Call Number:

Codex.2119

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Hare family recipe book, circa 1801-1821, Ms. Codex 2119, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

circa 1801-1821 (inclusive)

Abstract:

This volume was written and compiled primarily by Mrs. Hare between 1801 and 1821. There is at least one other distinctive hand present and several other members of the Hare family are mentioned. This volume contains 405 culinary, medical, and household recipes attributed to members of the Hare family, acquaintances, newspapers, and public figures.

Addresses on the inter laid papers in this volume indicate that the primary author and compiler is a Mrs. Hare of 6 Somerset Place in Bath, England. She is possibly the wife of R. [Robert?] Hare, Esq. who is partially identified on the volume's front pastedown and on an inter laid leaf.

Several other members of the Hare family are identified throughout the volume, including Miss Martha Hare, who is identified as the sister of one of the authors, Mrs. James Hare, and Rich [Richard] Hare.

Somerset Place in Bath, England was designed by John Eveleigh in 1790 and completed by 1820. It was designed in the crescent style and was intended to rival Bath's Royal Crescent.

In addition to the recipes attributed to members of the Hare family and their acquaintances, there are numerous notable recipes from Bath at the time, including Sally Lunn's buns and Dr. Oliver's Biscuits.

Sally Lunn's bun was developed by Sally Lunn (Solange Luyon) during the 17th century at Sally Lunn's tea and eating house in Bath, England. It is believed to be the first Bath bun.

Dr. Oliver's biscuits were developed by Dr. William Oliver (1695-1764) in Bath, England in response to the unhealthy breakfast that the 18th century visitors of Bath typically enjoyed, the Bath bun. Dr. Oliver's biscuit was intended to serve as a digestive for those with health concerns like himself, who suffered from gout.

Sources:

"Meet Sally Lunn." Sally Lunn's, 14 June 2018, www.sallylunns.co.uk/history/meet-sally-lunn/.

"Baking Dr Oliver's Biscuits for Heritage Open Day!" Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, www.brlsi.org/baking-dr-olivers-biscuits-for-heritage-open-day/. Accessed 15 May 2023.

Holledge, Richard. "Restoring Neglected Town Houses to Their Old Glory in Bath." New York Times, 2 Aug. 2012, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/greathomesanddestinations/03iht-rebath03.html.

This volume contains 405 culinary, medical, and household recipes created or compiled by Mrs. Hare of 6 Somerset Place in Bath, England between 1801 and 1821.

The volume is bound in full original parchment and has several newspaper clippings adhered to the front pastedown and endleaf. The orientation of the writing flips on page 259.

This volume is written in multiple hands, two of which are clearly distinct though there could be several others. Mrs. Hare's hand appears in the first portion of the volume (p. 10-75) and sporadically throughout the rest of the volume. A second, unidentified hand appears at the beginning of the volume (p. 1-10) and is the dominant hand in the second portion of the volume (p. 76-277).

These recipes are attributed to various members of the Hare family, to friends and acquaintances from Bath, to newspapers, and to notable figures of the time. Those identified from the Hare family include Miss Martha Hare (p. 3, 75, and 156), Rich [Richard] Hare (p. 102 and 175), and Mrs. James Hare (p. 103).

Recipes from friends and acquaintances include Blacking "from my Servant John Hyder Alley" (p. 98), Lady Anne Talbot's apple pudding (p. 142), and several from partially identified individuals including Mrs. Goddard, Mrs. Rodgers, Mrs. Smith, and others.

Recipes from notable figures include Dr. William Oliver's biscuits (p. 51) and Sally Lunn's buns (p. 74).

Examples of the diverse rance of recipes in this volume include those for mead (p. 3), macaroni (p. 16), cures for deafness (p. 37), mahogany polish (p. 45), Bridges' Tincture (p. 46), candy ginger (p. 65), marking ink (p. 77), remedy for a tooth ache (p. 197), and cayenne pepper gargle (p. 218).