A Close Look at Ephraim Moors’s Powder Horn
This view includes a crude drawing of the Continental Army encampment on Winter Hill, five grenadiers, a mansion house, the head of a beast, some decorative foliage, and (upside-down at the top) the name “Ephraim Moors,” claiming the horn. Aside from what the carving itself says and the name of the sea captain who donated it to the society, almost nothing else is known about this object.
On Thursday, 14 June, at 7:00, I’ll speak about this powder horn at the Concord Museum. I’ve been investigating its details, forming hypotheses, and putting together a presentation on three questions:
- How can we tell this horn is an authentic relic of the Revolutionary War?
- What does the carving on this horn express about the siege of Boston?
- Who was Ephraim Moors, and what was he doing in Cambridge at the end of 1775?
9 comments:
That's really cool. If I didn't live in AZ but maybe a bit closer, I'd attend your talk.
PLEASE post the lecture on-line! PLEEEZE!
Peace. I find it deceptive that the person who did this article tried to make it seem as if "Ephraim Moors" was some man's name as opposed to it being the Moorish tribe, descendants of Ephraim. Moors from Ephraim were part of a contingent of those who were over here from the ancient land of Canaan long before the Europeans got to this land along with the Moabites whose dominion was held here.
Ephraim Moors was a man's name. Actually, three men's name, three men from southern New Hampshire during the Revolution. That doesn't render your beliefs false, but it does provide a simpler explanation for this particular powder horn.
J. L. Bell, you're right!
The style of this horn's artwork is very similar to one I own from 1776 that belonged to a Capt. Ebenezer Frye who was was New Hampshire. The initials of the creator were J.G., who apparently was a well-known artisan of that era, but whose name I cannot recall right now. Are those initials on this horn as well?
Jacob Gay was a powderhorn carver active during the French & Indian War and then again during the siege of Boston. He appears to have lived in New Hampshire but may have been from French Canada originally. As I recall, we know nothing about him except that he signed or initialed some horns and had a distinct style.
The Moors horn doesn't have Gay's initials, but it does show other aspects of his style, such as whimsical animals and faces inside the Os of "Moors." My own theory is that Gay started it and Moors himself did the less expert carving on the rear that indicated where he was stationed.
The Concord Museum owns a couple of Gay-carved horns from different decades. Guides to powderhorns show some more examples. It would be great if he showed up in some local records.
Who do i contact to look at a very rare powderhorn
Try Joel Bohy at Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers.
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