GLASS OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ea. 1755-1820 OLIVE R. JONES & E. ANN SMITH Studies in Archaeology Architecture and History National Historic Parks and Sites Branch Parks Canada Environment Canada 1985 ©Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1985. Available in Canada through authorized bookstore agents and other bookstores, or by mail from the Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Supply and Services Canada, Hull, Quebec, Canada KIA OS9. L'original francais s'intitule La verrerie utilisee par Parmee britannique de 1755 a 1820 (nO de catalogue R61-2/9-28F). En vente au Canada par l'entremise de nos agents libraires agrees et autres librairies, ou par la poste au Centre d'edltion du gouvernement du Canada, Approvisionnements et Services Canada, Hull, Quebec, Canada KIA OS9. Price Canada: $7.95 Price other countries: $9.55 Price subject to change without notice. Catalogue No.: R61-2/9-28E ISBN: 0-660-11921-8 ISSN: 0821-1027 Published under the authority of the Minister of the Environment, Ottawa, 1985. Editing, layout and design: Paula Irving The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Environment Canada. Parks Canada publishes the results of its research in archaeology, architecture and history. A list of titles is available from Research Publications, Parks Canada, 1600 Liverpool Court, Ottawa, Ontario KIA IG2 GLASS OF THE BRITISH MILITARY, ea, 1755-1820 Olive R. Janes and E. Ann Smith 4 Acknowledgements 61 Commercial Sauces 5 Introduction 62 Vinegar 7 Drinking 62 Oil 9 Wine 69 Serving Vessels la Beer, Ale, Porter 69 Salts 10 Cider 69 Cruets, Castors and Covered Pots 10 Spirits 78 Desserts 11 Punch 82 Miscellaneous Serving Vessels 13 Non-Alcoholic Beverages 82 Egg Stand 13 Capillaire and Orange Flower Water 82 Bowls 13 Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolate 84 Canteens 13 Storage and Serving Vessels 86 Health and Personal Care 13 Wine bottles 87 Medicine Chests 14 Case Bottles 90 Medicine Containers 15 Flasks 91 Toiletries 25 Decanters and Carafes 100 Looking Glasses 26 Miscellaneous Serving Vessels 104 Lighting 34 Drinking Glasses 107 Miscellaneous Activities 34 Tumblers 107 Snuff Bottles 38 Wine Glasses 107 Inkwells and Fob Seal 52 Firing Glasses 107 Sand-Glasses 52 Punch Glasses and Bowls 113 Glass of the British Military 55 Wine Glass Coolers and Finger Glasses 113 Ownership 58 Eating 115 Sources of Supply 60 Condiments 116 The Glassware 60 Salt 118 Endnotes 60 Mustard 126 Illustration Sources 60 Pickles 128 Bibliography 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are indebted to the following persons don; Dick Ping Hsu, U.S. National Park Ser­ and institutions for making objects in their vice, Boston; Doris Jones, Pharmaceutical collections available for photography and re­ Society of Great Britain, London; Yvonne cording: Judy Tomlin and Betty Shute, History Jones, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhamp­ Division, National Museum of Man, Ottawa; ton, England; Audrey Noel Hume and John Mimi Cazort, European Prints and Drawings, Austin, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Wil­ National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; John liamsburg, Virginia; Joan Hall Sussler, Lewis Senior, Academy of Medicine, Toronto; Louise Walpole Library (Yale University), Farming­ Decarie, Ministere des Affaires culturelles, ton, Connecticut; Evelyn Vigeon, Salford Mu­ Quebec; John Coles, the Astrolabe Gallery, seums and Art Galleries, Salford, England; Ottawa; Yorkshire Museum, York, England; Patricia Whitesides, Toledo Museum of Art, Soil Systems Inc., Mariette, Georgia/South Toledo, Ohio; and Ann Elizabeth Zibrat, Street Seaport Museum, New York; and pri­ Armed Forces Medical Museum, Washington, vate collectors, Ottawa. D.C. Special thanks go to Arlene Palmer For providing photographs and documenta­ Schwind, Yarmouth, Maine, for drawing to our tion we thank Peter Kaellgren, European De­ attention the Frederick Rhinelander Papers, partment, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; New- York Historical Society. Martin Mortimer, Delomosne and Son, London, We also thank Parks Canada personnel: England; Deborah Trask, Nova Scotia Museum, Andree Crepeau and Jim Campbell, Fortress Halifax; Victoria Gabbitas, Northampton of Louisbourg N.H.P.; Carol Whitfield and Museums and Art Gallery, Northampton, En­ Barbara Schmeisser, Halifax; Dennis Carter- gland; Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, Edwards, Cornwall; Helene Deslauriers, N.Y.; R.F. Atkins, Sheffield City Libraries, Francois Miville-Deschenes, Monique Sheffield, England; Paul Goldman, Department Laliberte, Quebec; Suzanne Plousos, Cornwall; of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, Lon- and Lynne Sussman and Doug Bryce, Ottawa. 