th year and Redcoats explain.
EXETER — A big highlight of the American Independence Festival each year are the militia reenactors.
Sticklers for detail, they are passionate about educating visitors through their living history portrayals. The reenactors take their roles very seriously and many of them have been doing this for a long time, but few for as long as June and Carroll White.
June White, 90, one of the original members of the First New Hampshire Regiment sat quietly in their encampment, sewing thread buttons. In fact, she sews all of her and her 91-year-old husband Carroll's uniforms for the regiment.
The Whites have been here many times before, participating since 1972. They agreed to an interview to share insights on reenacting the Revolutionary War.
Exeter's American Independence Festival: Fireworks, battles, more. Here's schedule.
First New Hampshire Regiment
What are your roles?
JW: I am a camp wife. I care for the troops.
CW: I was a rifleman but haven't done that since 1990. My hands shake, so it's not safe. Now I am a civilian in camp.
Why have you stuck with this for so long?
JW: I have made a lot of friends and I get to go to many places I would not see otherwise. I even got to go to England.
'Where the first shots were fired': NH, Sununu claim Revolutionary War history at Fort Constitution
Where do you get your uniforms?
JW: I make them all myself. There are places you can order from.
CW: She makes all of mine, has always done so.
(The Whites say they are retired and have time to go whenever they want. They have no phone and never had a computer.)
What did you do before you retired?
CW: I was an electronic technician. A group of guys, myself being one of them started the regiment. We had 107 members at one point.
JW: I was a paraprofessional in education.
More: Bronze Star ceremony in Dover
How long will you continue to take part in the First New Hampshire?
JW: As long as we can and as long as we are still enjoying it.
Are women in the camp equal?
JW: We were not at first. Women were not allowed and could not speak at a meeting. So, we formed our own group until we became one.
CW: She is really in charge.
JW: We have all our own stuff now. I have had to sleep in the hay, make my own hay bag.
And introducing ... the British
Bryon Bousk of Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Andy Shein, of Winchester, Massachusetts, were part of the Fourth Regiment of Foot, looking for a few good men to fight the "rebels."
Why do you choose to portray the British?
BB: It's fun to be the bad guy. And we were not always the bad guys, not until these rebels tried to stop obeying King George.
AS: We get to travel and to stay at some very cool places, like the barracks at Fort Ticonderoga. We stay in places people just visit as tourists. Plus my girlfriend Jeannette does this and it is something we do together.
How long have you been doing this?
BB: I have been doing it for 57 years. I was not always the British. I started out in Fife and Drum. I was part of the militia and even the French. Then in 2001, a friend started a Redcoats groups and I joined.
How do people treat you?
BB: Sometimes they throw things, like bread, at us.
More: Preston Xanthopoulos: Lessons from Thomas Paine on today's nasty political discourse
Where do your uniforms come from?
BB: My wife Anita makes them, for all of us.
AS: Yup; she made mine.
Are they hot to wear in summer weather?
BB: They are wool, natural fibers so they breathe.
AS: You actually get used to it.
When you are not doing this, what do you do?
BB: I am a chief operating officer for a waste management company.
AS: I write software for weather satellites.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What's it like being a Revolutionary War reenactor? We asked them.
