Historic Hanna's Town Frontier Court Days demonstrates women's integral role in 18th century

Leah Ray has always had a love of history, but once she discovered reenacting, she said she fell down the rabbit hole.

She portrayed “Private Lee” on Saturday at the Historic Hanna’s Town Frontier Court Days, which pays tribute to the site of the first English courts west of the Allegheny Mountains.

I’m here in Historic Hanna’s Town for Frontier Court Days, which pays tribute to the site of the first English courts west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Watch this clip of one of the demonstrations ⁦@TribLIVE⁩ pic.twitter.com/4QFjh1puC2

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) June 15, 2024

Ray, 32, of Ford City, joined Proctor’s Militia, a group that portrays the militia that was born in Westmoreland County, over 10 years ago — a place where she said she’s found a second family.

By portraying Private Lee, Ray said she was representing women who disguised themselves as men to join the army.

“They did more than what we think they did,” she said. “They were more than just housewives.”

Louise Henry is also part of Proctor’s Militia. She said the group’s mission is to educate the public on the 18th century frontier and Revolutionary War.

Henry, 54, of Greensburg, met her husband through reenacting, and they got married in the Revolutionary War era fort in Historic Hanna’s Town, she said.

“I’m part of the women’s roles here,” she said of her involvement in Frontier Court Days.

Demonstrations sought to show how labor intensive household chores were for women in the 18th century, Henry said, and her station was candle-dipping. Other chores included soap-making, laundry, spinning, dyeing and cooking, she said.

“All the things the men did suddenly (are) on the women to do on top of everything else,” Henry said, when the men went to war. “All the chores we do today — try doing them manually.”

Jessica Lubanovic was at the indigo dyeing station, demonstrating how women would’ve achieved blue colors on fabric.

“I love the interaction with kids,” said Lubanovic, 36, of Cheswick. “It’s kind of an introduction to chemistry — it’s like a magic trick.”

Henry is part of the court case demonstration this year, two of which feature cases based on women. The cases chosen for the demonstration each year are real, she explained, as they’re found in the Westmoreland County archives from the time period.

“We’re so fortunate … that they had the presence of mind to scoop … those court documents and save them,” she said.

Henry portrayed a woman who took a man to court for child abandonment, and the woman ended up winning the case in the 18th century.

She was also involved in a demonstration that showed how many different opinions about the war people had during the time, including Patriots, Loyalists and those who were undecided.

“We stand on the shoulders of the people who started Westmoreland County,” Henry said, which is why the reenactors strive to keep the history alive. “If it wasn’t for the women … there would’ve been nothing to come back to.”