Developing a Persona
Many of us read about and interact in the Internet with so-called "historical trekkers," but we are not middle ground hunters in Ohio/Kentucky in the 1760’s and 1770’s, we are New Englanders in the 1740’s and 50’s. Many aspects we do hold in common, such as woods knowledge, food, fire-starting, etc., but other aspects, especially clothing, do not carry over. This is particularly true of native clothing and adornments. We are portraying men who defended their loved ones and homes from the Indians. These men were Englishmen, and Christians, and frankly, pretty prejudiced against Indian culture in general. They adopted native culture that made sense and was practical, such as leggings, moccasins, and of course the very tactics that they used, but there is no evidence, nor is it even conceivable, that they wore breechclouts, hand-loomed sashes or adorned themselves with beads, bells, or Wampum. Given their purpose, they would most likely just shot any white man wearing a breechclout! (emphasis mine, dm)
http://www.snowshoemen.com/
The above excerpt is from the website of the snowshoe men who roamed about on the north and western frontier and up into New Hampshire and Vermont. They are pretty much the characters I portray when in New England. Except that I am now in 1775 and that was then this is now. Like an F&I War vet. So I know about the feelings toward those who didn't dress appropriately! I am after all, first and foremost, just a "pretender": (isn’t this just a hobby?)
I have my time line worked out to be able to participate in almost all of the important happenings between the years 1726 and 1810, kind of a Forrest Gump of the 18th century. What is so unusual is that I have found out that many of my ancestors actually did some of this stuff and that is what has been so mind-boggling. Take the gun episode. Scott New of Boone’s Trace, suggested that I settle on a gun like my ancestor Isaac would have had. Research showed it was most likely a Club Butt Fowler made in the 1720s in Mass. And then I found out that the actual gun hangs on the wall at the Buckman tavern! And it is a club! So mine looks like it is well cared for and about 60 years old.
NEXT, the Life and Times of Jean Dené Muzzy
Jean Dené Muzzy was born in May 1714 the fourth child of John and Elizabeth Bradford Muzzy, second son. John Senior operated the tavern at Lexington nearest to the meetinghouse and had a position of prominence in the community. He was selectman nearly all of 60 years. A Deacon in the First Parish, his pew occupied the area nearest the door because he needed to slip out first to ready the tavern for warmth and refreshments. His father Benjamin had given him the 640 acres to build on as a wedding present in 1709 and he immediately began to build a public entertainment house. His Grandfather also Benjamin had settled the area first in the 1640’s at which time it was called Cambridge Farms. John Sr. outlived three wives and quietly died at age 83 years.
An uncle, Amos, was a surveyor working out the details of Northwestern lands for investors in New Hampshire, and as such took young John Dené along at age 12 as a camp boy. The Delaware attacked and all the party got away but the boy who was captured. “But then as I was captured and adopted I came to respect the Indians as real people and I can adopt their ways effectively if I need to.” He was adopted by their medicine man and thus taught some of the ways of natural healing. Even before that his mother had shared the secrets of herbs etc with him. After being returned to the white society a little civilization was needed so he was sent at age 23 to Dr Witt in New Jersey where he studied and taught some also. While there he married Elizabeth Snow and they had a boy, Edward on Sept 16, 1738. Then in 42 they were on the frontier the wife and child were captured at camp while most of the men were out surveying. Unfortunately they were unknown Indians so an appeal was made to the Snowshoe men to help find them. They insisted upon a six month enlistment is return. After finding out something about the ones who may have taken them Jean Dené enlists with Geo. Croghan as an English trader/surgeon who comes out to Ohio country looking for his captured wife and son. At Pickawilliany he helps build up the trading house and is there when the French come to destroy it. He is able to convince them that he was the prisoner of the English. He gets involved in just about any activity including doing service in the French army as a surgeon. He was even sent to Louisbourg where he also married the daughter of the chief Engineer. He built the first lighthouse in North American. In 1745 comes the first siege of Louisbourg and the New Englanders, some of whom he knew because of former service, capture it! They deport the majority of the French colonists and occupy Louisbourg for the next four years. They keep Jean Dené on because he was able to convince them with a New England accent that he was a political prisoner!
In the spring of 75 he is able to assist the surveyors in the Powell Valley.
By march 1775 he has returned to MA arriving in time to see the activities of April 19th and is shocked to see my son Isaac die out there on the Green that first day of battle.
In the fall of 1778, while traveling with his younger sister Jane in the Kentucky area he has an encounter with Chief Blackfish near Boonesboro.
As a surveyor with surgeon’s skills in the Ohio country, he is able to assist in the development of new counties and towns. He discovers a small lake and it is named after our family. Muzzy Lake is near present day Akron Ohio. As such, he is able to attend the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795.
AFTER WORD
Indians captured one of my ancestors; one worked with Capt. Haseltine of Bradford MA and his Snowshoe men, one was a surveyor for whom Muzzy Lake takes its name. One was a doctor who was still in Cincinnati Ohio in 1804. Four were involved in battle the 19th of April 1775. One died on the Green at Lexington during the First battle of the American Revolution.
When I started re-enacting, I just chose an ancestor of mine that would have been 60 or so in 75 and it just happened to be the very one at whose feet Isaac Muzzy died. I only found out about the Doctor, the Surveyor the deacon, and the Father of Isaac after I started re-enacting. I am a doctor, a deacon in the church, and was cast as a surveyor in the PBS production: “Ohio the Gate West” to be broadcast on Ohio PBS stations in 2003, the year of Ohio’s 200th Anniversary! Oh yes, I was born in May.
So in character, I cross all the lines and there is no one character that I represent just a fictitious blend of men from the 18th century. As such, I have a beginning, a past, a life that I am living and a future.