Hi Susan, Dont know much about firearms of the period, but I could tell you about a song that most definitely was sung on upstate NY farms during the 1800-1810 period....perhaps it will be useful for your book. It is an all-out salute to the farmer of the day (and his/her tonic), and portions of the lyrics made their way onto pottery & china from the same period. I'll print a few verses below (there are fourteen in all): "The Farmer's Toast" published in the newspaper "American Farmer", Tioga, Owego Village NY Wednesday, Feb 8, 1809 (the song had already enjoyed much currency at this point) By plowing, by sowing By reaping and mowing Kind nature supplies me with plenty I've a cellar well stor'd And a plentiful board My cottage affords ev'ry dainty Let the lazy and rich Loll in splendor and preach I envy them not I declare it I eat my own ham My own chicken and lamb I shear my own fleece and I wear it Come each honest fellow Who is cheery & mellow Attend unto me and sit easy One jorum is quiet My friends let us try it Hard drinking might make us all crazy More content than a king We will laugh, quaff and sing Let noone feel here as a stranger But shew me the ass Who refuses his glass And I'll order him hay in a manger The full text of the song also contains a few anti-British verses, such as this one: May sober reflection Deter base defection Tory threats have disgraced the whole nation But should times demand We must all lend a hand To avenge her and be her salvation Hope this helps! Dave Ruch Historical Music Programs Buffalo NY 716-884-6855 [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: Susan D. Rosenberg, MD To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 4:21 PM Subject: firearm question for 1800 - 1820 Would anyone be able to tell me what type of firearm might be typically found on an upstate NY family farm around 1800 - 1810? I'm assuming most such farming households would have included some sort of guns. Thank you for your assistance, Susan D. Wagenheim, MD aspiring writer of historical fiction