One of the unexpected facts I uncovered while writing Chasing Freedom was just how much tobacco Virginians chewed in 1801. Not just smoked and snuffed – but chewed and chewed constantly. It was everywhere.

Men carried tobacco in their pockets. Boys learned to chew almost as soon as they could walk. And even women chewed tobacco, especially in rural communities, like Matildaville. It wasn’t considered improper; it was simply part of daily life.

And because everyone chewed…. there was a lot of spitting.

Travelers wrote about tavern floors covered with spit, courthouse aisle were stained with brown spots, ferry decks were covered in tobacco juice, and even church aisles were covered where people spat during sermons.

Tobacco wasn’t just a habit — it was currency. It was used to pay taxes, settle debts, buy goods, and pay rent. Even after there was official currency, the culture of tobacco as an exchange method remained.

While I found this fascinating, as a historical fiction storyteller, I decided to leave these less-than-pleasant details out of Chasing Freedom and especially out of the picture book I am beginning to design.

But I love to share these behind-the-scenes details so readers can imagine what life in Virginia truly looked like in 1801.