“Bundling” allowed betrothed couples to stay at the girl’s house under the supervision of her parents.

A sack that looked like a large sleeping bag with the middle sewn together would hold the young couple together to make sure there was no physical contact.

However, there were variations. An unmarried couple may be allowed to share a bed to stay warm, as long as a board separated the two.

They could even be watched closely by parents.

But these methods weren’t always successful since the mid- to late-1700s had one in three brides pregnant when she said “I do.”

In colonial America, only married couples were allowed to share intimacy.

However, it was easy for people to get married. They just had to clasp hands and declare themselves husband and wife.

This method was called “common law marriage,” or “handfasting,” a practice brought to the Colonies by English settlers.

But not all of these marriages lasted.

Since there were no legal documents or witnesses, it was too easy for a “spouse” to leave the relationship after the marriage was consummated.

Same-sex relationships have existed for the longest time, as far back as the ancients, and the colonial period was no exception.

According to historians, there have been such types of relationships documented through correspondence.

Intimate relations among men were forbidden, but records suggest same-sex couples existed during the war for American independence.

Cities of the past were renowned for their many sex workers, but that wasn’t the case in colonial America.

Religious beliefs discouraged this, and the demographics of the population just could not support large-scale operations.

Sex work did exist, but it wasn’t centralized or well-documented in the countryside.

Most employees worked in major settlements, such as New York and Philadelphia.

Thomas Jefferson is widely celebrated for his liberal ideals, but he did have slaves during his time.

A Sally Hemings was referred to as his “concubine” in 19th-century documents, but scholars question if the relationship was even consensual.

Jefferson may have fathered Hemings’s six children, and that caused scandalous rumors when he was president.

His family insisted that the light-skinned children who looked like Jefferson were fathered by his nephews.

But after DNA tests, they found that Jefferson was most likely the father of those children.

Toys for self-pleasure are as old as intercourse, but as for America’s colonial era, there were no records of such to exist.

Many Colonists were Puritans, so those toys may not have been discussed or sold publicly.

Colonial Americans still joked about intercourse. John Adams himself wrote dirty jokes he would hear.

In a story, a man who “was a better Prophet than Elijah for he stretched himself on her but once to bring her to Life whereas Elijah did 3 times. He breathed into her the Breath of Life.”

Philadelphia was one of the largest cities at the time, so a big population meant lots of opportunities for intimacy.

The most infamous of the “rough” neighborhoods was Hell Town. It was a place of poverty, crime, and sex work.

Benjamin Franklin was said to have relations with a few women from the neighborhood.

Arranged marriages were common back then, but in the 18th century, love became a factor for unions to take place.

Marriages were once arranged to consolidate family power, but the parents’ influence declined by the time of the Revolutionary War.

Rebellion was taking hold of the nation.

Physical intimacy during Revolutionary America was often governed by strict cultural norms and religious beliefs that emphasized modesty and restraint.

Puritan heritage, religious teachings, and Enlightenment ideals contributed to a society emphasizing modesty and restraint. Courtship and marriage were formalized, with limited physical contact, as premarital sex was scandalous.

Gender roles were defined, and public displays of affection were rare due to community scrutiny. Deviation from these norms carried social and legal consequences.

Due to small living spaces and communal arrangements, couples had limited privacy, which influenced how they engaged in physical intimacy.

Couples had to adapt their behavior and engage in more discreet forms of physical affection.

This necessity for privacy influenced the ways in which they navigated and expressed their intimate relationships within the constraints of their living conditions.

Courtship was a formal process, and physical affection was generally reserved for public settings. Couples often exchanged letters and gifts as a way to communicate their affections.

Physical affection was usually reserved for public settings due to societal norms. This approach allowed them to express their affections while adhering to the cultural expectations of modesty and propriety.

Young couples were frequently chaperoned by family members or friends when spending time together, ensuring that interactions remained proper.

This practice aimed to ensure that their interactions remained appropriate and in line with societal standards. Chaperones played a role in maintaining decorum and preventing any behavior that could be deemed improper or scandalous.

Handholding and hugging were considered acceptable forms of physical intimacy between unmarried couples, but they were still done modestly.

However, even though these actions were permitted, they were still carried out with a sense of modesty and restraint.

