Tools of 1600s New Hampshire Settlers: Survival Kit for a Frontier

17th-century New Hampshire settlers (English planters, fishermen, sawyers) relied on **hand-forged, multi-purpose iron/steel tools** and **woodworking skill**. The kit:

Wood Harvesting & Shaping (Primary Economy: Lumber, Ship Masts, Clapboards)

• Felling Axe (single/double bit): Cut trees. **Most vital tool.**
• Broadaxe (hewing axe): Square logs → beams, planks. Flat blade, beveled one side.
• Adze: Trim/flatten beams, shape curves (ship knees). Blade ⊥ handle.
• Crosscut Saw (whipsaw, 2-man): Rip logs into boards. Pit sawyer + top sawyer.
• Froe & Mallet: Split shingles, clapboards, staves from bolts.
• Drawknife: Shave spokes, tool handles, shingles on shaving horse.
• Auger (T-handle, spoon bit): Bore holes for pegs (treenails), mortises.
• Chisels (socket, firmer, mortise): Mortise & tenon joinery, carving.
• Plane (jack, smoothing, jointer): Flatten/smooth boards. Wooden body, iron blade.

Agriculture & Food

• Hoe (grub, eye): Cultivate corn, beans, squash hills.
• Sickle / Scythe: Harvest grain, hay. Cradle scythe for grain.
• Flail: Thresh grain.
• Winnowing Basket: Separate chaff.
• Spade / Shovel (iron-shod wood): Dig, trench, move earth.
• Plow (wooden moldboard, iron share): Oxen-pulled. Break sod.

Household & Textile

• Spinning Wheel (great wheel / walking wheel): Wool/flax → yarn.
• Loom (tape loom, 4-harness floor loom): Weave cloth, tape.
• Knives (sheath, clasp, draw): Every task.
• Fire Steel & Flint + Tinderbox: Fire making.
• Fire Tongs / Andirons / Crane: Hearth management.
• Mortar & Pestle: Grind corn, herbs, medicines.

Construction & Hardware

• Hammer (clawhammer): Drive/pull nails (hand-forged, expensive).
• Square / Rule / Compass / Chalk Line: Layout.
• Nails (wrought, cut — late 1600s): Precious. Reused.

All tools:** Locally forged by **blacksmith** (essential tradesman) or brought from England. **No hardware stores.** Tool = life.