Historical Significance
The weapons assemblage recovered from Anse aux Bouleaux is consistent with the period and organization of the Phips expedition, in that it comprises individually-owned arms brought on board by the New England militia force which the vessel was transporting. Men between the ages of 17 to 60 were required for service in their respective colonial militias. Members were expected to own and maintain weapons, ammunition and accoutrements for defence, wilderness campaigning and warfare. A South Carolina ordinance of the period stipulated that every soldier required:“. . . a good sufficient gun, well fixed, a good cover for their lock, one good cartridge box, with at least 20 cartridges of good powder and ball, one good belt or girdle, one ball of wax sticking at the end of the cartridge box, to defend the arms in the rain, one worm, one weir and four good spare flints, also a sword, bayonet or hatchet.”
With such an informal system of supply, units possessed a vast range of weapons. This heterogeneity is one of the more striking features of the Anse aux Bouleaux material. The numerous and diverse collection of long arms and the range encountered in the swords, pistols and accoutrements all dramatically exhibit a status and individuality characteristic of English colonial militia organization. Many examples bearing marks of ownership further support this hypothesis.
Further Reading on Military History and Technology of the Period
Asquith, Stuart & Chris Warner, “New Model Army 1645-60”, Osprey Men-at-Arms Series 110, Reed International Books Limited, London, 1994.
Hamilton, T. M., Colonial Frontier Guns, The Fur Trade Press, Chadron, Nebraska, 1980.
Leach, Douglas Edward, Arms for Empire: A Military History of the British Colonies in North America, 1607-1763,The Macmillan Company, New York, 1973.
Neuman, George C., Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, Promontory Press, New York, 1973.