5 INTRODUCTION Archaeologists and curators working on Revolution 0776-83) and the War of 1812­ military sites have to address the problems of 14 - because these were the most active what kinds of objects were used by officers periods in terms of construction and occupa­ and men, how and when they were used and tion at most military sites in Canada in the whether they were privately owned or supplied 18th and early 19th centuries (Fig. O. By by the military. To help both these groups and focusing on these three periods we were able for the interest of the general public we have to highlight changes in glass styles during the compiled an illustrated catalogue of glassware 65 years covered. As styles were static during used by the British military in Canada from the early 19th century, the study period for ea, 1755 to 1820. the War of 1812-14 was expanded to 1800-1820 We have focused on three wars - the in order to use additional archaeological and Sevens Years' War (1756-63), the American historical sources. 1 St. John's (Signal Hill) 13 Fort Chambly 2 Anticosti Island 14 Quebec, Montmorency 3 Fortress of Louisbourg 15 Montreal 4 Halifax 16 Fort Coteau-du-Lac 5 Annapolis Royal (Fort Anne) 17 Kingston 6 Fort Beausejour (Cumberland) 18 Toronto 7 Fort Amherst 19 Fort George 8 Boston 20 Amherstburg 9 New York 21 Detroit 10 Philadelphia 22 Fort Michilimackinac 11 Albany 23 Fort SI. Joseph 12 Fort Lennox 500 miles Figure 1. Place-names mentioned in text. 6 The sources used in this study have varied changing garrisons at most forts, a difference from one period to another, depending on the in material would be difficult, if not impos­ availability of appropriate archaeological and sible, to detect archaeologically. There is historical documents. Some documents have some indication during the American Revolu­ been used oftener than others because they tion that officers of the Loyalists troops pur­ contain more detail and list a wider range of chased the same kinds of glass and china as goods. For the Seven Years' War, the principal the British officers) source of information was archaeological ma­ We have followed material-oriented arti­ terial from British military contexts at the fact research traditions in restricting our Fortress of Loulsbourg.! It was supplemented study to glassware - bottles, tableware, mir­ by material from other sites and military rors and lighting devices - and products diaries and papers. Newspaper advertisements packaged in glass. Objects with glass com­ from New York and Boston provided informa­ ponents such as windows,3 telescopes, spec­ tion on glassware and products packaged in tacles, clothing accessories and jewellery glass. Both cities were main supply centres have, however, been excluded from this study. for North America, New York serving as head­ To facilitate interpretation of the glassware quarters for the British forces. For the Amer­ we have arranged it by activity - drinking, ican Revolution, the account books of eating, health and personal care, lighting and Frederick Rhinelander, a glass and china mer­ miscellaneous. Although this presents a one­ chant in New York during the British occupa­ sided view of these activities, it helps to tion, supplied invaluable information on pur­ identify who was using glassware and in what chases by military personnel. These have been context. supplemented by other merchants' papers, Virtually all the glass recovered from l Sth archaeological material and newspaper adver­ and early 19th century British military sites is tisements outlining glassware and products of British origin. For the Seven Years' War, packaged in glass. For 1800-1820, advertise­ however, considerable quantities of Continen­ ments by British military officers listing per­ tal material appear on sites occupied first by sonal goods for sale were a major source. French and then by British troops. Unless These were supplemented by archaeological otherwise stated, the glass illustrated in this material, military inventories, glass price lists catalogue is of British manufacture. and military travel accounts. In the absence We selected mainly illustrations of com­ of archaeological examples, objects typical of plete or restorable objects from archaeologi­ the period were selected to illustrate glass­ cal, museum and private collections. The ware mentioned in the documents. objects shown do not necessarily have a mili­ These sources were not confined to the tary association but represent archaeological regular British army but also included ref­ prototypes or forms mentioned in the docu­ erence to, or items from, Provincial and ments. We have emphasized the commoner Loyalist regiments and German troops. No objects and styles but have included rarer effort has been made to differentiate the items in some instances to provide additional glassware used by these troops. Given the information. 7 DRINKING But such was their loyalty, such was their knows will be of service to them, but is boozing, determined to allow no drunkenness, nor That in nine weeks, of wine they drank licentiousness, in the army. If any Sutler eighty-one dozen - has the presumption to bring rum on shore, Of rum, shrub, and brandy, just fifty-six in contempt of the General's regulations, gallons, such Sutler shall be sent to the Provost's in And ninety-eight dozen of porter, to irons, and his goods confiscated.f balance!1 The soldiers' fare apparently was limited In the 18th and early 19th centuries drinking largely to rum and beer, with rum seemingly was a common, acceptable activity.