Arms repair during the Revolution (James Carter) -- Eric Kettenburg

[spgordon]

Eric -- You mention in your great article on the Allentown repair factory (1777-1779) [http://www.erickettenburg.com/allentown-1777-1779.html] that you weren't able to find much about James Carter. Here are three receipts documenting his work for the state in the six months before the establishment of the Allentown factory:







Given the size of these disbursements, Carter surely has men working for him and, as one of the receipts says, he is "accountable" (will need to produce an account) for how he used these funds.

These three receipts are at the PA State Archives at Harrisburg, among the Records of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790 (54 Reels): Reel 27, Images 855, 903, 941.

[spgordon]

And, for good measure, here's the original of the letter that you quote (from 2 PA Archives 3: 139):





This letter is at the PA State Archives at Harrisburg, among the Records of Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790 (54 Reels): Reel 13, Images 442-443.

I do want to note (maybe I have before) that the William Henry discussed in this letter is not William Henry (1729-1786) of Lancaster, who had been a gunsmith in the 1750s. (He was never a colonel.) This is another William Henry, of Philadelphia, who became one of that city's Lieutenants during the war. He survived WH of Lancaster and resigned from his post in 1790 or 1792.

[Eric Kettenburg]

Fantastic stuff!  Thanks so much for posting these; I don't know if it means I'm geeky but I find them extremely interesting.  I'd like to modify the article when I have a chance and give you credit for the information - is that ok?

[spgordon]

Fantastic stuff!  Thanks so much for posting these; I don't know if it means I'm geeky but I find them extremely interesting.  I'd like to modify the article when I have a chance and give you credit for the information - is that ok?

Sure. I've been going through reel after reel after reel of microfilm & have found some other stuff that'll interest you, too ... I'll post it here when I get a chance. Sometimes I can't bear looking at the computer after a morning of racing through 1500 images on microfilm!

[WESTbury]

Fantastic stuff!  Thanks so much for posting these; I don't know if it means I'm geeky but I find them extremely interesting. 

Eric,

Yeah, your a Geek, but so I am, this is great information to see.

There are a great many unknowns concerning early arms procurement, storage and the repair facilities and the more of this we can see the better. Philadelphia was of great importance to the development of arms repair after the Rev War and they supplied the majority of musket components to Springfield Armory from 1795 through 1800. My 1799 dated Springfield has two components, the triggerguard and mid barrel band with French inspector stamps.

We are fortunate to have a great researcher like Scott as a contributor to the ALR.

Kent

[spgordon]

It turns out that the massive Pennsylvania Archives volumes were made from material that was even more vast--and these manuscript materials take up 54 microfilm rolls (1300+ images or so on each) at the state archives in Harrisburg.

There are lots of documents related the efforts to arm (and, equally interesting, disarm) Pennsylvanians from 1775-1778 that didn't make it into the published volumes. Those three payment vouchers to James Carter are examples of that. Over the next few weeks I'll post some other stuff that I've come across.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I mean this in all truthfulness:  waiting with baited breath!  Fantastic work and I certainly appreciate it.

[WESTbury]

Scott,

If you ever happen across anything related to the Philadelphia Supply Agency from 1778 forward, that would interest a few folks. (Me too.)

Kent

[spgordon]

If you ever happen across anything related to the Philadelphia Supply Agency from 1778 forward, that would interest a few folks. (Me too.)

What is that? (I'm wondering if, or where, it would show up in these papers from the Revolution.)

[WESTbury]

The Philadelphia Supply Agency was established after the French entered the War in 1778. The moderators will have to forgive me for posting this link but this is the best written description of The Agency that I have ever read. If they want to delete my post I'll understand.

https://collegehillarsenal.com/continental-armory-musket-from-the-philadelphia-supply-agency

[spgordon]

I see. So that term—“Philadelphia Supply Agency”—is a modern one, not used at the time?

[WESTbury]

Scott,

I would say that you are more than likely correct. It may be a catch-all name for the different facilities.

I have been going through the Papers of the War Department website lately but they are quite extensive and I've not really made much progress.

Kent

https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/page/home