In some colonial regions, young men carved “love spoons” as tokens of affection for their sweethearts. These intricately designed spoons were considered romantic gifts.

Crafting these spoons was a way for young men to express their feelings and devotion to their beloveds, showcasing their artistic and creative skills as well as their dedication to the relationship.

Ladies would often wear scarves or handkerchiefs with a specific corner knotted in a certain way to convey their relationship status or romantic intentions.

This nonverbal communication allowed women to express their feelings discreetly and maintain the standards of modesty and decorum that were expected in their society.

Parents played a significant role in arranging marriages, and their approval was crucial for a relationship to progress.

Marriages were often viewed as alliances that extended beyond the couple themselves, involving families and even communities. Parents played a central role in evaluating potential partners based on factors such as social status, financial stability, and compatibility.

Engagements were often longer than they are today, allowing couples more time to get to know each other before marriage.

This allowed couples to better understand each other, families to solidify alliances, and logistical and cultural preparations to take place.

Engagements served practical, financial, and cultural purposes, reflecting the era’s complex social dynamics and the significance of marriage beyond personal feelings.

Marriages were often seen as practical partnerships and contracts, where considerations like financial stability and social standing were prioritized over romantic affection.

The societal norms of the time emphasized the communal and practical aspects of marriage, often linking families and communities together through unions that held broader implications beyond individual emotions.

Physical intimacy was closely tied to the role of women as childbearers and mothers, and contraception methods were limited and often unreliable.

The prevailing societal expectations placed a strong emphasis on women’s reproductive responsibilities, and the ability to bear and raise children was a central aspect of their identity and purpose within the family and community.

The medical understanding of reproductive health was limited, and there were misconceptions about contraception and fertility.

People relied on folk remedies, lacked effective contraception methods, and had misunderstandings about reproductive processes.

Superstitions, religious beliefs, and limited access to information further contributed to the challenges of making informed decisions about family planning.

High infant mortality rates influenced attitudes toward sexuality, as families often had numerous children to ensure survival of some.

Families faced significant child mortality, prompting them to have more children in hopes of ensuring some would survive. This emphasis on larger families influenced the purpose of marriage, focusing on childbearing and family continuity.

Social etiquette manuals of the time provided guidance on proper behavior in various social situations, including physical interactions between individuals.

This was particularly true for physical interactions between individuals, where strict adherence to societal norms and decorum was emphasized.

Lack of private spaces meant that sexual activity often occurred in communal settings, such as within the same room as other family members.

The limited availability of private rooms or spaces for couples created challenges in maintaining intimacy without the privacy that modern couples are accustomed to.

In some cases, individuals had to find moments of intimacy within shared living spaces due to the constraints of their living conditions.

Early American society, particularly in the North, was heavily influenced by Puritan beliefs. This meant that sexual activity was generally restricted to marriage and was seen as a means of procreation, rather than for pleasure.

Puritan beliefs emphasized the importance of moral purity, self-discipline, and adhering to strict religious standards.

As a result, premarital sexual activity was widely condemned, and individuals were expected to abstain from engaging in intimate relationships outside the bounds of marriage.

Adultery was heavily frowned upon and could lead to public punishments, including being whipped or forced to wear a scarlet letter, as famously depicted in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel.

These punishments aimed to publicly shame offenders, discourage transgressions, and uphold the strict codes of conduct influenced by the prevailing cultural and religious values of the time.

Children born out of wedlock often faced social stigma and had fewer legal rights than legitimate offspring.

Prevailing cultural and religious norms led to discrimination against these children, impacting their social acceptance and inheritance rights.

In the absence of digital communication, love letters were a primary means of intimate correspondence between couples, especially during times of war. Some of these letters provide historians insights into personal relationships of the era.

These letters served as a lifeline for couples separated by distance or wartime circumstances, allowing them to express their emotions, thoughts, and affectionate sentiments to one another.

Divorce was rare and carried a social stigma. It was difficult to obtain and usually required evidence of adultery or another grave marital offense.

The prevailing attitudes, legal restrictions, religious beliefs, and community pressure all contributed to the rarity of divorce during this era.

The emphasis on the sanctity of marriage and the challenges associated with legal processes shaped the limited instances of divorce in Revolutionary America.