Collection: Ex. Haverhill Public Library Collection. Whereabouts unknown.
Hannah Dustin was captured in Haverhill, Massachusetts by Pennacook Indians in 1697. They took her and two other captives Mary Neff (Hannah's nurse from just giving birth) and Samuel Leonardson, who was a boy to Concord, N.H. where they made them slaves. The family of her Indian master had two men, three woman, and seven children. A few months after she was captured, Hannah killed her master and escaped. When Hannah left the camp, she took a gun and the tomahawk that she killed her master with. Samuel Leonardson and Mary Neff most likely took the other Indian gun from the other warrior killed.
There were apparently 2 guns in the Dustin family. The 1st gun was destroyed by the grandsons of Caleb Dustin ESQ. on July 4th 1810. It was filed down to 18" and fitted to a carriage as a cannon : "The one with which Mr. Dustin defended his children. "
The second gun (see picture below) was
taken after 1881 by a Hannah Dustin descendent from the H.P.L. The gun
was legally taken, with an affidavit given to the rightful decendent from a
cousin, the wrongful decendent, and donor to the library. The legal
heir talked his cousin into turning over legal possession of the gun with
some paperwork, and he went in to the library and claimed physical
possession
shortly thereafter. Only this photo remains. Current whereabouts unknown.
Pictures courtesy of Ken Hamilton
Noticeable features (not very clear on these scans sorry):
- "TD" carved in center of butt (i.e., Thomas Dustin, Hannah's husband)
- Third screw on rear of lock plate
- Rounded club butt
- Large guard
- Long and straight trigger
- wedding bands on the barrel
- flat lock plate
- Replaced English flat/volute cock
- Square Sight (not a bayonet lug)
- Wood rammer
- Front of forestock (removed) modifed most likely for ramrod grip
Close-up of the mouth of the barrel.
