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Post by brokennock on Jun 6, 2019 6:21:08 GMT -7
How far north can the Type G, or "Bumford" trade gun be documented? Say between 1755 and 1790.
Thanks,
Dave
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Post by paranger on Jun 6, 2019 10:38:52 GMT -7
It's a great question, Dave - one I spent much time pursuing myself. Here is the best info I have found: actual archeological documentation from an excellent article by Lee Burke, entitled "18th Century English Trade Guns in the South, or the Carolina Gun, It's Time and Place in History." Seems that they ranged as far as North as Ft. Ponchartain and the Mohawk Valley to as far south as San Antonio.
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Post by paranger on Jun 6, 2019 10:44:14 GMT -7
It's a great question, Dave - one I spent much time pursuing myself. Here is the best info I have found: actual archeological documentation from an excellent article by Lee Burke, entitled "18th Century English Trade Guns in the South, or the Carolina Gun, It's Time and Place in History." Seems that they ranged as far as North as Michillimakinac and the Mohawk Valley to as far south as San Antonio.  This map should help. |
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Post by straekat on Jun 6, 2019 13:00:21 GMT -7
I didn't know type G's were found at Ligonier. That's not quite my backyard, but close enough. If it's in Grimm's book on the archaeological work he did there, I can check it out there. If not, I know who the curator of collections is at the Fort and can ask her about what is in the collections.
Thanks for the map, and I wouldn't have know it was "local" unless you posted something about them.
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Post by paranger on Jun 6, 2019 13:39:30 GMT -7
I didn't know type G's were found at Ligonier. That's not quite my backyard, but close enough. If it's in Grimm's book on the archaeological work he did there, I can check it out there. If not, I know who the curator of collections is at the Fort and can ask her about what is in the collections.
Thanks for the map, and I wouldn't have know it was "local" unless you posted something about them.
Yep, a buttplate ID'd as Type G hardware was found at Ligonier, apparently. That one is particularly interesting to me, as it is likely a relic of the Cherokee presence on the Forbes Expedition. Since one of my impressions is a 1758 Cherokee, that one helped seal the deal for me. Now I own 2 of Mike Brooks' Type Gs. |
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Post by straekat on Jun 6, 2019 15:54:40 GMT -7
SW Pa was to the immediate south area of Iroquois Confederation, and north of the Cherokee region. The area was on the path between the two and a major war path trail went through the area. There are numerous documented paths known for the mid-18th century. Ligonier is a bit west of the N/S path, although not all that far away. Paul Wallace's books on Indian paths/trails of Pennsylvania has maps and descriptions of those routes. After 1763, Ligonier was a small post or stop over with the main British garrison at Pitt until it was closed down in the early 70's. The Forbes trail however was a major road over the Alleghenies and Ligioner was on the western base of the mountain range and a stop-over before heading east over the mountains, or west after crossing them. In places they can be quite steep even though the elevations aren't that high.
Intersting and how it could have gotten there would be nice to know if only it could talk.
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Post by brokennock on Jun 7, 2019 0:49:41 GMT -7
Thanks. All the info is appreciated, the map though, is outstanding. Trying to figure if it's possible, and if so the likelihood, of someone from N.W. Connecticut that may have ranged through much of N.Y. and down through the Wyoming Valley of P.A., maybe little further south and back during the later years of the F.&I. having one. Maybe having it through to the revolution.
I would prefer a rifle, but, in C.T. a smoothbore is both a far more versatile hunting gun, from what I've gleaned from forums and a few books, it would seem a smoothbore of some kind is far more prevalent here historically for my time period of interest. However, for the types of hunting I do the most of, I really like a rear sight. And I'm not of the impression that a smoothrifle quite fits the bill here, though that is the smoothbore I use most of the two I have.
The Type G seems to bridge that gap nicely. Just, can I place them here at that time?
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Post by straekat on Jun 7, 2019 4:28:00 GMT -7
The Type G seems to bridge that gap nicely. Just, can I place them here at that time? Of course. It's not actually a problem,
There are people doing F&I War re-enactments in the Czech Republic of units that only fought in North America, Russians who do all sorts of period from several regions of the world, Americans who portray Roman legionaries, and there are Rev War re-enactors (and all the way up to WWI/WWII and Vietnam) in Southern California. Rumor has it there are guys in Australia who even are into mid-18th century North America! Who'da'thunk-it?? 
The location you are in is not particularly important.
You can portray who you like and can build a persona by picking a flinter you like, and then make the clothing and gear that would be consistent to the choice of flintlock for period you want to do. Alternatively, start with a particular period, clothing that's appropriate for the time/area you like, and then acquire the rest.
Yes, it is nice to have an impression that is closely linked to where you live now, although no one would have a problem as long as your persona is accurate. Put the stuff on, get outdoors, close your ideas and you can travel anywhere, any time, in your mind.
Just do it, try to be consistent with the person you pick, and then have fun doing it.
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Post by paranger on Jun 7, 2019 4:45:01 GMT -7
Straecat makes a good point. There are multiple approaches to the hobby and impressions, even for the stringently HC/PC. Like Brokenock, My primary impression as an F&I provincial is closely tied to where I live (Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley) and my ancestral ties here. That said, I have always felt the itch to do a Rogers' Rangers impression. Certainly they were never in my neck of the woods. In my case, I will probably choose to save that for a trip up to Ticonderoga, but many of the period events in my area welcome other units (French and British) who were never actually present in this area (Rogers' Rangers included).
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Post by paranger on Jun 7, 2019 4:48:51 GMT -7
With all of thst said, I personally do not think that a type G in CT is too much of a stretch given their documented breadth of distribution - especially for a person who did some traveling / hunting / campaigning southward.
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Post by Black Hand on Jun 7, 2019 4:58:13 GMT -7
Excellent discussion! Keep the great information coming.
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Jun 16, 2019 6:14:08 GMT -7
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