| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 11 2005 : 5:29:08 PM
Remembering Scott ... and the Molly Stark !
This coming August 24th will mark the one year anniversary of the loss of our good friend Scott Bubar! (alias Sikandur on NetSword, and Deacon Frye on the Pyracy Pub) I did not want to let this date pass without once again mentioning how much we miss our old friend, and to remember fondly all the great discussions, comments, and humor, that he brought to the many boards where he participated !
Scott had a soft spot for cannons .... and he seemed to take more than just a little interest in the period that founded his country, the American War for Independence! It is with that in mind that I bring you (and Scott, as I’m sure he’s reading along here :-) the following !
Last weekend the family and I took a short trip up north, via Rt. 13, and passed thru the New Hampshire town of New Boston. I’d been through New Boston many times in the past, actually having partied there sometime in the mid-80's .... (but that’s another story) ....but never put two & two together to realize that this was where the famous Molly Stark cannon resides, given to the town by none other than New Hampshire’s most famous soldier General John Stark!
History of the Molly Stark Cannon
“The famous Molly Stark cannon, captured from the British at the battle of Bennington (VT) by New Hampshire troops under the command of General John Stark on August 16, 1777, has for many generations been the proud possession of the citizens of New Boston. She is two hundred and twenty years old, having been cast in Paris, France, in 1743. Old Molly, as we affectionately call her, has had a most glorious history, serving under the French flag once, the British twice and the American twice.”
–excerpt from “The New Boston Artillery Company and Molly Stark" Clement A. Lyon 1963
In 1743, the cannon and a mate were cast in Paris, ornately decorated with a shield and crown flanked by American Indians armed with bows and arrows. Both cannons traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to protect the citizens of Quebec. The British forces at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham captured both of the cannons in 1759. Once again, both cannons changed hands when they were surrendered to General John Stark at Bennington in 1777.
“the fruits of the victory were four pieces of brass canon, several stand of arms, eight brass drums, a quantity of German broadswords, and about 700 prisoners.” Our gun, Molly Stark, was one of these four pieces, it being a four pounder.”
The Molly Stark cannon (named affectionately after General Stark’s wife) served in defense of the British siege at Detroit, Michigan, during the “Second Revolutionary War” the War of 1812, and was actually recaptured by the British after the surrender of the city. As fate would have it, the Americans captured Old Molly from the British once again, this time at the Battle of Fort George during the same war.
Prior to his death in 1822, General John Stark removed old Molly from storage at the first arsenal built by the United States (in Watervliet, New York “The Arsenal City”).
Old Molly was retired from active duty and presented to the New Boston Artillery Company of the 9th Regiment of the New Hampshire Militia by General Stark for the company’s contributions to the success of the Battle of Bennington. When the Artillery Company disbanded in 1852, everything except Old Molly was returned to the State of New Hampshire.
“All military accouterments were returned to the State except Molly Stark. Those hardy souls who had preserved and protected her would not give her up” -Clement Lyon, New Boston Artillery Company, 1963.
I went over near the town hall to inqui |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Many Flags |
Posted - August 15 2005 : 08:58:45 AM
Speaking of Stark....I don't know if this has been mentioned above....I skimmed the above posts quickly. But, before the battle of Bennington in 1777, Stark supposedly remarked, "Lads! There are the redcoats and they are ours or Molly Stark will sleep a widow tonight!" There are a lot of good stories about Stark. I believe he was a frontrunner for commander of Continental troops in 1775, given to Washington instead. And, I believe he went home in a snit, but came to the aid of Vermont when Burgoyne invaded. He was a tough old bird. Many Flags |
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 14 2005 : 3:52:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
quote:
Hard to say if the good folks of New Boston would be willing to let her get that far afield ?
It probably would be better if they didn't. Take the exhibit at the Heinz museum, for instance. When the exhibit moves to Canada, not everything will be going. There are concerns by some of the owners of items that Canada would try to claim them as part of their cultural heritage and not allow them to be returned. For that reason the exhibit will never again be as big as it is in Pittsburg. I could see them trying to claim Molly, too.
