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Kay
Colonial Settler
USA
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Posted - January 12 2009 : 5:13:39 PM
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I'm sure there are others here that have great admiration for Jack Winthrop. Let's face it-he is simply a cool guy. He is very independent, very patriotic, very well...American. Every time that I have watched his scenes in LOTM I have commented- gee I'd like to know what he would have done 20yrs later during the revolution! Maybe he would have shouldered his rifle and fought- if he couldn't do that he would definitely have been in the room with the politicians urging for war/recruiting militia. He would be as ardent a patriot as one can be! He shows an important part of the F&I war era that was true-I'm just beginning to learn how colonists had many grievances concerning protection from their sovereign England and the British army from indian attacks and other things of the like. It sounds like this may have helped fan the fire that eventually did end up in revolution (esp in the PA history I've been reading). I love learning about all the bits and pieces of the puzzle that ultimately led to the birth of our nation. Jack's character helps show that with his concern for the "little people" and his loathing of the rules and regulations of the British army that prevented him and others from leaving to defend their families but rather held them in conscription to an army belonging to a crown thousands of miles across the ocean. You can see him beginning to rebel and this perhaps little known but very real part of this time period is absolutely fascinating. I'd love to hear others' thoughts on Jack and what he represents!
Kay
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
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Posted - January 12 2009 : 10:55:40 PM
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Lordy it's late and I am about to drop, but I have to say...
I LOVE JACK!
After his escape from the fort he moved to NC where he is now 250 years old and living with me!!
GG |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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Posted - January 13 2009 : 09:20:15 AM
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GG, I believe you! I even found a description that someone recently wrote about him:
quote: ...he is senile, infantile, he can't remember what he had for breakfast--though all he'd have to do is look at his shirt front--and he is deaf as a lamp post, so speak up when you talk to him. Not that it matters--he won't know what you're saying, anyhow.**
(**Howard Bahr, The Year of Jubilo) |
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James N.
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: October 24 2007
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Posted - January 13 2009 : 10:57:39 AM
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The person I think comes closest to what we would like to think Jack might've turned out like is probably John Stark of Vermont. Forget the better-known and wildly self-promoting Ethan Allen; Stark represents the REAL Green Mountain Boys, frontiersmen whose attitudes strongly suggest Jack Winthrop's character. He was an officer in Rogers Rangers during the F&I War; played a significant part in the Patriot success at Bunker Hill; argued with the Continental Congress over shady politics and resigned from the army in disgust; yet came back in the time of greatest need to totally destroy the Hessians of Burgoyne's army at Bennington; helped secure the surrender of Burgoyne himself; and FINALLY recieved the long-overdue thanks of a chastened Congress and his well-deserved promotion to General! |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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Posted - January 13 2009 : 11:21:46 AM
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I have wondered if the name "Jack Winthrop" came from "John Winslow" who was charted with raising an army of New Englanders. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: March 14 2005
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Kay
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]: January 06 2009
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Posted - January 13 2009 : 3:54:45 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Obediah
GG, I believe you! I even found a description that someone recently wrote about him:
quote: ...he is senile, infantile, he can't remember what he had for breakfast--though all he'd have to do is look at his shirt front--and he is deaf as a lamp post, so speak up when you talk to him. Not that it matters--he won't know what you're saying, anyhow.**
(**Howard Bahr, The Year of Jubilo)
LOL
Kay |
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Longrifle
Pioneer
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Posted - January 16 2009 : 01:13:19 AM
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I don't know about New Englanders but many on the Southern Appalachian frontier were cut from the same cloth as fictional character Jack Winthrop.
John Sevier, AKA "Nolichucky Jack," comes readily to mind; yet, many of the North Carolina riflemen who turned up at Kings Mountain and Cowpens were like minded, although their names are lost to history now.
Of course, it should be acknowleged that the same attitude manifested itself in a different way among their decendants a century later; to the consternation of New Englanders. |
"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days." - Daniel Boone |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - January 16 2009 : 07:22:36 AM
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When I saw this post about Jack Winthrop, I thought, "I'll just wait until GG posts and then say I'm with her"! And I am -- among the men of LOTM, I'd rank Jack second, after Hawkeye. And I'm with Kay regarding the spirit of the movie. As I was watching the early scenes for the first time, I thought, "This isn't really about the F&I War, it's about the Revolution!" |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - January 16 2009 : 12:56:42 PM
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I think that Daniel Morgan fits that description pretty well.
Very interesting fellow. One claim to fame.... he survived 500 lashes, as ordered by General Braddock, while he was a civilian teamster (wagoneer) on the Braddock Expedition during the F & I War. He later boasted that the flogger had miscounted. He only received 499 lashes and the British owed him one more!
I think I really like this man!
During the Revolutionary War, he became an important general, and is said to have been a good battle tactician.
Daniel Morgan
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"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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James N.
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - January 16 2009 : 8:08:18 PM
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Wilderness, that's an understatement! IF that HORRIBLE piece of trash called The Patriot had stayed true to ANY facts, it could've shown the most complete planned battle of the war - Morgan's utter destruction of Tarleton's ( "Tavington" in the AWFUL film! ) 1000 man force at Hannah's Cowpens in South Carolina on Jan. 17, 1781! Unfortunately "Bloody Ban" got away, unlike in Patriot; but little more than 100 of his men escaped with him. This battle capped Morgan's career and is still studied today as a perfect example of small-unit tactics. During the Bicentennial, the entire small battlefield was acquired and restored by the Park Service; it looks virtually exactly like it did then, and is probably the finest existing Revolutionary battlefield. I was very happy that during the filming of Mohicans I got to visit it no less than three times! |
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