Tobacco Use

Clay tobacco pipes are commonly found on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century archaeological sites.¹ The recovery of six white clay stem fragments from this shaft provides the only evidence of tobacco use among the occupants of this household. All of the fragments appear to originate from integral-stem pipes, made as single units with the bowls and stems connected. The longest stem fragment measures about 3 inches in length and includes part of the bottom of the bowl, along with a small projecting spur. In the article “Smoking Pipes for the Archaeologist,” author Charles S. Bradley explains that “spurs allowed later pipes to be held comfortably while being smoked as the bowl would become very hot.” ² This heavily soot-stained pipe stem was recovered from the bottom level of this feature and may reflect a pipe used by a member of the Cramp family or discarded during either the construction or a clean-out of this privy. This stem is decorated with molded ribs around the juncture between the stem and bowl. The other recovered pipe stems are plain, with no decoration or other markings, and were recovered from levels with mixed artifacts that may relate to either family.

There are a number of factors that might explain the low number of smoking-related artifacts at the Cramp/Bumm Site. By the time the house at 1018 Palmer Street was built in 1852 for William G. Cramp and his family—and certainly during the Cramp family period of occupation (1852–1889)—cheap integral-stem clay tobacco pipes had been largely relegated to the working-class populations. Sturdier clay stub-stem, and more valuable meerschaum and briar varieties, had become the most popular pipes among the Victorian middle and upper classes. ³ These pipe varieties were less frequently discarded and are rarely found in archaeological deposits.

From 1883 until 1886, William’s son Jacob was a business partner and owner of a cigar store (see property history for additional details). Jacob continued to reside in his parents’ home at 1018 Palmer Street throughout this period. His direct involvement in the cigar business indicates that members of the Cramp family had access to tobacco products and a variety of smoking devices that might not leave evidence for archaeologists to find.

During the Bumm family period of occupation (1889–1914), cigarettes had exploded in popularity across the nation. Cheaper and more convenient than any other smoking device, cigarettes would leave little or no trace in the archaeological record.

The shipyard occupations of both William Cramp and Jacob Bumm may have promoted the use of smokeless tobacco, which would rarely leave any trace. No evidence of a ceramic spittoon or cuspidor was recovered. These receptacles are a common indicator of the use of chewing tobacco.

The small number of smoking-related artifacts recovered from this site does not indicate that tobacco was not consumed by members of either family during their tenure at 1018 Palmer. As noted above, a variety of factors may explain the lack of evidence of the use of tobacco at this site.