Willard Buttrick Powder Horn

On the morning of April 19, 1775, Colonial militiamen like 28-year-old Willard Buttrick turned out “armed as according to law.” Many of these militia and minute men were equipped with several items needed to load and fire their muskets. One such item for Willard Buttrick was was a horn used to hold loose gunpowder. Although ammunition storage was required for service in the Massachusetts Militia, powder horns were an intimately personal item for their carrier. Sometimes they took the form of undecorated cow horns with a plug in either end. Other examples of colonial powder horns exhibit intricate artwork often called scrimshaw. Horns depicting previous military campaigns, and meaningful phrases appear across New England during the American War for Independence. Although beautifully ornate, these horns played a serious role in battle. If a militia soldier did not have pre-made paper cartridges, they would pour gunpowder out of the horn into the barrel of the musket, followed by a musket ball. This slower method of loading could result in life or death for a soldier, especially when speed was key on the battlefield.

The paper label on the plug of this horn dates it to September 15, 1774. During this period, the people of Massachusetts reacted to increasingly suffocating regulations imposed by their own government. On September 26, only 11 days after this horn was made, Concord voted to create special companies of Minutemen to defend their community and their rights as English subjects. Willard Buttrick, a local farmer joined the second minute company formed in town led by his brother, Captain John Buttrick.

On April 19, 1775, Willard carried this horn into battle at Concord’s North Bridge, just feet below his house. Fortunately Willard and his powder horn survived the day. For more than two centuries following the American Revolution, the Buttrick family passed down Willard’s horn from generation to generation. The horn even made an appearance at the centennial celebration of April 19 in 1875 along with other significant objects. It was donated to Minute Man National Historic Park by Marshall Adams Buttrick on behalf of the Buttrick family in 2018.

Marshall Buttrick, spokesperson for the Buttrick family and the official keeper of the powder horn, had spent many years, proudly showing the powder horn off and keeping it’s story a part of Buttrick lore. "I am pleased to donate to the National Park Service my ancestor Willard Buttrick's powder horn to be publicly displayed at the North Bridge Visitor Center. The powder horn was used at the North Bridge April 19th 1775. It is interesting to note that the remains of Willard Buttrick's house foundation are adjacent to the parking area at the Visitors Center. " said Marshall Buttrick.

When Mr. Buttrick and his siblings had to decide what the future of the powder horn would be, it was unanimous that the horn should be seen by the American public and the best way to do that would be to donate it to the park. Now, the personal story of the day will be displayed in the near future for all to understand and enjoy what the artifact can tell us about a patriot from almost 250 years ago.