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
----- Original Message -----
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