RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 13, 2022 18:08:26 GMT -7
The action seems to be generally agreed to have taken place on East Wharf Beach. I’m still trying to confirm. Modern view. It’s thought that the schooner was put on the rocks here. Having spent time on the Connecticut coast, these outcroppings are typical for the area. Google satellite image. The rocks are plainly visible left of center. Based on the scale, the closest that the Loyalist men on the schooner and the Patriot militia could possibly be is about 50m. At high tide that would likely be more. If the militia was near the protected beach to the far left (west) rather than near the modern homes directly north of the rocks, the engagement would have been 150m+. Having put boats aground myself, there were likely better spots to choose. But when being pursued by a hostile squadron, at night, and primary concerned with preservation of life, maybe this was the best the captain of the schooner could manage. Farther east did look like better bottom. Then again, an abandoned ship on a soft bottom makes for an easier prize to recover than one hard on the rocks. Maybe better to really drive it up on, and think about getting her off on the next big tide. Fire from the schooner would be from an elevated position compared to the militia on the beach. So, too at longer distances, the musket balls would basically be getting lobbed in a ballistic arc. But regardless, I don’t think Meigs was necessarily shot from above. I think he simply took an unlucky ball high on the head above his right eye.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 13, 2022 18:36:40 GMT -7
From the Connecticut historical society. Hi Ryan
There are a couple of notes in our catalog about how it was worn:
October 1, 1998 Collections Talk: "Typically worn with brim down; modified for militia service by cocking up brim on the side so as not to interfere when firing a musket. This particular hat may have been converted from a wider brimmed, three corner hat. Waxed, 9-ply string around base of crown retains a still loop that may have held a feather or plume."
Letter (July 30, 1992) from D. A. Saguto of Colonial Williamsburg to Rich Malley, Registrar of CHS reads, in part: "...Several observations were noted; the black-dyed two-ply string that currently holds up the cocked leaf of the brim looks like a recent replacement; the brim and crown show evidence of holes that suggest that the hat was converted from a wider brimmed, three cornered style, to a "small round hat" (probably to adapt its use to the military); there appears to be the remains of some applied varnish-like substance on the outside of the crown and brim (painting and varnishing hats was known in the period); the remains of the linen lining (20-25 yarns per inch, tabby weave) was sewn in cut on the bias (possibly to allow for stretching); and the waxed c. 9-ply string run around the base of the crown retains a stiff loop in it that may have held a feather or plume. The crown appears, also, to have been stored on a perfectly circular block or form that has deformed its shape to a perfect circle. This makes it difficult to determine the front and rear of the hat, however, contemporary references to military "round hats" frequently mentioned them being cocked up on the left side so they won't interfere with the soldier's gun. If this is the case, the loop in the crown string would be oriented just to the rear of the wearer's right ear, opposite the cock."
I hope that helps!
Your repro looks great 🙂
Tasha
For what it’s worth, I still believe this was worn cock behind based on a few things. The location of the ball holes: Cocked left, the ball entered from the right, behind the ear, and exited out near the rear center. If I remember my drill, there are few reasons to present your right side to the enemy. Cocked rear, the ball entered right-center forehead. I believe the clip in the cocked brim may also have been caused by the projectile, giving us three points of travel. The location of the earlier cocking holes on the brim and crown indicate to me the remaining cocked brim was likely the original rear cock when the hat was a tricorn. BTW - drawing was done by Colonial Williamsburg. Unrelated… 25” crown circumference. I have zero understanding of the topic, but could Captain Meigs have been wearing a wig?
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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 20:45:59 GMT -7
The action seems to be generally agreed to have taken place on East Wharf Beach. I’m still trying to confirm. Modern view. It’s thought that the schooner was put on the rocks here. Having spent time on the Connecticut coast, these outcroppings are typical for the area. View AttachmentGoogle satellite image. The rocks are plainly visible left of center. Based on the scale, the closest that the Loyalist men on the schooner and the Patriot militia could possibly be is about 50m. At high tide that would likely be more. If the militia was near the protected beach to the far left (west) rather than near the modern homes directly north of the rocks, the engagement would have been 150m+. View AttachmentHaving put boats aground myself, there were likely better spots to choose. But when being pursued by a hostile squadron, at night, and primary concerned with preservation of life, maybe this was the best the captain of the schooner could manage. Farther east did look like better bottom. Then again, an abandoned ship on a soft bottom makes for an easier prize to recover than one hard on the rocks. Maybe better to really drive it up on, and think about getting her off on the next big tide. View AttachmentFire from the schooner would be from an elevated position compared to the militia on the beach. So, too at longer distances, the musket balls would basically be getting lobbed in a ballistic arc. But regardless, I don’t think Meigs was necessarily shot from above. I think he simply took an unlucky ball high on the head above his right eye. Great Info, FWIW, during this period the maximum range British Soldiers would start firing was between 50 and 60 yards, so I doubt the Patriots would have wasted powder and shot to begin firing at 150 m's. Any militia man from that area who had served in either King George's War or the FIW would have known this. Gus
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 13, 2022 20:59:45 GMT -7
Amazing how a hat discussion can turn, eh?
