NH Sons of the American Revolution

When we think of the American Revolution, images of powdered wigs, tricorn hats and regimental coats often come to mind—but one of the most distinctive symbols of the Revolutionary era was a garment both functional and iconic – the American hunting shirt.

In his thesis, “A Kind of Armour, Being Peculiar to America: The American Hunting Shirt,” historian Neal Thomas Hurst explores the evolution, symbolism, and material history of this uniquely American form of dress, revealing its deep roots in colonial frontier life and its powerful role in shaping Revolutionary identity.

Divided into two parts, Hurst’s work traces the hunting shirt from its obscure beginnings in the mid-18th century—particularly among settlers traveling the Great Wagon Road through the Shenandoah Valley back country. Originally a practical garment suited to frontier conditions, the hunting shirt became widely adopted during the Revolutionary War as a cheap and readily available uniform. It quickly transformed into a powerful emblem of independence—worn by militiamen and soldiers alike—and served as a visual marker of the American cause,. The hunting shirt reached as far north as New England. While few examples survive today, the garment was worn by militiamen from many states, including New Hampshire, the widespread use of the hunting shirt underscores its appeal across the social and geographic spectrum of the American rebellion.

The second part of Hurst’s thesis takes a closer look at the four surviving hunting shirts housed in museum collections across the United States. Two of these shirts have provenance to New Hampshire. Through detailed analysis of their textiles, fringe, patterns, and colors, Hurst connects the garment’s material construction to its cultural and political significance.

Sources

Hurst, Neal Thomas. “A Kind of Armour, Being Peculiar to America”: The American Hunting Shirt. Master’s thesis, The College of William and Mary, 2010.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539623561

Stanton, Lucia. Clothing and the Colonial Culture of Virginia. Williamsburg: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2000.

Hackett, David G. New Hampshire and the Revolution. Concord: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1976.