carrying shot, 18th century style
Sept 7, 2020 16:45:48 GMT -7
Black Hand, brokennock, and 4 more like this
Post by spence on Sept 7, 2020 16:45:48 GMT -7
The older I get the less I worry about talking to myself. You wouldn't think that a good thing, but on this forum it works out OK. 
One of the pleasures I get from studying the old ways is having long-standing questions answered. For instance, back in about 1995 I found the delightful and enlightening 1727 shooting poem by George Markland, Pteryplegia: or the Art of Shooting-Flying. It's full of nuggets of information I've seen nowhere else, but it poses some puzzles, too. One such is the line:
Our Shot of sev'ral sorts,
half round the Waist,
in Ticking semicircularly plac'd,
Embrac'd and poiz'd us well.
Ticking semicircularly plac'd? What's that all about? Like a carpenter's apron with pockets, maybe? I couldn't imagine for the longest time, and had given up hope of ever finding out, and then about 20 years later I found the hunting paintings of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. A 1775 painting of his showed this detail, and I had a eureka! moment:
A 'half round the waist semicircularly placed' if I ever saw one. Good news, after a very long time. But then he did it again in another painting:
And then in another, showing the equipment in detail, making it clear the bags were attached to a wide removable belt:
I've had this sort of thing happen a few times over the years, and for a seeker there's nothing better.
I also found another instance of something which must be similar, but there was no picture. Of a different sort entirely, but I suppose it may indicate that the idea of carrying stuff in multiple bags fastened to a belt around the waist was not a rare thing in the 18th century.
The Pennsylvania Gazette
July 9, 1741
The Goods aforesaid, are supposed to be stolen by one James Symmonds, alias Cyrcus Symmonds, born in Somersetshire in England, above 60 Years of age, long visag'd, large grey Eyes, much pockfretten, large open Fore-Teeth, burnt in the Hand at Burlington, and has been whipt in most Towns in Pennsylvania, the Jerseys &c. Had on a close bodied homespun Coat without lining, long Pockets in it always stuff'd full; a Belt round his middle with Bags tied to it, wears a Cap, and Hat much over his Forehead. When he is detected in theft, he alters his Voice and squeaks.
Spence
One of the pleasures I get from studying the old ways is having long-standing questions answered. For instance, back in about 1995 I found the delightful and enlightening 1727 shooting poem by George Markland, Pteryplegia: or the Art of Shooting-Flying. It's full of nuggets of information I've seen nowhere else, but it poses some puzzles, too. One such is the line:
Our Shot of sev'ral sorts,
half round the Waist,
in Ticking semicircularly plac'd,
Embrac'd and poiz'd us well.
Ticking semicircularly plac'd? What's that all about? Like a carpenter's apron with pockets, maybe? I couldn't imagine for the longest time, and had given up hope of ever finding out, and then about 20 years later I found the hunting paintings of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. A 1775 painting of his showed this detail, and I had a eureka! moment:
A 'half round the waist semicircularly placed' if I ever saw one. Good news, after a very long time. But then he did it again in another painting:
And then in another, showing the equipment in detail, making it clear the bags were attached to a wide removable belt:
I've had this sort of thing happen a few times over the years, and for a seeker there's nothing better.
I also found another instance of something which must be similar, but there was no picture. Of a different sort entirely, but I suppose it may indicate that the idea of carrying stuff in multiple bags fastened to a belt around the waist was not a rare thing in the 18th century.
The Pennsylvania Gazette
July 9, 1741
The Goods aforesaid, are supposed to be stolen by one James Symmonds, alias Cyrcus Symmonds, born in Somersetshire in England, above 60 Years of age, long visag'd, large grey Eyes, much pockfretten, large open Fore-Teeth, burnt in the Hand at Burlington, and has been whipt in most Towns in Pennsylvania, the Jerseys &c. Had on a close bodied homespun Coat without lining, long Pockets in it always stuff'd full; a Belt round his middle with Bags tied to it, wears a Cap, and Hat much over his Forehead. When he is detected in theft, he alters his Voice and squeaks.
Spence
