| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| deerslayer |
Posted - October 26 2005 : 11:22:07 PM
I was wandering if anyone could help me on makin my own persona.I do not know where to start.I Know I want to be a longhunter aroud 1760.Any help would be appreciated. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| pasmokepole |
Posted - May 17 2006 : 10:59:41 AM
I used my ethnicity and location to determine my persona.
I live in Western Pennsylvania (Native American side of the Allegheny Mountains) in the old frontier of Pennsylvania at the intersection of the Venango/Chiclachamoose Trail and the Catawba Trail. I have germanic/dutch ancestery.
My persona is that of an eastern Longhunter who has settled in the south-east of Pennsylvania (PA Dutch country. I plant my crops in the early spring and leave my family for the near frontier to hunt deer when their pelts "are in the red". With my relative proximity to Fort Machault, I sometimes provide meat for and trade with the soldiers at the fort. I am in constant relations with the Cornplanter Indians of the Senaca Tribe in the north as well as the Delaware/Shawnee to the west of the Allegheny River. I then return east for harvest time to bring in the crop and winter in my eastern home with family.
This persona is not specific to any particular time period and allows for a lot of "elbow room" as far as accoutrements/dress go. I would say pre-1800 and post French and Indian. When choosing a persona remember not to get so specific that you limit yourself to a scripted attire such as a soldier - they ALL wore the same thing relatively. I am, by nature, independant and would not mold right with the strict rules of joining a military unit - don't know if one is formed locally.
I found that re-enacting comes in stages. First you buy a Thompson Center Hawkin .50 cal (or any production made black powder gun) then LEATHER for clothes, pouches, moccasins, ect. Then you buy LINENS - period correct shirt, drop-front pants, haversack, ect. Then you buy WOOL for winter time activities - blankets, leggins, scarf, leg wraps, capote. Then somewhere in your research you realize the Hawken gun doesn't fit into a persona you want so you have a GUN made for you to "fit". Then you start buying period-correct CAMPING GEAR - forged iron fire pit, chairs, wall tents/lodges, candle lanterns, ect. THEN you start getting gear for the rest of the family and start all over - have fun.
So, in closing, consider your ethnicity, your locality, your career (then and now), and any special interests you may have (blacksmithing, wood working, architecture, camping, trekking, hunting, any former military service, an ancester that may have served in a particular battle). Anyhow - make it you - your persona. Then research, research, research. |
| Many Flags |
Posted - November 15 2005 : 5:31:26 PM
Thanks, Sarge....I've been away for a while....just stopped in here actually to contact you for my cousin Sjt. Maj. MacWilliam. He will contact you off line. As for you Deerslayer, it's an evolution. When I look back at my early days, Whoaaa, was I green!! But, you must start somewhere. I believe you must attend rendezvous, do some trekking with some folks who know, hunt, wear the clothing and carry the accoutrements, read, watch LOTM and other films of that ilk. After a while you will begin to fit into a persona or maybe I should say, drawn to one. It's not an exact science and takes years to work. And, you do change as you go along AND as you get older (and more decrepit!!). Camp, hunt, read, trek, and talk with those who know. Best advice I can give. Pax Aye! Many Flags of the Allemaengel |
| deerslayer |
Posted - October 30 2005 : 09:49:07 AM
I never really thought about being french before.The station hunter sounds intersting to me,but I like the longhunter idea to.What to do what to do. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - October 28 2005 : 12:11:07 AM
Well..... The first thing you need to consider is just what a longhunter really was. They traveled in groups, were away from civilization for maybe two years at a time, had a lot of pack animals (you have to have a way to carry the skins), and had the intention of making a lot of money so they wouldn't have to be longhunters. For most it didn't work out that way. An alternative is the station hunter, who was employed by a fort, or station, to provide meat and skins by hunting locally for the fort. They stayed close to the fort and thus had access to the goods and services that could be obtained there. The longhunter, on the other hand, had only that which he could carry, and when it was worn out, he had to make do with what he could produce himself. There were never a lot of longhunters. Another alternative is the frontier farmer. They would have lived close to a fort, or station, would have owned some land and a cabin, and would have hunted to suplement their home-grown food supplies. Where you live and the events you attend may have a bearing on just how your persona developes. For instance, if you were to attend events like the Battle of Camden, there is no reason a longhunter was, or ever would have been, at the Battle of Camden. I showed up like that once, and I really felt out of place!
Ever thought about being French? Of course, after 1760 that becomes something of a problem. |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - October 27 2005 : 11:07:51 AM
Well Lad, you've come to the right place. I can think of three men here on the board who have all done longhunter (circa 1750-1790), and anyone of them could provide a wealth of information. These men will forget more about the fur trade of the 18th century, then most folks will ever know.
What say you Seamus, Flags, Fitz? Could you give the lad some direction?
YMH&OS,
The Sarge |
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