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| Hunting shirt image |
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| tracks from my new buddy "Meshach" |
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| "neck knife" watching out for me |
Hunting shirt Details
So I spent yesterday walking around the camp since it was such a nice day. Funny thing about reading too much Browning is that sometimes you can will Narratives to life. I needed to cut some sapling to make bow looms for weaving and started towards a very brushy part of my camp. While walking and honestly thinking of the best place to locate my "bear trap lean to" I came across some very large bear tracks. Of course I was on a trail you couldn't see 3 fee t into the brush on SO I slowly made my way back the trail. I did spot my friend "neck knife" (a porcupine) keeping a look out for me. Over all I did see a few turkey hens about 8 deer and avoided being eaten. So I'd say it was a good day.
So trying to keep on top of this in between work, sewing,
weaving and evil schemes. Since my last post omitted the favorite garment of so
many of us, The famed Hunting shirt I figured I’d make this post about hunting
shirts. So I often here the comment that folks back then “didnt wear a uniform”
and then something to the level of “I’m a rugged individualist and I want to
dress just like everybody else did at manskers station in 1997” or something to
that effect, by then I’m usually staring into space thinking about holes in
horror movie plots.
Like it or not every living history trend
does bring about a quasi uniform set of ideas people will grab ahold of. More
then reenact history as we understand it (up to that given point) we reenact
each other. So Since hunting shirts are all the rage I put together some period
descriptions of various hunting shirts to show a variety of ideas to toss on
your hunting shirt to make it rugged and individualistic for even the most
solitary backcountry folk.
I started putting in all the hunting shirt runaway ads I could find but I found it was going on forever so I'll be sure to put them in as I write more posts Just to keep the idea in folks brains. In lieu of that I tossed in an Story from an 18th century hunter Jervis Cutler on a particularly bad trip he went on. It has some pretty cool little bits of info in it as well as just showing that sometimes life is just terrible.
So take this
And feel free to add some of these to it.
Dyed Yellow
RUN away, last night, from the subscribers, living in
Baltimore county, about 12 miles from Baltimore town, in Maryland, three English
convict servant men, viz. JAMES HICKMAN, about 22 years of age, about 5 feet 7
or 8 inches high, straight and well made, with short dark brown hair, round
face, dark eyes, a little cross, fresh complexion, and some freckles; he speaks
in the west country dialect. THOMAS AGER, about 25 years of age, about 5 feet 4
or 5 inches high, straight and well made, dark brown hair, tied, long face,
bluish eyes, long chin, pale complexion, pert and proud; he is a good scholar,
and no doubt has changed his name, and forged passes: He ran away some time
ago, and can give some account of Virginia, and the lower parts of Maryland.
WILLIAM ABBOTT, about 25 years of age, about 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high, well
set, round shouldered, with short brown hair, full face, white eyes, very weak;
served part of his time with Henry Hollingsworth, at the Head of Elk, ran away,
and made into the back lands, was put into Bedford goal, can give an account of
Shamokin, on Sasquehanna, Shearmanand Path Vallies, and other parts of the back
country. They took with them, felt hats, several coarse shirts, and trowsers,
one old hunting shirt , died yellow, two coarse brown cloth jackets, one white
kersey ditto, with sleeves, one red cloth ditto, bound at the pocket holds, one
ditto, country fulled, and lappelled, with metal buttons, and without sleeves,
two pair of strong country made shoes, well nailed, one pair of ditto, without
nails, and several other things. Whoever takes up said servants, and secures
them, so as their masters may get them again, shall have Seven Pounds Ten
Shillings, if 50 miles from home Ten Pounds, and if 100 miles, the above
reward, or in proportion for each, including what the law allows, and
reasonable charges, if brought home, paid by ALEXANDER WELLS, CHARLES HOWARD, THOMAS
OWINGS.June 21, 1773.
Striped wrist Bands
RUN away from the subscriber living in Augusta , near
Stanton , a convict servant man named JOHN CREATON, an Englishman , about 5
feet 5 inches high; had on when he went away, a white hunting shirt with
striped wristbands, a light coloured lappelled jacket, lined with white
blanketing, two coarse shirts, and a pair of trowsers, a pair of black worsted
stockings, a spotted silk handkerchief, old shoes and brass buckles, a red
coloured wig, and has crooked toes. Whoever takes up and secures said servant
so that I may have him again, shall have FORTY SHILLINGS reward, besides what
the law allows, and reasonable charges paid if brought home.
Ties
The uniform of Morgan's regiment was a short frock made of
pepper-and-salt colored cotton cloth like a common frock worn by our country
people, except that it was short and open before, to be tied with strings,
pantaloons of the same fabric and color
(Simeon Alexander pension application)
Long hunting Shirt
"...They have besides a Body of irregulars, or rifle
Men, whose dress it is hard to describe. They take a piece of
Ticklenburgh, or Tan Cloth that is stout and put it in a Tann Vatt, untill it
has the shade of a dry, or fading leaf, they they make a kind of Frock of it
reaching down below the knee, open before, with a large Cape, they wrap it
round the tight on a March, & tye it with their Belt in which hangs their
Tomahawk,"
(Silas Deane to Elizabeth Deane, 3 Jun 1775)
Tories who broke Goal at Frederick Town on the night of the
23rd September 1776.
