You might use "Star right, Star left" (or vice versa) to replace the rights and lefts.

One dance that has at least some link to the era that I have used often is "Jefferson's Reel."  It is a variation on "Jefferson and Liberty" so is from around the time you are looking at.

Jefferson's Reel

Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty

duple proper or improper

1 - Circle left

2 - Circle right

3 - Star right

4 - Star left

5 - 1's down the outside

6 - Return to place 

7 - Down the hall 4 in line, 1's in the center

8 - All back up, 1's arch joined hands,

    2's duck through the arch to meet new neighbors

You don't need to worry about ladies and gents or proper or improper.  It is always very satifying the first time when they meet their new neighbors and everyone realizes how the dance works.  I've had big groups of people with no previous experience all exclaim when they all "get it."

The version of "Rural Felicity" by Dudley Laufman is also a good one.

Rural Felicity

Traditional dance simplified by Dudley Laufman

Longways set, 5-8 couples

A1  Long lines forward and back,

    Top couple chassé to the bottom of the set

A2  Long lines forward and back,

    Same active couple chassé back to the top

B1  All Dos-a-do partner

    All two-hand turn with partner

B2  All, except top couple, make a two-hand arch.  Top couple pass

    down the tunnel to the bottom, all others move up one place.

Also no need to worry about who is partnering with whom or proper or improper.

Jonathan