The original guns on our webpage date from the 17th century see elgood. The matchlock gun is a huge antique that rests above the fireplace. Teunis and gertrude van alstyne are dutch homesteaders caught in the middle of the french and indian war, and one night teunis is called away to fight. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old spanish gun that. With his father away, edward is left to protect his family with only the matchlock gun that is twice as long as he is. When edwards father had to go away to watch for a raid from the north, he left edward in charge of his mother and sister trudy. This little tale is the story of edward van alstyne, a ten year old boy of dutch and german descent living in upstate new york about the time of the american revolution who helps his mother protect his home and sister against warring local native americans while his father is away. For help printing a booklet in adobe, click here the matchlock gun novel study based on the book written by walter d. The van alstyne family, who are the characters of the story, were real people, and the events of this book, which occur during an indian raid of.
The force of the massive gun going off knocks edward backwards, and the heavy gun lands on top of him and he is struck unconscious. Edmonds winner of the john newbery medal even father had never used the matchlock gun. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will have. Mar 16, 2017 the matchlock gun is a very short novel published in 1941, which takes place in guilderland, new york in 1757. The earliest description of the working of an omani matchlock is found in the book vom mittelmeer zum perzischen golf band 2 page 326327. The mother suspects trouble, and she prepares the family to defend themselves. Set during the french and indian war, which pitted the french and the native americans against the british government and settlers, the story provides a glimpse. The matchlock gun reading towns program is designed to strengthen presentation ability, which. Volunteer hours for the homework help center at pickerington main library are mondaythursday, the matchlock gun book report 2. A newbery medal winner in 1756, new york state was still a british colony, and the french and the indians were constant threats to edward and his family. When his father was called away to watch for a raid. This stirring tale of a small boy, his mother and younger sister, and an antique matchlock gun, is based on a true story.
Dating based on decoration and the style plus the stamps on the barrel etc. Nov 02, 2015 the matchlock gun is about a young boy who must defend his family with an antique matchlock gun during an indian war. The year was 1756, and new york state was still a colony. The militiamen will try to protect the town, but will they succeed. In this book, young edward protects his family from an indian attack during one of the french and indian wars. In 1756, new york state was still a british colony, and the french and the indians were constant threats to young edward and his family. It is a historical story of dutch setters during the french and indian war. It won the newbery medal for excellence as the most distinguished contribution to american childrens literature in 1942. Being the sole source of ignition for the powder, if the match was not lit when the gun needed to be fired, the mechanism was useless, and the weapon became little more than an expensive club. The book is set in the year 1756 during the french and indian war in guilderland, new york. Now, im going to admit right here and now that im a little torn on the matchlock gun. The next two pages are a colored illustration that depicts the quote. Teunis van alstyne is a dutch militia captain in the french and indian war.
The matchlock gun gun digest book of firearms assemblydisassembly, part 2. Find all available study guides and summaries for the matchlock gun by walter d. The only weapon in the home is an antique matchlock gun, used as decoration above the door. Sites like sparknotes with a the matchlock gun study guide or cliff notes. Oman virtual museum describing antique omani matchlock gun. Complete with a challenging, bookbased word search and word jumble this bookletstyle novel study is advantageous because it allows the student to keep the novel study inside the book.
The match was steeped in potassium nitrate to keep the match lit for extended periods of time. Upon the pull of a lever or in later models a trigger protruding from the bottom of the gun and connected to the serpentine, the clamp dropped down, lowering the smoldering match into the flash pan and igniting the priming powder. Courage, fiction, frontier and pioneer life, history, juvenile fiction, juvenile literature, united states french and indian war, 17551763, rifles, newbery medal, french and indian war united states. Edward also drags himself back inside to save the matchlock gun. Complete with a challenging, book based word search and word jumble this bookletstyle novel study is advantageous because it allows the student to keep the novel study inside the book. Ive been missing in action for quite a while, for several reasons. This is a twoweek literature guide for the book titled the matchlock gun, by walter edmonds. When the indians came and tomahawked gertrude, edwards mother, he had to load the matchlock and. The van alstyne family, who are the characters of the story, were real people, and the events of this book, which occur during an indian raid of their home, really happened. Throughout the text, gertrude responds to fearful circumstances with calm fortitude, thinking through their plan and carrying out her role in it but it is edward on whom she depends to take the action that will. When his father was called away to watch for a raid from the north, only edward was left to protect mama and little trudy.
This leaves edward, his mother, and his little sister at home alone. The main characters of the story are teunis and gertrude van alstyne and their children, tenyearold edward and sixyearold trudy. In 1756, new york state was still a british colony, and the french and the indians were constant threats to edward and his family. The van alstyne family, who are the characters of the story, were real people, and the events of this book, which occur during an.
