SEA CHANTIES AND CAMPFIRES: CONCERTINA OF JOHN MARTIN, PRIVATE 47th MASS AND MARINER

$1,250.00

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Item Code: 1268-178

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A very nice condition concertina in is original hexagonal wood case. This is attractively identified in black ink on one face: “John / Martin / 47th / Mass.” with a bar of music following his first name. The inside of the lid of the box has a maker’s label reading, “Patent / CONCERTINA / BY / GEORGE CASE / BOOSEY & Co.  REGENT STREET / LONDON.” From what we can tell, this is a postwar address for the company. Case apparently sold out to Boosey around 1856, but the firm only became Boosey & Co. about 1864 and appears only at that address beginning in 1874. This later dating would apparently agree with the serial number on the upper edge of the box, which appears to be 5003, all of which points to Martin using it postwar at reunions or a G.A.R. Post.

There were actually three John Martins in the 47th Mass., one in Company H and two in Company, but only one who was likely to show his face at a reunion, the other two having deserted soon after enlisting, That John Martin is recorded as having enlisted in the 47th Mass on October 20, 1862, mustered in October 24, and served the entire nine-month tour of the regiment, mustering out Sept. 1, 1863. He is listed as age 35 and a Mariner by occupation, which seems to fit with a John Martin we find in the 1860 census as a fisherman in Boston, age 34. Unfortunately, the name is fairly common, he does not seem to have applied for a pension, and we lose track of him after discharge, but note that the 1860 census lists him as born in Italy. Being a seafaring sort, however, rather fits with a concertina we think, as an appropriate instrument for off-hours entertainment whether in a wartime camp hut, around a G.A.R. campfire, or on vessel at sea.

The 47th Mass, also called the “Merchant’s Guard Regiment” mustered in by company from September to November 1862, and was formally organized at Camp Meigs, Readville. It took part in Banks’s Louisiana Expedition, leaving Long Island, NY, on Dec. 21 and arriving at Carrollton, LA, ten days later, and during its service was posted to New Orleans, the Metairie Race Course, and then to “Camp Parapet.” It did not see action, but took part in the capture of a steamboat, schooner and a large amount of cotton on Lake Ponchartrain, and lost one man killed by guerillas. Apropos of the desertion of the two other John Martins from the regiment, we note an interesting take on the problem in the regiment’s service history in the Mass records: “Both at Boxford and at Readville it suffered considerably from desertions, but this resulted in largely in weeding out of undesirable material and thus improving the general character of the command,” which is about a positive a spin on the issue as we have seen in Civil War records.

The condition is excellent. The instrument appears to be complete and it makes a great display.  [sr][ph:m]

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