Membership is open to everyone.
We meet every first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM. Meetings are at the Musket Lt.'s home at 15 Water St. in South Natick. No reservations are required. You can contact Marco Kaltofen at 508 653 6588 or via email for details.
Uniforms, shoes and other gear
The company has some gear available for new members while they search for their own uniforms. No specific outfit is required, however the group is attempting to represent Colonial Patriots of the year 1775. The group follows the Battle Road Clothing Guidelines for Reenacters. Don't panic! Plenty of help is available is choosing the required equipment.
Sutlers
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Three example clothing kits for 1775 Militia
Not shown are period buckled shoes and knee stockings
| (left) A better developed kit with some French-Indian War influences | (Center) A nearly perfect look for a 1775 Militia Officer with neck stock and frock coat | (Right) A good starting kit for a militiaman |
Do I have to buy a musket?
Firearms representative of those available in 1775 are optional. Several group members own replica and even some original muskets, but an equal number do not. Charleville and Brown Bess muskets are recommended. Blunderbusses were not common to 1775 Natick but are acceptable. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts exempts colonial and replica musket owners from some gun regulations, including many provisions of the new 1998 gun law. Our current members voluntarily carry firearms permits despite these exemptions. This is a good time to point out that paramilitary and similar political activity is not welcome or tolerated in the group.
Historic roles for women and children
Camp followers included wives, children and other civilians who played a role in military life. Many re-enactment groups include women and children in these roles wearing garb appropriate to 1775. Period costumes are available from the same suppliers, Townsend and the Dixie Gun Works.
Many groups, including the Natick Minutemen welcome women as minuteman reenacters. The 225th Lexington and Concord battle reenactments (The largest of its kind since Amercia's bicentennial) included many women in men's garb. All such reenacters were required to wear fully sleeved outergarments such as wool or linen coats. Reflecting our community's historic heritage of participation in the Revolutionary War by women, Indigenous People and African Americans, membership in the Natick Minutemen is open to all and everyone is welcome at all events.
Molly Pitchers
Women also participate with local reenactment units dressed as Minutemen and acting as fifers and drummers. There is some historical precedent for female musketeers in Colonial times, but this was fairly rare. Margaret Hayes, who fired her husband's cannon at Monmouth, NJ when he was shot comes to mind for most people. Margaret Hayes is often mistaken called "Molly Pitcher." In fact all the women who routinely assisted in cannonading by bringing pitchers of water to quench sparks before loading were called Molly Pitchers. Without a water quench and swabout, cannon could not be reloaded without fear of premature ignition.
In colonial Natick, it was a young girl who acted as the alarm rider (see also: Paul Revere), to spread the warning of the coming of the British Regulars on Patriots' Day, 1775.
The children of some of the Natick Company members have appeared in Minuteman garb in several local events such as the Memorial Day parade. In general a minuteman was expected to be at least as tall as their musket. This makes a dandy rule of thumb answer to the question - Am I old enough to be a Minuteman?
Costs What does all of this stuff cost? A quick rundown of important items is in the following table. Many items may be borrowed from the group until a new member can purchase or make them on their own. Assistance with finding suppliers, choosing period gear, and prioritizing early purchases is readily available,
Required Items The basic Minuteman package. (See also the Battle Road Clothing Guidelines.)
| Breeches (knee-length pants) | $20 to $55. |
| Linen Shirt | $25 to $40. |
| Shoes - solidly black shoes until period shoes are acquired | $20. to $90. |
| Waistcoat | $50. |
| Tricorner Hat | $25 to $55 |
| Wool or linen knee socks with garters | $10. |
Advanced Items
This gear can be acquired, borowed, or traded over time. Wide latitude is given on uniform and equipment styles, so long as it was available to 1775-era Militiamen.
Unit Equipment
This gear is already owned by the unit and need not be purchased.
| Campaign tent - 12 ft. by 14 ft. | Used for encampments and out-of-town events |
| Dining fly and cook tents | Used for encampments and out-of-town events |
| Replica 18th Century pitchforks | Available as arms for new members. Pitchforks were actually a necessity in battle to hold back charging British Regulars while musketeers reloaded. |
| Camp-style cookpots and table | (with tripod) |
| Musical instruments | free lessons available for fife and drums |
| Tricorner Hats | adult size hats available for loan |
| Shirts and breeches | various sizes available |
The Natick Minutemen can be reached at kaltofen@aol.com.
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Text © Natick Minutemen 2003, Graphics from American Flag and Gift