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Our exhibit includes several artifacts as shown below. Some artifacts were loaned to us just for this display.
Hezekiah Jordan’s 1773 Powder Horn
Hezekiah Jordan’s 1773 Powder Horn
Hezekiah Jordan (1759-1828) was born in Cape Elizabeth on Sept. 9, 1759, to James Jordan and Phebe Mitchell.
In 1773 he was given this powder horn. On Jan. 1, 1777, he took a three-year enlistment as a private in the Continental Army.
Hezekiah Jordan carried this powder horn throughout the war. He did all of the engraving. Powder horns were generally made from cow, oxen or buffalo horns. This material was durable and able to keep the gunpowder dry.
Hezekiah spent much of his time on the front lines in New York. He fought in the Battle of Hubbardton and saw the surrender of British Gen. John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga. He fought at the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, the Battle of Monmouth and several other battles including the defense of Philadelphia. Hezekiah Jordan was honorably discharged Dec. 31, 1779.
On loan from the Rev Robert and Sarah Winter Jordan Foundation, https://thejordanfamilyfoundation.org
Pencil Portrait of Samuel Robinson
Pencil Portrait of Samuel Robinson
Samuel Robinson was born in Cape Elizabeth to John Robinson and Mehitable Woodbury in 1758. He entered service on Sept. 1, 1776 as a drummer, stationed on the seacoast at Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough.
He then served in the Continental Army for three years (1977-1779). He served as a drummer or Drum Major for several different companies and regiments. You can find his service records in the notebook on the black pedestal.
He marched to Bennington, Vermont, and was credited with 336 miles of travel. He was at the surrender of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York. He also served at West Point.
When the war was over, Samuel and Elizabeth Emery were married on Sept. 17, 1781 in Cape Elizabeth. He died on August 21, 1806 at age 48 when he was lost at sea. His cenotaph is found in Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. Samuel’s father, John Robinson also served in the Revolutionary War as a Sargent in Captain Dunn’s Company for Cape Elizabeth. He is buried in Eastern Cemetery in Portland and has an unusual carving on his gravestone.
Object ID FI.041 in CEHPS Past Perfect Collection
“Portland Artillery” Cross Belt Plate from the Revolutionary War Era (1790-1820)
A cross belt plate was a small but meaningful piece of a soldier’s kit. A soldier typically wore two leather belts that crossed diagonally over his chest forming an X. Each belt carried essential equipment at the hip: his cartridge box on one hip and his bayonet frog and scabbard on the other.
Where these belts crossed at the sternum, a brass plate was riveted or sewn onto one of the belts to reinforce the junction. The brass plate prevented the belts from sliding out of position. A soldier needed his cartridge box and bayonet to be exactly where he expected in the chaos of battle.The thick brass also provided a degree of protection to the chest, and they were often engraved with regimental numbers, state names, or patriotic mottos which helped distinguish friend from foe.
The Portland Artillery was one of the oldest militia units in Maine, predating Maine’s statehood in 1820 (Maine was part of Massachusetts until then). This insignia was a way of saying:
we are Portlanders, and we are Americans — “E Pluribus Unum,” one out of many.
On loan from a local collection
Wooden Water Canteen
American Revolution wooden water canteen carried by Sergeant William Davis, 4th Great Grandfather of Stephen Lyons of Cape Elizabeth. Davis lived in Woodstock, Maine at the time of the Revolution and later in Gray, Maine.
“By 1776, tin was of limited supply in America which was forced to rely solely on manufacturing wooden canteens. Yet wood shortly became favored over metal containers because of their low expense, available materials, and air cellular insulation.” They were usually lined with wax to make them water tight.
Canteen on loan from Steve Lyons
1776 Cape Elizabeth Town Records
On July 17, 1776,Town Clerk , David Strout*, diligently copied into the Town Record the Declaration of Independence including the now famous outsized signature of John Hancock.
The display panel “Prelude to War” includes quotations from this same Town Record that follows the changing sentiments of the citizenry:
On Dec. 22, 1772 Town Clerk David Strout writes: “to endeavor in a legal way… for the removal of grievances”
on Feb. 23, 1775 he writes, “At such an alarming and critical time…”
Though these events happened 250 years ago one can still sense the fervor, determination and probably trepidation as the events leading to the revolution evolved.
* Strout, David (1737-1791) - He served as Captain of a company stationed at Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough for defense of the seacoast. He was engaged on July 1, 1775 and served to Dec. 31, 1775, 6 mos. 15 days. (from Service Records, Binder, Section1). A later treasury pay roll of a detachment under Sargeant David Strout for service at Cape Elizabeth is dated March 18, 1783. He was also a lawyer and justice of the peace. His son, David Strout Jr, was lost on the ship Cumberland (see Cape Elizabeth Sailors Lost at Sea).
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