I've decided that I'll portray a character in the time period of 1830 in Texas. Please feel free to add your take on what my character's look and gear would be appropriate for the time period and location(s) I've described herein. Thanks in advance for your help.
William
You may consider mixing American and Spanish clothing as is you are going to portray a single man American clothing way have been hard to come by, and the clothing that the Spanish clothing had proven to work well in the kind of environment.
That sounds plausible, where can I find examples of that style of clothing?
William
If you look online for the California Mission system you will find numerous sites with pictures of several pieces of original Spanish clothing.
Also
I would considering moving the years of your impression from the 20's to the 30's do to the fact that you are carrying a cap lock.
That sounds right, I'll take your advice.
Okay, I've gotton some more information on my paternal ancestry and I am basing the first three generations on the actual history of my family, then I leave the area and trade with the Seminole & Creek Nation tribes in the Southeast before making my way to Texas around 1830 or so. Here's how we started out; Two brothers from Scotland who were involved in the Border Wars arrived in the Carolinas around 1760 or so it's believed, but sometime after the battle of Culledon, 1746. It was perhaps Edward's and George's parents that convinced them to leave Scotland and move to the Colonies where at least one them, my 6th great grandfather, George, was a spy during the American Revolution.
My 6th great uncle Edward was in Randolph Co., NC in 1782. He sold the farm and moved to South Carolina about 1787. He was scalped and killed in 1793 in Franklin Co., GA. His property was near the Toolgaloo River.
George, my direct ancestor was a spy for the South Carolina militia according to D.A.R. records. GEORGE TOWERY married LIDE LEDFORD in Guilford County. Their marriage bond is dated 20 May however the year is not included. It had to have been between 1770, the year Guilford County was formed, and 1776, as the bond is pledged to the King. GEORGE and LIDE lived in Caraway, NC, in the shadow of Shepherd Mountain and are listed in the 1790 Randolph County census as being in the Hillsboro District. Their sons, ADAM - EDWARD - and GEORGE JR., eventually settled in Rutherford, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties. The only daughter that we have any records of is ELIZABETH. She married JOHN ROBBINS and apparently lived, raised her family, and died in Randolph County. ADAM married NANCY McCURRY and they became the parents of at least 6 children. George &?Lide's 2nd child, EDWARD TOWERY (my ancestor) was born about 1774 probably in Guilford Co., NC. He died at about the age of 45 (his probate records are dated Dec. 1819). He left a widow, JEMIMA, and at least 4 children: James Micajah (Cage) (also my direct ancestor); John; Lydia; George Stetler; and a daughter who apparently died young.
This is where my persona picks up and starts and I assume the identity of James Micajah Towery, whom they call Cage. Born in 1800 he leaves North Carolina on his 18th birthday and takes jobs as a lumberman, felling trees and supplying wood to local saw mills. He makes good wages but looks towards the frontier, wandering ever to the south as long as the forests hold out and provide a place to employ his skills he eventually starts trading with the local tribes, Seminoles and Creek Nation mostly. in 1830 he decides to set out for Texas because everyone who has come come from there tells of vast expanses of land that are there for those who aren't afraid of hard work. So he sells everything he doesn't need, buys a new caplock rifle from some traders who have come down the Mississippi river from Saint Louis to New Orleans along with other supplies and heads west for Texas. Upon arrival in the then virgin pine forests of East Texas he employs his skills as a lumberman supplying wood to local sawmills.
So, any suggestions, refinements or corrections to my persona so far? What type of ax, clothing and firearms might a man of 1830 have?
First off a man in his thirties should have a FULL HEAD OF HAIR. hdslp blah ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL
Quote from: pilgrim on June 17, 2012
First off a man in his thirties should have a FULL HEAD OF HAIR. hdslp blah ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL
Oh you are cruel! whipping I don't need this abuse from you, there are literally thousands of people out there waiting to abuse me!
Okay, so maybe I should be born a little earlier, say 1790?
NO Disrespect intended.
NAW, even back then some people were folically challenged.... (susp)
Besides having travelled all that way he might have been in a scrape or too and had been scalped but lived to tell the tail... pnic
As for tools there are some great examples of broad axes at some of the lumberjack museums in Wisconsin and other states and some of them have online displays which you might want to research. Also do not forget that the serious lumberjack would also have climbing gear and saws in his kit...
Sounds like a good persona and now that you have you flinter you can moe your time frame around a bit
Quote from: pilgrim on June 18, 2012
NO Disrespect intended.
I know, I'm just having fun with all this. ;D
Sounds like a good persona. Tweak it a little as has been suggested. thmbsup
William, I live about 10 miles from the area your ancestors lived. I know the area you are talking about. I use to hunt with a guy that lived in that area and know where Shepherd's Mountain is located. It is on the northern end of the Uwharrie mountain range. I know there are some Robbins that still live in the area. There are some Towerys in Davidson county and the Ledford name is more prevalent in northern Davidson county. The next time I get over that way I'll take you some pictures of the area.
Quote from: redhawk on June 18, 2012
William, I live about 10 miles from the area your ancestors lived. I know the area you are talking about. I use to hunt with a guy that lived in that area and know where Shepherd's Mountain is located. It is on the northern end of the Uwharrie mountain range. I know there are some Robbins that still live in the area. There are some Towerys in Davidson county and the Ledford name is more prevalent in northern Davidson county. The next time I get over that way I'll take you some pictures of the area.
That would be fantastic, seeing some pictures and hearing about the area. If they spell their name Towery then they are directly descended from George. Edward took the spelling of Towry but both are the Americanized version of our clan name, which we do not have much information about and has probably been lost in translation. Thank you very much for doing this, I'd love to be able to go to the area myself but it's not going to happen this summer.
William, if I am not mistaken there is a Methodist Church Retreat called Mount Shepard on part of the mountain. It was orginally known as Mount Shepard. The area was known for its pottery. You might check out the church website or contact to Randolph County Historical Society to get some more information about the area and the people. To find it on a map of NC look about 3 miles northwest of Asheboro just off Hwy 64. If you ever get up this way please drop by it won't be to far off the path. I'll do alittle checking and let you know if I dig up anything . The next time I get up that way I'll send you a couple of pictures.
Here's another place to start your research. It proved valuable to me researching my mothers family.
Their links section is great.
http://www.scottishtartans.org/register.html