18th Century History 
of 
1750 Sundial Compass

This type of instrument was made in England and Germany in the mid-1700's and, quite naturally, proved a useful item in early America, as a timepiece and functional compass.  A pocket watch of that time was too expensive and fragile for the frontier.     

Now and then parts of an old compass will turn up -- sometimes in a garden when struck by a plow or on an archeological dig.  Such a find was made in 1965 on Rogers' Island, near Fort Edward, New York.                                                                                                                          
Rogers' Island was the main base for Rogers' Rangers, the famous forerunners 
of the modern Green Berets.  Robert Rogers and his men fought countless wilderness battles against the Indians led by the French down from Canada -- in what became known at the French and Indian Wars -- 1755 to 1763.

A sundial compass of this type was found in the remains of an officer's hut, hidden in what was once the fireplace.  It had no doubt led the way to many adventures.

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