Salisbury Iron Furnace–February 2, 1776

A typical iron factory setup, This image is generally used to represent the Salisbury Furnace. via National Park Service. In early 1775 when hostilities first broke out, the Salisbury Iron Furnace was owned by an Englishman named Richard Smith. By the end of the year he’d cleared out and gone back home to England, and remained there for the rest of the war. After an inspection in early January, the Committee of Safety formally recommended that the Salisbury Iron Furnace be confiscated and made ready for the production of cannon. The first cannon rolled out on May 27, and by the time the war ended, about 850 cannon—about 75% of all the cannons made in the colonies—had come from Salisbury, not to mention ammunition and other armaments. The post Salisbury Iron Furnace–February 2, 1776 appeared first on 250 and Counting.