Powder Horn of John Mahard

Powder Horn of John Mahard ornamentation carved by John Bush is discussed. This powder horn was used in the French and Indian War, a conflict between the British and French over territories in North America. Bush is a free African American Massachusetts militiaman who originated the Lake George School of horn carvers. Born into a literate family, Bush was a military company clerk at Fort William Henry on Lake George, New York. Shortly before the fort was besieged by and surrendered to the French and their Indigenous allies in 1757, he carved this horn for John Mahard, a fellow militiaman in his company. Captured after the siege, Bush died under horrific conditions on a French ship, where he was held along with other prisoners of war.