Geez this stuff is fun.
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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 21:39:47 GMT -7
Unrelated… 25” crown circumference. I have zero understanding of the topic, but could Captain Meigs have been wearing a wig?Great Info from the museum, thanks for sharing. The answer to your question above is, "Yes, due to his age and his prior experience as a Militia Captain, he certainly could have been wearing a wig, especially if he had worn this hat as a Militia Captain when it was likely it was a cocked hat and he would have worn a wig." Though I am not an expert on civilian wigs in the period, the following is paraphrasing what I learned from the Barber and Peruke (wig) Maker's shop at Colonial Williamsburg over the years. Though the fashion of wearing wigs was beginning to go out of favor a bit generally by the AWI; it was still fashionable for wealthy men, particularly those with leadership positions in the government and the military OR for those who had lost much or all of their hair due to age or ill health. In the working trades, the Masters of many shops in towns still wore wigs (or at the minimum powdered and dressed their hair like a wig) made of lesser expensive materials, particularly if they wished patronage by more wealthy clients. Believe it or not and while "Other ranks" in the military were not expected to wear wigs, it was still "regulations" during the AWI for we "barbaric" Highlanders that should our hair have to become shaved off due to illness, wounds or infestation, we were expected to pay to have wig curls sewn on the sides and a braided que sewn to the rear of our bonnets until our hair grew back out. P.S. For "other ranks" such as private soldiers, that would have been extremely expensive. Gus
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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 21:41:17 GMT -7
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Post by artificer on Jul 13, 2022 21:54:29 GMT -7
Amazing how a hat discussion can turn, eh? Geez this stuff is fun. Actually, your threads are becoming known for the many twists and turns in each one, as you often ask side questions. GRIN. Still, that can keep things interesting, so Tally Ho. Gus
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Post by spence on Jul 13, 2022 22:02:48 GMT -7
Unrelated… 25” crown circumference. I have zero understanding of the topic, but could Captain Meigs have been wearing a wig? Christopher Hibbert, REDCOATS AND REBELS, the author gives the following quote from a British officer's description of the rebel troops at the Saratoga surrender: "(Some of them) had snow-white wigs with mighty long bushy hair at the sides and thick lambs'-tails behind! There were glistening black abbots' wigs which especially set off red or copper coloured faces! There were white or gray English pastors' wigs whose horse or goat hair was done up in dangerously huge roll standing up in the air. You think such a man has a whole sheep under his hat and hanging down the back of his neck. The respected wearers of these various wigs are in part between their fiftieth and sixtieth year and have at this age followed the drum for the first time." Spence
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Post by lenapej on Jul 14, 2022 18:05:53 GMT -7
Thanks for the info on the original, that was interesting, your hat looks great.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 14, 2022 18:21:12 GMT -7
Thanks, Josh. I do try to find interesting stuff!
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 14, 2022 19:20:36 GMT -7
I just read that the Meigs hat may be the only surviving round hat from the AWI period. Can that be? If so… that makes it important beyond measure.
A thought on reproductions. I’m a design nerd and I hold proportion in high regard. One thing that I hadn’t considered with something like a hat but which should matter to the afflicted among us is that 21st century people are larger than 18th century humans.
The average height of people from France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom has increased 7% from the 18th to the 21st century.
So… if we take the hats of the French and Indian War period that were cut down to 2-1/2” brims… to be proportional in size in relation to the size of modern humans, we should cut our brims to…
2-5/8”!!
Yeah. So. That was a pointless exercise… 😂
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Post by artificer on Jul 14, 2022 22:27:05 GMT -7
Yes, but you found out something you didn't know before and had interested you. Sometimes the answer is "it didn't matter," but so what? It still gives you a better feel for the period. Also and should you ever do Living History, it will better prepare you for questions you may not have thought about ahead of time. I know part of the fun of doing Living History is getting questions you can't answer and then going and researching them.
Gus
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Jul 16, 2022 18:08:46 GMT -7
Don’t get me wrong… I love the following of some thought or idea. Even when it proves my idea wrong. Dead ends are part of finding your way through the maze.
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