> Are you sure the "adult" clothes weren't made for young boys or teens, or women?

Yes. I read the informative cards at the display. Some were for officers. George Washington was a giant in his day. Look at the short beds and low ceilings. Watch your head walking through a doorway!

Tour a navy ship of the time.

If you like, look up historical US statistics on height.

BTW, I saw Henry VIII's armor in London. Looked like a boy's armor.

As for the short colonial lives, I read an account by bone archaeologists who examined the bones of colonials and noted that they suffered much damage from overloading the bones and their age at death was usually under 40.

Just think about the hard work in making your cabin with a saw and an axe. Then a barn. Then fences. Then about the endless amount of firewood you have to chop every day. Then using a horse-drawn plow. And dig a well by hand. And so on.