The early Years 1806-1814..
Jan 2, 2013 14:20:50 GMT -7
Post by Chuck Burrows on Jan 2, 2013 14:20:50 GMT -7
Like Rod I've long been interested in the early years of the western fur trade. Over on the MLF a gent asked about the appropriateness of having a fancy Isaac Haines rifle in the west and the clothes one would wear, so I worked up a bit of an answer and thought I'd post it here - not a indepth but still hopefully of interest:
1) Your gun - not really a problem. He made guns into the 1790's so using one of his rifles would be appropriate escpecially for the early (1806-1814 or so - the Americans pretty much got run out of the far West during the War years) mtn man era, but a well cared for 30 or so year old rifle would not be out of place even for the 1820's. As for being too fancy - again not a problem - there are several period indentured servant runaway ads noting fancy guns being stole. A bit later in 1834, Osborne Russell, who was a lowly campkeeper at that time noted his first rifle was an elegant one. An tehn in 1825 you have this order from the American Fur Company:
This order was for the standard trade rifle which was not an expensive gun and they are in the Lancaster style such as Haines.
Some suggestions for clothing from top to bottom - all of it can be documented to the eastern frontier/rocky mtn/upper missouri area of teh 1806-1812 era:
1) Hat - a wide brimmed (4-5") wool or fur felt hat with a 4-4.5" tall crown in black or natural would be typical of teh era. There were other styles as well and if you don't like hats a black silk bandanna tied pirate style works.
2) Shirt - a typical linen or cotton (especially after 1810)of the era.
3) Coat: for regular summer/cool weather a linen or buckskin hunting shirt style with or without cape. Also a simple light-medium weight wool broadclothovershirt. For cold weather a wool capote cut in the appropriate style - even the square cut style can be documented by 1803 - just don't use fringe or yarn to sew it up with. Colors - the most common color was white with a single blue stripe, but other colors do show up.
4) Pants - Knee breeches, pantaloons, or trowsers of the era - line or buckskin were common - but NOT modern chrome tan which gets hot in the summer, cold in the winter and clammy when wet) - the best is braintan buckskin but it is expensive - a good and much less alternative is the German Tan from Crazy Crow and it even comes in seconds - the reason for seconds is usually a thick neck, but that can be used to add outer soles to ones moccasins - such leather was actually widley used in period for eastern made breeches and pantaloons. If you prefer to go more "native" leggings and a breech clout - the leggings can be of wool (broadcloth or stroud - although the latter is currently hard to find and expensive) or buckskin. For the clout wool - broadcloth is good and can be found at a decent price from William Booth draper. The most common wool colors were dark blue and scarlet red.
5) Footwear: Shoes of various types can be documented, but by far at least west of the Mississippi moccasisn were worn. These could be in either a center seam (lots of eastern tribes, such as the Iroquois, Shawnee, and Delaware went west and continued to make their style of mocs) or a side seam style - the latter if you've been to the Rockies. I find the side seams easier to make and fit well. The German tan, especially with an added outer sole, is IMO great for mocs - long wearing and not so expensive - and mocs do wear out fairly fast.
6) Decoration - this really depends on several factors and should generally speaking either be left alone or kept minimal until you can refine the who, when, and where as noted below. Of course it all depends on how PC/Hc you are striving to be if at all.
If you really want to go "PC/HC" then the best thing to do is narrow your focus to: who(white, mixed blood, or Indian - for this tribal affiliation for your are you have not only the locals but the displace Shawnee/Delaware), when - narrow theat 1806-1816 era down to a single year or two if possible, and where - east of the Mississippi, the Plains, or Upper Missouri/Rocky Mtns. By doing this you can refine your gear based on the documentation available.
Some years ago there was a well dcoumented article in the Muzzloader magazine touching on the subject of eastern frontiersman gone west in the 1806-1812 era. I'll see if I can dig out for you. Another resource is here:
user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/mmarch.html
If an early mixed blood person is of interest: Check out Edward Rose (just a start - www.mman.us/RoseEdward.htm) and George Drouillard
While there's not a lot of detail on gear used, the journals are still valuable to get the feel of the time and place. Of course only use those resouces to fit the when - i.e. if doing early mtn man using A. J. Miller's prints from 1837 as a source for the 1806-1812 or even 1820's would be incorrect.
As for getting the appropriate gear - you can makes it yourself, there are several good patterns available from such vendors as Kannik's corner. If you're not up for that there are several vendors who can supply custom and sometimes ready made goods.
Anyway good luck and I hope this helps - it's an interesting journey, one I set foot to 50 years ago and it's been a heck of a ride.....
