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Billy club

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@ Massachusetts Historical Society

Description

Billy club used by the "League of Massachusetts Freemen" when dealing with slave hunters, in preference to pistols or guns. Manuscript note glued to club reads: "Specimen of the 'billy' with which it was proposed the members of the 'League of Massachusetts Freemen' were to arm themselves when attempting to deal with the slavehunter. Between two and three hundred were made under the direction of a member who had previously been Mayor of Lynn. It was thought best in all operations of the League to have no pistols or any cutting weapon of defense or offense." Used by the League of Massachusetts Freemen. Oak club hollowed and filled with lead for added weight; the club has a plugged knob handle and a bored hole for a wrist strap. Billy Club 003
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Item from the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Image use and licensing information: www.masshist.org/library/permissionsContact host institution for more information.
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Record Contributed By

Massachusetts Historical Society

Record Harvested From

Digital Commonwealth

Keywords

  1. Antislavery Movements
  2. Artifacts
  3. Fugitive Slaves
  4. League Of Massachusetts Freemen
  5. Slaver

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