Williamsburg conch shell, c. 1771

Williamsburg conch shell, c. 1771

Williamsburg (Mass.); Thayer, Joshua, 1742-1822; Local government-Massachusetts-Williamsburg; Shells; Wind instruments

This conch shell was blown to call residents to the first meeting of the newly erected District of Williamsburgh on May 6, 1771, and to all Town Meetings for many years thereafter. At that first meeting it was 'Voted that Joshua Thayer have fifteen shilling for blowing the conch shell & keeping the Schoolhouse fit for public worship this year.' Joshua must have been a windy fellow, because even in the earliest times the call to meeting needed to carry at least a mile in most directions, and it isn't easy to get a very loud noise out of the conch - a number of worthy aspirants have tried their hands and lungs at it lately. The shell measures about 8 x 7 x 5 inches, and its pointed end (at left in the photo) has been cut or ground off to blow into. It has lost most of its other points and delicate edges to hard handling through the years. No one knows exactly when its use was discontinued.

C/WMARS, Inc. http://www.cwmars.org/

Before 1771

Photographed by Eric Weber

Permission to publish the image must be obtained from the Meekins Library by writing to ddarienzo@cwmars.org or Meekins@cwmars.org. The Meekins Library, Williamsburg, Mass., must be credited as the original source of the item for all use.

Part of the Meekins Library, Williamsburg, Mass., Local History, Objects Collection. http://www.meekins-library.org

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Meekins Library--Local History--Objects Collection--Williamsburg Conch Shell