Serious angling question-really!

[RAM]

In 1803 Meriweather Lewis began provisioning for his and friend Clark's famous expedition across the Western U.S., which began the spring of the following year. Reportedly, among items purchased were 4 gross of fishhooks, presumably in Philadelphia where he was buying numerous other items.
Two questions:
1) What store could he have purchased them from at that location?
2) Were they American made, and if so by whom?

Bad Bob

[Midway Tommy D]

BB,

1. George R Lawton's Old Experienced Tackle Shop
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charte ... dside.html
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusio ... d/1045078/

2. Since Lawton was the successor to Edward Pole, both of whom were a noted importers, and the flyer advertises "Best Kirby", my guess would therefor be: Allcocks of Redditch, but that is what it is, just a calculated guess. Although, there may be additional info out there somewhere.

Tom

[RAM]

Looks legit to me! Figured the hooks were likely made in England. The American Fishhook Company, which Enterprise eventually purchased, began operations in 1864. Figure there were likely several other American hook manufacturers operating prior to them, however. That tackle shop in Philly was unknown to me. Thanks for the input!
Any other thoughts out there with supporting evidence?
BB

[RAM]

PS : Toward the bottom of that list of purchased items there is a word that looks like "reel". In 1803? Is that likely? BB

[Midway Tommy D]

Bob,

Yes, it says: 8 Stave Reel ------- 3 =, meaning $3.00. Check out the earlier muzzle loading link: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusio ... d/1045078/ for printed/typed transcriptions.

Stave reels spooled line and were more for "Long Line Fishing", not necessarily rod fishing as we know it. Here's some additional info on the supplies, their probable origin and likely uses: http://books.google.com/books?id=jJKOKp ... el&f=false

Tom

[Steve]

And please note that it was a mere 93 years later that Enterprise's Ernest Pflueger revolutionized the angling world by adding a brake to a stave reel!

[RAM]

All most interesting stuff guys. Alas, young Meriweather met his fate near the location of what is now Hohenwald Tn. "Officially", he shot himself in the head-twice! Most recent attempt for permission to exhume his body for modern forensic study met not only the same fate as prior attempts (denied) but I have been told that the Park Service installed a serious concrete cover over his grave to discourage determined doubters from undertaking the endeavor clandestinely. Difficult to believe it took him two shots in the head to commit suicide.
Anyhow, there is a nice commemorative marker there by the Natchez Trace which he was travelling when he stayed overnight at a hovel of sorts called an "inn". Scurvy likes probably did him in, but we will never know for sure. Sad end for a great American hero.
BB

[Mike N]

All most interesting stuff guys. Alas, young Meriweather met his fate near the location of what is now Hohenwald Tn. "Officially", he shot himself in the head-twice! Most recent attempt for permission to exhume his body for modern forensic study met not only the same fate as prior attempts (denied) but I have been told that the Park Service installed a serious concrete cover over his grave to discourage determined doubters from undertaking the endeavor clandestinely. Difficult to believe it took him two shots in the head to commit suicide.
Anyhow, there is a nice commemorative marker there by the Natchez Trace which he was travelling when he stayed overnight at a hovel of sorts called an "inn". Scurvy likes probably did him in, but we will never know for sure. Sad end for a great American hero.
BB

Really interesting stuff, Bob.

Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) had been Thomas Jefferson's personal secretary. I wrote a book published in 2009 that discussed Lewis' trip down the mighty Ohio River in 1803.

Lewis wrote in his journal that the game was so bountiful just below Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) that they used a Newfoundland dog to fetch migrating squirrels that were swimming across the Ohio. The explorers fried them up, and they were "a fat and pleasant food."

Here is a link to a scholarly review of the book I authored on the fortifications along the Ohio River during the Revolutionary War (i.e., the then-Western boundary of the United States):

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/west_virgi ... harff.html

[RAM]

Let me first apologize to Lewis for misspelling his name. There is a connection between Lewis and my family (Millers). My fourth greatgrandfather was involved in the Whikey Rebellion-got shot at possibly. He was a Revolutionary War vet and settled in the Fort Pitt area to farm and make Irish whiskey (he had immigrated to America during the war). When Hamilton suggested that an excise tax be placed on the whiskey making boys (read Millers) they said to hell with him, they weren't paying. Jefferson recruited Lewis to form a militia to go over the Alleghenies and get the boys attention. Several got shot at, a few got shot, but generally little blood was shed. They were offered amnesty and most took it, but my ancestor said to hell with it and went (circuitously) to Tennesse. Hence, how I came to be. Also hence the Lewis-Miller connection.

Your book on Frontier Forts was quite an achievement, Mike. Congrats!
Bob

[Mike N]

Let me first apologize to Lewis for misspelling his name. There is a connection between Lewis and my family (Millers). My fourth greatgrandfather was involved in the Whikey Rebellion-got shot at possibly. He was a Revolutionary War vet and settled in the Fort Pitt area to farm and make Irish whiskey (he had immigrated to America during the war). When Hamilton suggested that an excise tax be placed on the whiskey making boys (read Millers) they said to hell with him, they weren't paying. Jefferson recruited Lewis to form a militia to go over the Alleghenies and get the boys attention. Several got shot at, a few got shot, but generally little blood was shed. They were offered amnesty and most took it, but my ancestor said to hell with it and went (circuitously) to Tennesse. Hence, how I came to be. Also hence the Lewis-Miller connection.

Your book on Frontier Forts was quite an achievement, Mike. Congrats!

Bob

Bob -- here is a great link to a presentation on the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 in Western Pennsylvania. I was interested to see that Ohio County, [West] Virginia was included as one of the six rebelling counties that even created their own flag.

http://colonialseminar.uga.edu/whiskeyrebellion-6.pdf

[RAM]

Good link Mike. My ancestor indeed first went to what is now the Morgantown area, and some time later to Kentucky, eventually settling just south of Nashville. When first researching the family history I didn't realize W. VA was a part of Virginia then.
Bob

[Don Champion]

Bob - West Virginia was a part of Virginia (my home state) until they got all bent out of shape during the Civil War and formed their own state.