Alexander McCraw a Scotchman, a well made man about five
feet nine inches high, had on a coarse hunting shirt and leather breeches, a
pair of striped trousers and pale blue yarn stockings, a pair of shoes and
scotch bonnet.
Hennith Sewart a Scotchman well made about five feel nine
Inches high, wears a long hunting shirt with pockets in the sides of it, a pair
of leather breeches, white stockings, a brown surtout coat and scotch bonnet,
pretends to have some knowledge in Physick.
Stephen Sysney a Pennsylvanian 5 feet 5 Inches high, a
well proportioned man, has a dimple in his chin, short dark brown hair, a
hunting shirt, a brown shalloon jackett, leather breeches, and a pair of
trousers, stockings, shoes and a large hat. (Maryland archives)
A lot of Fringe
June 19, 1776
RUN away from the subscriber, living in Berkeley county,
Virginia, 3 Irish servant men, viz. Joseph Dinnehay, a stout well made fellow,
19 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, of a swarthy complexion, brown
curled hair, talks on the Irish accent; had on a whitish coloured thick coatee,
and jacket short in the skirts, a new wool hat, tow shirts, buckskin breeches,
blue yarn stockings, new shoes, with square brass buckles. James Conner, a
stout fellow, about 24 or 25 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, of a red
complexion, with red curled hair, down look, freckled in the face; had on a
white hunting shirt, much fringed , an old hat, one fine linen shirt, marked
W.G. and one tow cloth ditto, tow cloth trowsers, two muslin stocks, old shoes,
tied with strings. The other named James Delaney, a well made fellow, about 22
or 23 years of age, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, of a black complexion, down
look, pockpitted, black curled hair, tied behind; had on a blue thick cloth
coat, too large for him, a white hunting shirt, an old hat, a tow cloth shirt,
brown thick cloth breeches, blue yarn stockings, new shoes, tied with strings.
Whoever takes up said servants, and secures them in any goal, so as their
masters may get them gain, shall have, if taken 20 miles from home, Forty
Shillings for each, and if 40 miles from home, Three Pounds for each, including
what the law allows, with reasonable charges if brought home, paid by JOHN
MILLER, WILLIAM GLENN, and JOHN MILLER.
N.B. Conner is a good scholar, and it is likely they may
forge passes. They have likewise one pair of plain square silver buckles with
them.May 17, 1776.
April 4, 1777
DESERTED from Elk Ridge landing, Maryland , the 5th of
February last, four soldiers belonging to capt. Charles Fleming's company of
the 7th Virginia regiment. PLEASANT LOCKETT , 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high,
rather spare made, smooth faced, has dark brown hair, wore a light coloured
coarse cloth coat, a red waistcoat, and a pair of brown frieze leggins, and had
with him a bundle in a blanket. RICHARD COX , a stous well set man, about 6
feet high, round shouldered, wears his own dark hair, had on a hunting shirt,
died with a dark colour, a pair of brown frieze leggings, his other dress I do
not recollect; had with him a bundle in a blanket, a small red trunk, and a
rifle. ABRAHAM LEAR , very near the height of Richard Cox in much the same
dress, has with him a bundle in a blanket, and a rifle. JOEL JOHNSON , a low
well set him man, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, wears his own hair and very
large whiskers, full faced; had on a hunting shirt dyed black, fringed round
the capes, ruffles, tail, and down the breast, belted with the skin of a rattle
snake, and had with him a bundle in a blanket. The above reward, or FIVE
DOLLARS for each, will be gived on their being apprehended and delivered to the
commanding officer at Williamsburg , or to the commanding officer of the 7th
Virginia regiment at the continental camp, and all reasonable expenses paid.
(The Bertalino already called dibs on the rattlesnake belt and I have the red trunk already wrapped up in a blanket)
Sleeve Buttons
Bridges took some furs and skins to Lexington where a Hatter
had opened a shop. To him he sold the furs and a pair of silver sleeve buttons
with the letter H engraved upon them. These buttons sent to Mrs Harrod she
immediately recognized them and said her husband had worn them off upon
the last expedition upon his Linen hunting shirt.1793 (History of Kentucky
Lewis Collins)
Leather Hunting shirt
RUN away, from the subscriber, on Sunday, the 12th of April
last, on English convict servant men, named JOHN BAKER, about 20 years of age,
about 5 feet 8 inches high, full faced, has short curly hair, and has lost the
two fore fingers of the left hand: Had on, and took with him, when he went
away, two hunting shirts , one of deer leather, the other of tow linen, two
jackets, without sleeves, one blue cloth, the other white halfthick, a tow
linen shirt , leather breeches, blanket leggings, grey woollen stockings, and
middling good half soaled shoes. Whoever takes up and secures said servant in
any of his Majestygoals, so that his masters may have him again, and gives
information thereof to Mr. JOHN GRATTAN, Merchant, in Augusta county, near
BreckGap, Virginia, shall have FIVE POUNDS, Pennsylvania currency, reward.April
12, 1772. JOHN THOMAS.
