[Thomas McDonald]

Remembering Scott ... and the Molly Stark !

This coming August 24th will mark the one year anniversary of the loss of our good friend Scott Bubar!
(alias Sikandur on NetSword, and Deacon Frye on the Pyracy Pub)
I did not want to let this date pass without once again mentioning how much we miss our old friend, and to remember fondly all the great discussions, comments, and humor, that he brought to the many boards where he participated !

Scott had a soft spot for cannons .... and he seemed to take more than just a little interest in the period that founded his country, the American War for Independence !
It is with that in mind that I bring you (and Scott, as I’m sure he’s reading along here :-) the following !

Last weekend the family and I took a short trip up north, via Rt. 13, and passed thru the New Hampshire town of New Boston. I’d been through New Boston many times in the past, actually having partied there sometime in the mid-80's .... (but that’s another story) ....but never put two & two together to realize that this was where the famous Molly Stark cannon resides, given to the town by none other than New Hampshire’s most famous soldier
General John Stark !

History of the Molly Stark Cannon
“The famous Molly Stark cannon, captured from the British at the battle of Bennington (VT) by New Hampshire troops under the command of General John Stark on August 16, 1777, has for many generations been the proud possession of the citizens of New Boston. She is two hundred and twenty years old, having been cast in Paris, France, in 1743. Old Molly, as we affectionately call her, has had a most glorious history, serving under the French flag once, the British twice and the American twice.”
–excerpt from “The New Boston Artillery Company and Molly Stark" Clement A. Lyon 1963

In 1743, the cannon and a mate were cast in Paris, ornately decorated with a shield and crown flanked by American Indians armed with bows and arrows. Both cannons traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to protect the citizens of Quebec. The British forces at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham captured both of the cannons in 1759. Once again, both cannons changed hands when they were surrendered to General John Stark at Bennington in 1777.

“the fruits of the victory were four pieces of brass canon, several stand of arms, eight brass drums, a quantity of German broadswords, and about 700 prisoners.” Our gun, Molly Stark, was one of these four pieces, it being a four pounder.”

The Molly Stark cannon (named affectionately after General Stark’s wife) served in defense of the British siege at Detroit, Michigan, during the “Second Revolutionary War” the War of 1812, and was actually recaptured by the British after the surrender of the city. As fate would have it, the Americans captured Old Molly from the British once again, this time at the Battle of Fort George during the same war.

Prior to his death in 1822, General John Stark removed old Molly from storage at the first arsenal built by the United States (in Watervliet, New York “The Arsenal City”).

Old Molly was retired from active duty and presented to the New Boston Artillery Company of the 9th Regiment of the New Hampshire Militia by General Stark for the company’s contributions to the success of the Battle of Bennington. When the Artillery Company disbanded in 1852, everything except Old Molly was returned to the State of New Hampshire.

“All military accouterments were returned to the State except Molly Stark. Those hardy souls who had preserved and protected her would not give her up” -Clement Lyon, New Boston Artillery Company, 1963.


I went over near the town hall to inquire where the cannon might be and discovered that it was housed in the little yellow Historical Society building and that I needed to return the following Thursday, between 12:00 - 2:00, when a nice old lady would open it for me!
(*guess they don’t staff it on a regular basis, ?, so do call ahead !)



So long story longer .....
I endeavored to persevere and went back today and finally got up close and personal with ‘ol Molly Stark ! (just for you, Scott ‘ol buddy ;-)









Coincidentally, I found out that this famed 4 pounder will be “live fired” during Battle Week celebrations at Bennington, VT., on August 20th & 21st .... so if you got your ear plugs handy it might be a booming good time !
http://www.historicvermont.org/bennington/





Muzzle & bore



Rest in Peace, my friend , Mac

[Thomas McDonald]

Cascabel, 1st reinforce, and vent .



View that includes the 2nd reinforce !

[Russ Ellis]

Thanks for the cool bit of history both past and present Thomas!

[Jean Thibodeau]

Thomas;

Would be an interesting story in any case, but I probably have ancestors on the French side of that Plains of Abrahams battle who lost the battle and the canon.

[Thomas McDonald]

Trunnion markings



I believe it reads Rebored May 22 1891, but that 8 could be a 9 I suppose ?

Mac

[Thomas McDonald]

[Thomas McDonald]

A picture of a picture ....

This photo is from an old National Geographic magazine that N.H. had in their Molly clippings folder !
The oldy lady told me that this photo is actually of the other Molly, twin to the N.H. piece ?



Mac

[Gordon Frye]

Very Cool, Mac! Thanks for posting that, and we'll hoist a tall one to your departed comrade, "Deacon Frye"! He deserves it for loving cannons and chosing a great name!

Cheers!

Gordon

[Patrick Kelly]

Cool stuff Mac, and Scott is missed.

[Thomas McDonald]

One of the nice old ladies from the historical society was telling me about a gentleman who came down from Dartmouth, (she believed it was Dartmouth) to see the cannon and was appalled to findout that the town was still live firing this piece !
He went on to say how it should be in a real museum, preserved properly, and blah, blah, blah .....

I think they just chuckled and sent him on his way !

You can't rock the ladies of the granite state ;-) Mac

P.S. Checkout this site : http://www.historiclakes.org/vbrp/vbr5.htm
It talks about some cannon(s) that exploded !

BOOM .... goes Molly !

[Greyson Brown]

[Thomas McDonald]

[Thomas McDonald]

Just wanted to acknowledge this day, August 24th, as it's been two years now that we have been without the kindred spirit of Scott Bubar !
They say as long as you remember a person they are never really gone, so with this in mind, I raise my glass to parted friends, and cherish the memories of days past !

Till we meet again, Rest in Peace, my friend, Mac

[Roger Hooper]

Here's to you Sikandur! We all still miss and remember you.

[Greg Griggs]

Thanks for this thread and the story behind it, Mac. I didn't get to meet the man, but I shall take off the hat and salute his memory.

To those who think we should keep all our history in a museum (big fights on this exact thing with the WWII aircraft being flown now), I say "FIE to ye"! Let us not forget and use the past for the present and the future.

[Patrick Kelly]

Thanks for the reminder Mac. There were many fine souls like Scott in our little group when we started co-habitating in cyberspace almost a decade ago? (!) Sadly many of them have moved onto other things, while some have passed like Scott and the atmosphere is not as creative or brotherly as it once was. We miss him still.