burden strap, woven

burden strap, woven

burden strap, woven

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Introduction

A burden strap of nettlestalk fibre, decorated with geometric designs in moosehair false embroidery on the centre band. 18th century, Hodenosaunee. Collected between 1759 and 1768 by soldiers related to the Duke of Atholl and now in the Blair Castle collection, Scotland.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Based on style and collection history.

Date Made or Date Range: 1700s-1759
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

This strap was collected by military officers who fought in the Seven Years' War.
Collection history as partially documented by letters in Blair Castle archives from Captain George Murray.

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1759-1768
Collection Narratives and Histories

It is most likely that the collector or collectors of the 18th century North American indigenous items now at Blair Castle were soldiers related to the Duke of Atholl who fought in North America during the Seven Years' War (specifically between 1759 and 1768). These include the Duke’s nephews, Lieut. James Murray of the 42nd Highland Regiment (Black Watch) and Captain George Murray, Royal Navy. Another possible source is Lieut. Alexander Farquharson, who collected Great Lakes indigenous items for his patron, ? Farquharson, Laird of Invercauld and husband of the Duke’s niece, Lady Sinclair. A 1768 letter in the Blair Castle archives shows that Capt. George Murray, then returned to Europe, had sent things both to the Duke and to the Lady Sinclair and her mother. Lieut. James Murray and Alexander Farquharson fought in the army of Lord Amherst, which moved up from New York City, along the Hudson River, Lake George, and Lake Champlain to Montreal in 1759-60, fighting alongside Hodenosaunee and Anishinaabe allies. The items at Blair Castle could have originated amongst either, but the location of Amherst's army through Mohawk and other Hodenosaunee territories makes a Hodenosaunee origin especially likely for many of them.

GKS Reference Number: 26474
Approximate Place of Origin

46.1518006285, -82.168974436