The classic matchlock gun held a burning slow match in a clamp at the end of a small curved lever known as the serpentine. They can make your paper sound more formal or can take a creative approach to write it. It has a trumpetlike barrel like a blunderbuss and is too big for edward to pick up. Residents were often subjected to raids from the french and the indians. The matchlock gun is a story of a family in 1756 whose father was called away to war. In 1756, new york state was still a british colony, and the french and the indians were constant threats to young. The paperback of the the matchlock gun by walter d. Quinn noted this gun is of the style and type that was made in japan during the late edo. Book clubs book fairs scholastic education classroom magazines about us. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old spanish gun that was twice as long. An illustrated history of world war ii aircraft turrets and gun positions the war on guns.
He showed him how to use the spanish matchlock gun to protect them. The van alstyne family whom consisted of teunis pa, gertrude mama, edward son and trudy daughter lived on a piece of land in new york during the french and indian war. I chose a matchlock gun because this is the same kind of rifle edward used to protect his family. My 8 yr old needed a newbery book to do a report on. The most recent, and frustrating, reason is a broken water pipe that flooded our classroom and most of our ground level. It a is totally realistic and moving story and a great read for children. How can he defend his mother and sister against indian attacks with a gun twice as.
This guide was updated and expanded in june of 2018. Shortly thereafter, teunis and his men find gertrude and the children and learn how edward saved the family. The weapon is a spanish matchlock gun, purchased in bergen op zoom in the netherlands by edwards greatgrandfather. His later works received major literary awards, including the national book award and the newbery medal. Gertrude is unconscious, and the kids pull her away from the burning house. The matchlock gun is about a young boy who must defend his family with an antique matchlock gun during an indian war. The matchlock gun printables, classroom activities. A tenyearold boy saves his family from raiding indians during the french and indian war. This book is filled with information about the early dutch colonists of the empire state and the firm faith they held and took with them to america. Dug out my matchlock file, i have a letter of evaluation written a couple of yeaws ago by b. An inherent weakness of the matchlock was the necessity of keeping the match constantly lit.
Find books like the matchlock gun from the worlds largest community of readers. A study of the life and character of the brilliant revolutionary war general benedict arnold who deserted to the british for money. The matchlock gun is a very short novel published in 1941, which takes place in guilderland, new york in 1757. The book describes native americans harshly and treats slave ownership as commonplace and not much in the way of a social problem. Written by walter edmonds and illustrated by paul lantz.
I was never compelled to pick up that book because honestly, a book about a boy with a. The matchlock gun reading towns program is designed to strengthen presentation ability, which can be a weakness among many students. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Based on an actual historical incident, the matchlock gun is a thrilling adventure story about selfpreservation and the protection of loved ones.
The matchlock gun summary and analysis free book notes. The matchlock gun summary and analysis like sparknotes free. Donate your contribution will help us to provide free books and literacy resources to children across the nation. There is one page with a black and white drawing of the matchlock gun with the powder horn hanging above and a quote from the book which is on a nearby page but not necessarily the facing page. After his father leaves to fight the indians, tenyearold edward becomes the man of the house. Feb 3, 2015 im still alive and homeschooling, i swear. A good new england winter will visit a burst pipe on pretty much everyone eventually, a. Walter edmonds, the matchlock gun is the 1942 newbery winner.
His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old spanish gun that was twice as long as he was, but would edward be able to handle it if trouble actually came. A newbery medal winnerin 1756, new york state was still a british colony, and the french and the india. Goodreads members who liked the matchlock gun also liked. Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of walter d. In 1756 the french and indians were a threat to the british colonies. The page notes that this book was originally published in 1941. An overview and plot summary of the matchlock gun by walter d. Tenyearold edward van alstyne throughout the book, he is called. I understand how a group of people, in this case the native americans, can be unilaterally seen as cruel and aggressive from books such as daniel boone and the matchlock gun, but another part of me sees this book as part of history, albeit a part of history that is no longer recognized as unbiased. Revolvers gun digest book of firearms assemblydisassembly.
Immediately download the the matchlock gun summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the matchlock gun. In 1756, during the french and indian war in upper new york state, tenyearold edward is determined to protect his home and family with the ancient, and much too heavy, spanish gun that his father had given him, walter d. In it, edwards father leaves to fight with the militia. Hes not crazy about reading long boring books who is. Buy a cheap copy of the matchlock gun book by walter d. I read chapter 1 of the matchlock gun, easily read along to and easy to listen to. This classic, first published in 1941, has an updated, kidfriendly format that includes the original blackandwhite illustrations. At her signal, edward fires the matchlock gun through the window and kills three of the attackers. On the one hand, its chock full of stereotypes and awful messages. The matchlock gun printables, classroom activities, teacher. As he prepares to leave for battle, 10yearold edward asks his father once again about the large gun hanging above their fireplace.
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