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Post by Greg Carter on Feb 8, 2003 0:51:49 GMT -5
Expert Ladies, I have a question, of sorts, and some supporting documentation. If you haven't any opinion, feel free to give my posting to the toe of a hobnailed boot!
I was reading A History of Will County Illinois, published in 1878. In it I found two references to pewter items.. and I am wondering if any similar references to their presence in the "Lead Region" happen to exist. the quotes are as follows-
"We melted down all the pewter spoons we could locate for bullets..."
- Mr. J. Hig[g]inbotham, speaking of how the militia company made ammunition at his fortified farmstead.
"We melted down every single pewter spoon and plate in the vicinity to run bullets with."
- Father Beggs, referring to the improvised ammunition made at his fortified church/home.
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Post by mary on Mar 7, 2003 17:30:24 GMT -5
Good sir-- While our search into existing accounts of the lead region is not complete, we thus far have not run across references similar to those that you have found. We do have references to running bullets at Fort Jackson in Mineral Point... and these mentions cover the use of local lead rather than pewter. My husband tells me that pewter is an alloy--or mixture-- of tin mixed with a small proportion of another metal. Generally the metal was lead but sometimes copper, antimony, or bismuth was used. For the pewter to be of any use as bullets, he believes the utensils and plates would almost have to be the tin/lead alloy. I am informed that the amount of lead in pewter varied from say colonial times (a higher percentage use of lead) to early Republic, when the amount of lead used in pewter apparently fell. I recall being told that so-called "pewter" spoons and so forth made during the POST-colonial period would be perfectly safe to use today, as the chances of lead being used in the alloy was small-- HOWEVER I have no way of verifying this statement! Rest assured, I don't think that assuming such utensils are safe for use is a wise practice!!  We will continue to look! Kind regards, Mary. |
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Post by Greg Carter on Mar 13, 2004 1:35:01 GMT -5
Shabbona's account, as translated by Nehemiah Matson, notes the melting of pewter spoons to run bullets by the settlers on Bureau Creek in IL.
GMC
P.S.- This is my 350th posting!
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Post by Robert Braun on Mar 15, 2004 0:59:16 GMT -5
Shabbona's account, as translated by Nehemiah Matson, notes the melting of pewter spoons to run bullets by the settlers on Bureau Creek in IL. GMC P.S.- This is my 350th posting! Grege, I tend to doubt this account, only because "petwer" by this time was a frankly different alloy than in the 1760s. Much of the lead was run out of "pewter" by this time, being mostly an alloy closer to what we call "nickle silver" today. I defer to the metalurgists on the board, however, I am informed pewter did change in its composition in the 60 some odd years since the colonial period. Bob. |
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