Bedroom Off The Dining Room???

Yes, It's True

http://library.mtsu.edu/tps/lessons_3-5.php

So, a comment was made to me that "strangely the master bedroom was off the dining room, and that that was unusual". Well, the answer is yes and no. Yes it is unusual for today. However, people did not use rooms then as we do now. 

The time of Daniel Smith was PRIOR to Queen Victorian. Why is this important? Well, because our house set up and values derive from her, and directly from her.

During the time of Daniel Smith, the bedrooms were just beginning to move upstairs. In fact, most bedrooms were on the first floor, and the dining was on the second in the beginning of the eighteenth century. We like to think that Tennessee was backwards, but indeed it was not! Ok, so fashions took a little time to get to the American frontier  but not as slow as you think. There were many books and magazines that traveled west, and people actually read them. ;)

AND, Rock Castle was actually on the forefront of house fashion. It had Roman styling with the newer central staircase. And, what was very new for this era, a back staircase for servants. Also new in styling was a servant room. This was brand new to the central to late 18th century. Before this, servants would sleep in the hall. Yes, even in America. To have a room specifically for a servant meant the owner was well to do! So, what about that bedroom off the dining? Stay with me! 

People did not just sleep in bedrooms as the Victorians did. Bedrooms were also staterooms. This meant that there were business meetings and parties inside the bedroom. Also, teas, gatherings, etc. When there was party, tables could be set up easily inside the bedroom. These tables were usually trestle tables so they could easily be removed as well. Chairs could be brought in, etc. Again, do not think about our traditions now, to be in someones bedroom was not unconscionable then. The room could be used as a withdrawing room for the ladies, especially since there was no formal drawing rooms yet, this was a little bit later. The correct term would be "withdrawing chamber" during the eighteenth century, and there still could be a bed there for the use of guests, or gasp!, just for appearances! This was slowly going out of fashion, and would be completely out of fashion by 1800 in Europe and shortly thereafter America. 

Any thoughts?