My mother's family was wrong!

D

drm3m

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In Vol. 31, No.4 (Nov 1993) of the "Arms Collecting" publication that we used to receive from the Lower Canada Arms Collectors Association, there is a very interesting four page article with photos written by Charles J. Purdon, titled "The Ballard of The Red Sashes" that talks about the Battle of Eccles Hill and the purchasing of the Ballard Rifles.

It was only after seeing this article that I realized that the old gun that had been in the family forever,......and thought to have been the rifle used by James Pell at the Battle of Eccles Hill….. was absolutely not the case.













 
I have no idea.

According to this newspaper article it was to be exposed in the store shown below in Richmond Quebec close to my Grandmother's house in Melbourne.



 
Fascinating account, thanks for posting it! Who was the maker of the under-hammer rifle? And what calibre were those? Can you post the rest of the article?
 
James Pell was sure proud of his right side profile, and his sideburns!

I'm from Lennoxville originally, maybe our families know each other.
 
That's some good detective work. In doing famly history research it's common to run across "family folklore" that has been passed down unchallenged for generations, often innocently embellished in increments, and truly believed by the family. The easy way to debunk it is the way you did it - unrefutable facts, but even then some will stand by their cherished account.

In Canada, it's very common to have a Lee Enfield (almost always bubba'd) in someone's possession that they claim they'll never sell as: "It's what Grandpa carried in WWII". Turns out it was bought from Eatons in the 1950's. No-one was gifted "their" rifle after the war - they were refurbished, and put into storage for such conflicts as Korea, then surplused in lots once the FNC1 was adopted.

In any event, the OP might not be a popular guy with his family right now.

"Buy the gun, not the story"
 
Most of the family knows nothing about this old Underhammer. (And could care less!)

I only found one example of a Hitchcock & Muzzy Underhammer on the Internet.
Here is what was said.

Marked on top barrel flat Woodbury & Co Woodstock Vt. Marked on right side lower flat Hitchcock & Muzzy. Has all the attributes of a early New England gun especially the early termination of stock at barrel breach. Stock has good chip at toe and shows moderate scuffs scrapes dings, etc.... but is quite restorable. Barrel shows light rust in spots but is cleanable. Smooth bore shows light rust and cobwebs but I believe it will scrub to good+ condition. Action works great and nipple looks decent! Early ramrod broken at tip but tip is included and even has early type screw auger included. Gun has rifle sights. Barrel is 34.5" gun measures just about 52". A very nice restorable American antique firearm.

+++++I can't see Woodbury & Co Woodstock Vt marked on the barrel of my Underhammer.

I measured the bore on my Underhammer which is .36 caliber I think. (0.357 inch diameter)
 
Cool history.
My fathers side swore we came from Ireland but through research it was discovered they originated from England. But but, I want to have Irish blood in me.
 
The picture in Post # 4, showing Asa Westover's Ballard is identified as being manufactured by the Brown Manufacturing Company. This is incorrect.

As can be seen in the photo in Post #4, the locking stud for the lever is located past the rear of the frame and is located on a lower tang. The rear curl of the lever is also located past the rear of the frame. Only Ballards manufactured by Ball and Williams, R. Ball & Company, and Dwight, Chapin & Company had upper and lower tangs for attaching the buttstock.

Ballards produced by Merrimack Arms and Manufacturing Company, Brown Manufacturing Company, and Marlin used a through-bolt to attach the buttstock and had no tangs.




R.Ball & Company - top
Merrimack Arms and Manufacturing Company - bottom



Merrimack - top
R.Ball - bottom


Regards
 
tigrr said:
Cool history.
My fathers side swore we came from Ireland but through research it was discovered they originated from England. But but, I want to have Irish blood in me.
Click to expand...

Do a DNA test and know.

The Irish "got around". I have a lot of Irish in me and all my ancestors back five generations were from England.........
 
"Hitchcock and Mussy of Low Moor New England were also barrel makers. Examples of their Barrels are to be found on rifles made by Durkee and Hamilton."

This is from "The Pictorial History of the Underhammer Gun" by Herschel C. Logan.

Hitchcock and Mussy may have produced guns of their own but it appears that they were primarily barrel makers.

Glenn
 
drm3m said:
In Vol. 31, No.4 (Nov 1993) of the "Arms Collecting" publication that we used to receive from the Lower Canada Arms Collectors Association, there is a very interesting four page article with photos written by Charles J. Purdon, titled "The Ballard of The Red Sashes" that talks about the Battle of Eccles Hill and the purchasing of the Ballard Rifles.

It was only after seeing this article that I realized that the old gun that had been in the family forever,......and thought to have been the rifle used by James Pell at the Battle of Eccles Hill….. was absolutely not the case.













Click to expand...

Do you know Ross Jones of Sutton, Quebec? If not then you should speak with him. I would be happy to put you in contact with him. He is THE leading expert on the Ballard's and other rifles used by the Missisqoui Home Guard. Note the well known photo of them taken around the large rock at Eccles Hill, likely taken one or more days after the battle shows an assortment of rifles being used by the 'Red Sashes' and not just the Ballard Rifle.
 
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