Hi Fitzhugh
Yup, New Boston has had a hard enough time keeping her secure from neighboring states without crossing borders that might lay claim to her ! Funny how these pieces of history can sometimes wind up a source of controversey after so many years !
Slàinte, Mac
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/mactom/oldMolly.jpg[/IMG] |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 14 2005 : 2:27:23 PM
quote:
Hard to say if the good folks of New Boston would be willing to let her get that far afield ?
It probably would be better if they didn't. Take the exhibit at the Heinz museum, for instance. When the exhibit moves to Canada, not everything will be going. There are concerns by some of the owners of items that Canada would try to claim them as part of their cultural heritage and not allow them to be returned. For that reason the exhibit will never again be as big as it is in Pittsburg. I could see them trying to claim Molly, too. |
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 14 2005 : 11:20:17 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
So this is one of the guns that accompanied La Sarre, Languedoc, Béarn, Guyenne, and the Royal Roussillon across the Plains of Abraham! Now that is special. Hard to imagine that the gun survived all that. Maybe someday I will get to actually see it. What would even be better is if someone could carry it to Quebec in 2009.
Aye, Fitzhugh ... a return to Quebec 250 year on would be quite the event! Hard to say if the good folks of New Boston would be willing to let her get that far afield ?
Cool stuff , Mac
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/mactom/cannonMolly5.jpg[/IMG] |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 14 2005 : 12:54:41 AM
So this is one of the guns that accompanied La Sarre, Languedoc, Béarn, Guyenne, and the Royal Roussillon across the Plains of Abraham! Now that is special. Hard to imagine that the gun survived all that. Maybe someday I will get to actually see it. What would even be better is if someone could carry it to Quebec in 2009. |
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 12 2005 : 10:42:15 AM
One of the nice old ladies from the historical society was telling me about a gentleman who came down from Dartmouth, (she believed it was Dartmouth) to see the cannon and was appalled to findout that the town was still live firing this piece !
He went on to say how it should be in a real museum, preserved properly, and blah, blah, blah .....
I think they just chuckled and sent him on his way !
You can't rock them ladies of the granite state ;-) Mac
P.S. Checkout this site : http://www.historiclakes.org/vbrp/vbr5.htm
It talks about some cannon(s) that exploded !
BOOM .... goes Molly !
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/mactom/Mollyfire2.jpg[/IMG]
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/mactom/Mollyfire3.jpg[/IMG] |
| Carter |
Posted - August 12 2005 : 09:04:20 AM
I agree it is hard to believe it has been almost a year! Isn't it comforting to know that part of him will live on forever here! |
| richfed |
Posted - August 12 2005 : 08:02:46 AM
I remember him often ... and added a little acknowledgment in my book ...
He was the kind of person you just can't replace. There will always be a void here - and elsewhere, I'm sure - that will never be filled. |
| caitlin |
Posted - August 12 2005 : 12:39:31 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
Thanks, Mac, for remembering this anniversary. And thanks for reminding us.
I think of Scott occasionally, especially when someone reopens a topic in which he posted, usually with his wonderfully dry sense of humor that never failed to make me smile.
Scott and my Dad could have had some great discussions about cannons, as my Dad has a great love for them as well. I have really enjoyed reading about the Molly Stark. She is a thing of beauty!
To Scott! 
It is hard to believe than it has almost been a year already!
He is missed...
|
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 11 2005 : 9:06:27 PM
Thanks, WW
Yes, here's to Scott! Cheers, Mac
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/mactom/Mollytwo.jpg[/IMG]
* Photo - National Geographic |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 11 2005 : 7:18:41 PM
Thanks, Mac, for remembering this anniversary. And thanks for reminding us.
I think of Scott occasionally, especially when someone reopens a topic in which he posted, usually with his wonderfully dry sense of humor that never failed to make me smile.
Scott and my Dad could have had some great discussions about cannons, as my Dad has a great love for them as well. I have really enjoyed reading about the Molly Stark. She is a thing of beauty!
To Scott! |
| Thomas MacDonald |
Posted - August 11 2005 : 5:35:05 PM
 |
|
![The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]](images/wwwboard.gif "The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]")