“June 20th.-Coburn arrived from Logan's, and says Burr
Harrison, who was wounded the 30th of May, died of his wound on the 13th inst.
Daniel Lyon, who parted with Glenn and Lard on Green river to go to Logan's
fort, had not come in yet. A part of a leather hunting-shirt was found, which
was thought to be his. Indi ans seen to-day, and much sign. (cowans Journal)
Jervis cutler’s bad night
In 1789 he returned to Marietta, and aided in forming the
settlement of Waterford, being one of the first associates, but did not long
remain there. In the autumn of that year he joined a party of the Ohio Company
land surveyors, not as a 'regular hand, but out of curiosity to see the
country, who were running the east and west township lines of the fourteenth
and fifteenth ranges, between the Big Hockhocking and Raccoon creek. It consisted
of twelve men‘, of whom Daniel Mayo, of Boston, was one, and Benoni Hurlburt,
afterward killed by the Indians, was the hunter.
The following interesting sketch of his being
lost in the woods, was taken from his own lips, about three years before his
death, and is a specimen of the exposures to which the early settlers were all
liable; Having quite a relish could find no signs of his trail. Just at night he
met a fine bear, which he shot at and wounded. A small dog, now his only
companion, gave it chase, but as the bear declined taking a tree, as they usually
do, he soon gave up the pursuit. Finding that he was actually lost, he fired his
gun several times, in hopes the party would hear it and answer his signal of
distress.
Night now rapidly approaching, he prepared to
encamp, and selected a dead, dry beech-tree, the top of which was broken off
about twenty feet from the ground, against which he kindled the fire. He laid
down on some leaves before it, and being excessively tired, dropped into a
sound sleep. The flame soon ran to the top of the dry beech, and a large flake of
the burning wood, aided by the current of air, dropped on to the breast of his
hunting-shirt, burning his skin severely. With some effort he succeeded in
extinguishing his burning garment, and slept at intervals during the night. He
rose at daylight, directing his course eastwardly, with the hope of striking
the Hockhocking, which he knew lay in that direction.
All that day he traveled
diligently, with the little dog by his side, without discovering the object of
his search. . That night he encamped near a small a small stream of water, but
without fire, as he dreaded a repetition of the last night’s accident; besides,
he had nothing to cook for supper, and the weather was not cold. The night was
passed quietly, with the little dog coiled up at his feet. The third morning he
started early, and saw many signs of buffaloes, but no animals; and traveled
all day without seeing any game.
Toward evening the little dog, which seemed
aware of his master’s necessities as well as his own, ranged either to the
right or left of the course, in search of game; and toward night, barked
vehemently at something he had discovered. Mr. Cutler hastened up to the spot
in expectation of at least seeing a fat bear, but only found a little, poor,
starved opossum. Thinking this better than no meat, he killed and dressed it,
roasting it by his camp fire. A part of it was offered to the dog, but he
declined partaking such poor fare, and his master consumed the whole of it. It
was now three days since he left his companions, and this was his only meal.
On the fourth morning, after a sound night’s
sleep by his fire, he felt quite ' refreshed, and pushed manfully onward, as he
thought on an easterly course, but doubtless making many deviations from a
right line. Soon after getting under way, his faithful companion started up a
flock. of turkeys, the sight of which greatly animated his spirits. His gun was
soon leveled and discharged at one of the largest, not more than thirty feet
distant. In the agitation and eagerness of the moment, he missed his mark, and
the bird flew unharmed away, much to the chagrin of the little dog, which looked
quite astonished and mortified at his master. His first impression was that his
gun had been bent or injured, and would not shoot with any accuracy.
Despair now succeeded to his recent joy, as he
thought he must inevitably starve before he could escape from the woods. After
shedding a few tears over his hopeless condition, and resting awhile on a log,
he carefully wiped out his rifle and loaded it with great nicety. In the mean-
time the turkeys had all disappeared but a solitary one, perched on the top of
a high tree. He now rested his gun against the side of a tree, and taking
deliberate aim, he fired once more, and to his great joy the turkey came
tumbling to the ground.
A fire was soon kindled, the feathers pulled,
and the bird roasted on the coals. A hearty meal was then made, of which the
little dog now readily partook. This food was the sweetest he had ever tasted,
and put fresh courage into the Wanderers. The remains of the turkey were stowed away
in the bosom of his hunting-shirt, and he pursued his solitary way more
cheerfully. Soon after, in passing up a ridge, a fine deer came round the point
of the hill, which he shot. From the skin of the animal he formed a kind
of sack, which he slung to his shoulders, with strips of leatherwood bark,
filled with the choicest pieces of the meat.
He now traveled on quite cheerily, in which
the little dog also participated, knowing he had food for several days, or
until he could reach the settlements. That night he camped by the side of a
little run, made a cheerful fire, roasted his venison, and ate his supper with a
fine relish.’ After sleeping soundly, he awoke with renovated strength and
spirits. This was now the fifth day of his wandering, and luckily, a little
before noon, he came on to the Hockhocking, at a place which he at once
recognized as being about a mile and a half below the point from which the
surveying party had started out on their work.
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