weapons/fighting styles of the ohio/mississippi flatboatmen (1790-1840)?

Jim McDougall · 9th September 2009, 03:00 AM

Excellent notes on the Harpe's Pallas!!! I had never heard of the Earp connection to these obscure characters, but do know they have certain ancestry in Kentucky.

Regions in the Appalachians and the Smokies, as well as through the entire Eastern regions is fascinating and so full of Americana and folklore. Much of our 'history' derives from America's poet laureate Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and his works were a bit more formal form of much of the folklore that became American literature.

Trying to discover more on the legendary keelboater Mike Fink (Phinck) reveals more of the common hyperbole that elevated him, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and other figures to almost mythological proportion. Paul Bunyan, John Henry and many others are more in this distinctly American folkore assemblage.

Mike Fink was apparantly killed in a vendatta over an accidental shooting in characteristic hijinks that prevailed among these rugged characters, and it is said it was 1823. With these keelboats moving up and down these rivers which confluenced with the larger tributaries and into the Mississippi, it stands to reason considerable piracy must have existed which the very lucrative cargoes and trade materials they carried.
******here ya go Mark!!********

Mark, I do remember that beauty of a Bowie you had, and did not know you had brought Flayderman into the loop on it! There are few people who know Bowie's or any Americana like Mr. Flayderman, always a sort of personal hero of mine

and in my mind, very much like the very historical figures we're discussing. Though you gave up the Bowie....that lionhead you got aint no slouch!!! its a beauty too, and one of the most unusual I've seen....maybe you should post it again.

I once thought that it would be interesting to consider the Bowie knife a truly American ethnographic weapon. Interestingly one of the most prolific makers of Bowie knives became Wostenholm of Sheffield, England! I always wondered what the trademark I *XL meant........then found it simply meant ' I excel'!!

I never realized how much history lives in this country until I truly went on the road! and it is wonderful, and I have always loved history, and admired that of so many countries and cultures, but this is ours!! Best of all, it is a complete amalgam of all those from all over the world...now that is magnificent!

All best regards,
Jim

pallas · 9th September 2009, 09:47 PM

on a final note about the harpes is that they were apparently born in north carolina, the sons of a tory who fought for the british against his american neighbors...........after the war he fled west to save his own life as his neighbors burned his plantation/farm in revenge.........they were apparently of scottish ancestry although there were some in kentucky who thought they where "of some african blood" because of their "tawny appearence and tightly curled hair"........nothing is known about what happened to their father or if they where even actually born in this country or sent for when they where small children.......

they are widely known as "america's first serial killers" but even that is disputed, as some attribute that title to another obscure yet bloody frontiersman, lewis wetzel, who lead a very mysterious and violent life that was largely unknown to even those of his own time........it is suspected that he may have killed between 70 and 400 indians in his lifetime.....

Jim McDougall · 9th September 2009, 10:37 PM

[QUOTE=pallas]on a final note about the harpes is that they were apparently born in north carolina, the sons of a tory who fought for the british against his american neighbors...........after the war he fled west to save his own life as his neighbors burned his plantation/farm in revenge.........they were apparently of scottish ancestry although there were some in kentucky who thought they where "of some african blood" because of their "tawny appearence and tightly curled hair"........nothing is known about what happened to their father or if they where even actually born in this country or sent for when they where small children.......
{Quote}

Pallas, I was wondering about this in your earlier post, and one of the many curious anomalies that is well known in the folklore of these regions, are the people that correspond to these unusual descriptions known as 'melungeons'.

This group of people are pretty much an anthroplogical mystery and often come up in Appalachian and Kentuckian folklore.

All the best,
Jim

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9th September 2009, 03:00 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,733	Excellent notes on the Harpe's Pallas!!! I had never heard of the Earp connection to these obscure characters, but do know they have certain ancestry in Kentucky. Regions in the Appalachians and the Smokies, as well as through the entire Eastern regions is fascinating and so full of Americana and folklore. Much of our 'history' derives from America's poet laureate Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and his works were a bit more formal form of much of the folklore that became American literature. Trying to discover more on the legendary keelboater Mike Fink (Phinck) reveals more of the common hyperbole that elevated him, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and other figures to almost mythological proportion. Paul Bunyan, John Henry and many others are more in this distinctly American folkore assemblage. Mike Fink was apparantly killed in a vendatta over an accidental shooting in characteristic hijinks that prevailed among these rugged characters, and it is said it was 1823. With these keelboats moving up and down these rivers which confluenced with the larger tributaries and into the Mississippi, it stands to reason considerable piracy must have existed which the very lucrative cargoes and trade materials they carried. ****here ya go Mark!!****** Mark, I do remember that beauty of a Bowie you had, and did not know you had brought Flayderman into the loop on it! There are few people who know Bowie's or any Americana like Mr. Flayderman, always a sort of personal hero of mine and in my mind, very much like the very historical figures we're discussing. Though you gave up the Bowie....that lionhead you got aint no slouch!!! its a beauty too, and one of the most unusual I've seen....maybe you should post it again. I once thought that it would be interesting to consider the Bowie knife a truly American ethnographic weapon. Interestingly one of the most prolific makers of Bowie knives became Wostenholm of Sheffield, England! I always wondered what the trademark I *XL meant........then found it simply meant ' I excel'!! I never realized how much history lives in this country until I truly went on the road! and it is wonderful, and I have always loved history, and admired that of so many countries and cultures, but this is ours!! Best of all, it is a complete amalgam of all those from all over the world...now that is magnificent! All best regards, Jim

9th September 2009, 09:47 PM	#2
pallas Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 53	on a final note about the harpes is that they were apparently born in north carolina, the sons of a tory who fought for the british against his american neighbors...........after the war he fled west to save his own life as his neighbors burned his plantation/farm in revenge.........they were apparently of scottish ancestry although there were some in kentucky who thought they where "of some african blood" because of their "tawny appearence and tightly curled hair"........nothing is known about what happened to their father or if they where even actually born in this country or sent for when they where small children....... they are widely known as "america's first serial killers" but even that is disputed, as some attribute that title to another obscure yet bloody frontiersman, lewis wetzel, who lead a very mysterious and violent life that was largely unknown to even those of his own time........it is suspected that he may have killed between 70 and 400 indians in his lifetime.....

9th September 2009, 10:37 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,733	[QUOTE=pallas]on a final note about the harpes is that they were apparently born in north carolina, the sons of a tory who fought for the british against his american neighbors...........after the war he fled west to save his own life as his neighbors burned his plantation/farm in revenge.........they were apparently of scottish ancestry although there were some in kentucky who thought they where "of some african blood" because of their "tawny appearence and tightly curled hair"........nothing is known about what happened to their father or if they where even actually born in this country or sent for when they where small children....... {Quote} Pallas, I was wondering about this in your earlier post, and one of the many curious anomalies that is well known in the folklore of these regions, are the people that correspond to these unusual descriptions known as 'melungeons'. This group of people are pretty much an anthroplogical mystery and often come up in Appalachian and Kentuckian folklore. All the best, Jim