Part 30 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 79.--Wrought-iron colter from plow.

One-fourth. (USNM 60.88.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 80.--Hook used with wagon or oxcart gear.

One-half. (USNM 60.9.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 81.--Left, bolt with wingnut. One-half.

(USNM 60.145.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 82.--Right, las.h.i.+ng hook from cart or agricultural equipment. One-half. (USNM 59.2030.)]

For instance, the inventory lists 22 plows at Marlborough. Among the finds is an iron colter from a colonial plow in which the colter was suspended from the beam and locked into the top of the share (USNM 60.88, ill. 79). The colter is bent and torn from exhaustive use (Chapman, in 1731, fitted a plow ”w^{th} Iron” for Mercer). From it we learn a good deal about the size of the plow on which it was used and the shallow depth of the furrows it made.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 91.--FARM GEAR: a, part of collapsible-top fitting from carriage; b, chain, probably from whiffletree; c, part of bridle bit; d, iron stiffener from a saddle; e, worn chain link; f, base of handle of a currycomb; g, rivet and washer; h, piece of iron harness gear; i and j, two horseshoes; and k, chain to which a strap was attached--probably harness gear.]

Four chain traces were on the list, one of which is represented by a length of flat links attached to a triangular loop to which the leather portion of the traces was fastened (USNM 60.64, fig. 91b). The halves of two snaffle bits (USNM 59.2078, 60.67, fig. 91c; ill. 87) correspond to an item for eight ”Bridle Bitts.” (A ”snafflebit” costing 1s. 8d. was among Mercer's purchases for 1743.) A third bit, crudely made of twisted wire attached to odd-sized rings, is a makes.h.i.+ft device probably dating from the 19th century. Three ox chains listed in the inventory are not distinctly in evidence in the artifacts, although a heavy hook, broken at the shank, is of the type used to fasten an ox chain to the yoke (USNM 60.9, ill. 80).

Archeological evidence of the two oxcarts and one wagon listed in the inventory is confined to nuts and bolts that might have been used on such vehicles. A long axle bolt (USNM 59.1802) measures 23 inches. A small bolt or staple, split at one end and threaded at the other, has a wingnut (USNM 60.145, ill. 81). A hook with a heavy, diamond-shaped backplate and a bolt hole was perhaps used on a wagon to secure las.h.i.+ng (USNM 59.2030, ill. 82). A heavy, curved piece of iron with a large hole, probably for a clevice pin, appears to be from the end of a wagon tongue, while a carefully made bolt with hand-hammered head (USNM 59.1821) and a short rivet with washer (USNM 59.1881, fig. 91g) in place seem also to be vehicle parts.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 83.--Hilling hoe. One-fourth. (USNM 59.1848.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 84.--Iron reinforcement strip from back of shovel handle. One-half. (USNM 59.1847.)]

The inventory listed four complete harnesses, the remains of which are probably to be found in four square iron buckles (USNM 59.1644, 59.1901, 60.131, fig. 91h), a bra.s.s ring (USNM 59.1678, fig. 83), and an ornamental bra.s.s boss (USNM 59.1878, fig. 83j).

Twelve ”Swingle trees” (whippletree, whiffletree, singletree) are listed in the inventory. The artifacts include three iron loops or straps designed to be secured to the swingletrees. One (USNM 59.2042, fig. 91b) still has two large round links attached. (In 1731 Chapman fitted ironwork to a swingletree.)

Ten ”Hillinghows,” 17 ”Weeding hows,” and 8 ”Grubbing hows” are listed.

In the long Chapman account for 1731 we see that Mercer then purchased ”5 narrow hoes” and ”2 grubbing hoes.” The only archeological evidence of hoes is a fragmentary broad hoe (probably a hilling hoe) (USNM 59.1848, ill. 83) and the collar of another.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 85.--Half of sheep shears. One-half. (USNM 59.1734.)]

Thirteen axes are listed in the inventory. Again we find Nathaniel Chapman providing a ”new axe” in 1731 for five s.h.i.+llings, while William Hunter sold Mercer ”2 narrow axes” and ”4 Axes” in 1743. One broken ax head occurs among the artifacts, worn back from repeated grinding and split at the eye (USNM 59.1740, fig. 89e).

There were four spades and an iron shovel at Marlborough in 1771. An iron reinforcement from a shovel handle occurred in the site (USNM 59.1847, ill. 84), while a slightly less curved strip of iron may have been attached to a spade handle (USNM 59.1662). Once more in Chapman's account we find evidence of local workmans.h.i.+p in an item for ”1 Spade.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 86.--Animal trap. One-third. (USNM 59.1715.)]

Thirteen scythes were listed in 1771; perhaps the one excavated from the foundation of Structure H on Potomac Creek may have been among these (USNM 59.2400, fig. 90). There were eight sheep shears; half of a sheep shears was found in Structure G (USNM 59.1734, ill. 85). Of the other items on the list, a few, such as stock locks and hammers, have already been mentioned, while the remainder of the list is not matched by artifacts. An item for a chalk-line is supported by a piece of chalk (USNM 59.1683, fig. 84).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 87.--Iron bridle bit (see fig. 91c). Same size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 88.--Fishhook. One-half. (USNM 59.1681.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration 89.--Bra.s.s strap handle (see fig. 83j). Same size. (USNM 59.1736.)]

A few specimens are not matched in the inventory. One is a springtrap of hand-forged, hand-riveted iron (USNM 59.1715, ill. 86) for catching animals. Another is a fishhook (USNM 59.1681, ill. 88), possibly one of 95 bought in 1744. An iron stiffener for the framework of a saddle is fitted with 10 rivets for securing the leather and upholstery (USNM 59.1847, fig. 91d). The third artifact is an elegantly designed bra.s.s fitting for a leather curtain or strap (USNM 59.1736, fig. 83j, ill.