1) Your gun - not really a problem. He made guns into the 1790's so using one of his rifles would be appropriate escpecially for the early (1806-1814 or so - the Americans pretty much got run out of the far West during the War years) mtn man era, but a well cared for 30 or so year old rifle would not be out of place even for the 1820's. As for being too fancy - again not a problem - there are several period indentured servant runaway ads noting fancy guns being stole. A bit later in 1834, Osborne Russell, who was a lowly campkeeper at that time noted his first rifle was an elegant one. An tehn in 1825 you have this order from the American Fur Company:
In October of 1825 William B. Astor wrote Henry, "on the subject of Rifles. We continue to import a part of those annually required for our trade; but we usually get 100 or 200 manufactured in the United States, and it will depend much on both price and quality whether we do not in future procure the whole quantity in this country. The barrels of our Rifles are, from 3 ft 8 Inches, to 3 ft 10, and the calibre is in part of them 32 [to the pound] while others carry a ball of 40 to the pound - the Locks are of the best strong roller kind; but not water, proof - The stocks are generally of our native Maple, or Sugar-tree, but we may wish part of them of Black Walnut. The mounting including the PatchBox, is of Brass and well ornamented; and each Gun must have Wipers to screw-on to the thimblerods, and a good Ball mould. The whole weight of the Rifle complete, is from 9 to 10 lbs. . . ."
This order was for the standard trade rifle which was not an expensive gun and they are in the Lancaster style such as Haines.
Some suggestions for clothing from top to bottom - all of it can be documented to the eastern frontier/rocky mtn/upper missouri area of teh 1806-1812 era:
1) Hat - a wide brimmed (4-5") wool or fur felt hat with a 4-4.5" tall crown in black or natural would be typical of teh era. There were other styles as well and if you don't like hats a black silk bandanna tied pirate style works.
2) Shirt - a typical linen or cotton (especially after 1810)of the era.
3) Coat: for regular summer/cool weather a linen or buckskin hunting shirt style with or without cape. Also a simple light-medium weight wool broadclothovershirt. For cold weather a wool capote cut in the appropriate style - even the square cut style can be documented by 1803 - just don't use fringe or yarn to sew it up with. Colors - the most common color was white with a single blue stripe, but other colors do show up.
4) Pants - Knee breeches, pantaloons, or trowsers of the era - line or buckskin were common - but NOT modern chrome tan which gets hot in the summer, cold in the winter and clammy when wet) - the best is braintan buckskin but it is expensive - a good and much less alternative is the German Tan from Crazy Crow and it even comes in seconds - the reason for seconds is usually a thick neck, but that can be used to add outer soles to ones moccasins - such leather was actually widley used in period for eastern made breeches and pantaloons. If you prefer to go more "native" leggings and a breech clout - the leggings can be of wool (broadcloth or stroud - although the latter is currently hard to find and expensive) or buckskin. For the clout wool - broadcloth is good and can be found at a decent price from William Booth draper. The most common wool colors were dark blue and scarlet red.
5) Footwear: Shoes of various types can be documented, but by far at least west of the Mississippi moccasisn were worn. These could be in either a center seam (lots of eastern tribes, such as the Iroquois, Shawnee, and Delaware went west and continued to make their style of mocs) or a side seam style - the latter if you've been to the Rockies. I find the side seams easier to make and fit well. The German tan, especially with an added outer sole, is IMO great for mocs - long wearing and not so expensive - and mocs do wear out fairly fast.
6) Decoration - this really depends on several factors and should generally speaking either be left alone or kept minimal until you can refine the who, when, and where as noted below. Of course it all depends on how PC/Hc you are striving to be if at all.
If you really want to go "PC/HC" then the best thing to do is narrow your focus to: who(white, mixed blood, or Indian - for this tribal affiliation for your are you have not only the locals but the displace Shawnee/Delaware), when - narrow theat 1806-1816 era down to a single year or two if possible, and where - east of the Mississippi, the Plains, or Upper Missouri/Rocky Mtns. By doing this you can refine your gear based on the documentation available.
Some years ago there was a well dcoumented article in the Muzzloader magazine touching on the subject of eastern frontiersman gone west in the 1806-1812 era. I'll see if I can dig out for you. Another resource is here:
user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/mmarch.html
If an early mixed blood person is of interest: Check out Edward Rose (just a start - www.mman.us/RoseEdward.htm) and George Drouillard
While there's not a lot of detail on gear used, the journals are still valuable to get the feel of the time and place. Of course only use those resouces to fit the when - i.e. if doing early mtn man using A. J. Miller's prints from 1837 as a source for the 1806-1812 or even 1820's would be incorrect.
As for getting the appropriate gear - you can makes it yourself, there are several good patterns available from such vendors as Kannik's corner. If you're not up for that there are several vendors who can supply custom and sometimes ready made goods.
Anyway good luck and I hope this helps - it's an interesting journey, one I set foot to 50 years ago and it's been a heck of a ride.....
