Southcoast Historical Associates

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	17th Century Pikeman's Armor This type of armor is known as Pikeman's Armor. It consists of  a breast plate, back plate and tassets connected to the breast plate to protect the upper thighs.  Many of the weapons and armor used in Europe were brought to the New England by settlers to defend themselves from attacks from the Native Americans.  It soon became evident to the colonists that the tactics and weapons used on the battlefields of Europe were of little use in the dense forests and swamps of the New World.

 

	This helmet is called a cabasset. It is pear shaped and was used by 17th century pikemen and infantry. A knitted cap was worn underneath for comfort and fit under the heavy metal helmet. This cap is called a Monmouth cap.it is a simple, seamless cap usually of coarse thick wool.

 

	17th Century Matchlock Musket The matchlock musket was the first type of firearm to be brought to the New World.  It was heavy, cumbersome and difficult to load.  The Native Americans could aim and fire a bow and arrow almost twice as fast as the Englishman could load and fire his matchlock.  The smoke, noise and fire coming from the muzzle of the musket held the natives in awe and they were fearful of the terrible wounds inflicted by the musket.  The match is the long cord hanging from the musket, this would be lit on both ends and held to the touch point of the musket to ignite the black powder.  If the match went out or ran out, the musket would not fire.

 

	17th Century Powder Bottles Black powder for muskets was usually carried in small bottles on a leather belt referred to as a bandolier.  Most sets of bandoliers consist of 12 bottles and a priming bottle they were also called powder charges or just charges.  The soldiers were issued a set number of black powder charges, when the powder was used up the soldiers would need to refill the bottles from a budge or gunpowder barrel.

 

	Ball Headed War Club The ball headed war club was the predecessor to the metal tomahawk.  It is a one piece carved weapon used by the Native Americans in the 17th Century.  The ball could have a stone arrowhead embedded which would cause the club to be even more powerful as a weapon.

 

	Powder Flask A 17th Century black leather powder flask on a leather strap, which would be carried over the soldier's shoulder. The flask is treated on the inside with pitch and made waterproof.  The curved flask is made by first sewing the leather together and then filling the flask with hot sand.  After the sand has cooled it is dumped out and the flask retains it's rounded shape.