Lead Mortar Ball?

[romeo-1]

Found this large lead ball this morning on a beach that had seen a lot of military activity from the mid 1600s through the early 1800s. I've found many cannonballs, mortar frags and bar shot on this same beach as well as a ton of musket balls but never a lead ball this size. Wondering if it could be a lead ball from inside an 18th century mortar. I've found quite a few mortar frags on this beach which would have been from a 13 inch ball...

Pictured with a .75 cal musket ball.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Romeo-1 wrote:
> Wondering if it could be a lead ball from inside an 18th century mortar.

Definite answer:
Mortars only used explosive shells... never lead balls.

You've already answered Yes to the main question which must always be asked (was there any Artillery usage in the vicinity), so that question is settled. Next question: When a lead ball which is bigger than a musketball is found on a beach, we have to make sure it isn't a fishing-net weight... which will have a hole in it or through it. The photo shows your lead ball has a deep circular depression in it, with some beach sand "concreted" in the bottom of the depression. If you are sure that's not a hole going through the ball, or partway through it, then you might have found a lead ball which was used in Colonial-era and early-1800s "Quilted Grapeshot."

You did not give us any size-measurement of your lead ball. But, comparing it with the .75-caliber (.71"-diameter) musketball next to it in the photo, your ball seems to be approximately 1.5"-diamter, plus or minus a little bit. As you may already know, a ball's precisely-measured diameter is extremely important in determining whether or not a metal ball is an Artillery ball. But unfortunately, there is very little historical data telling the exact diameter of lead Quilted Grapeshot balls. All we know with certainty is that some were 1.0"-diameter, and some were a bit larger. So all I can tell you is that if your beach-found lead ball is not a fishing-net weight ball, the usage of artillery in that vicinity indicates it COULD be a lead ball from Quilted Grapeshot.

 

[romeo-1]

Thanks for the detailed answer. There is a hole (just dug out the sand) but it only extends into the ball a fraction of the way and it's not hollow. I just measured the diameter and it is almost exactly 1.25 inches...

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Thank you for the additional information.

Because the hole appears to have a raised rim around it, I was concerned that it might be a "mounting-hole" for attaching it onto something. For example, a walking-stick or cane in that era sometimes had a lead ball attached to its top, for use as a "head-knocker" if somebody tried to rob you.

But you say the hole "only extends into the ball a fraction of the way." A shallow hole would not be effective for mounting/attaching the ball onto something. It might be a casting-flaw hole, caused by contraction of the molten lead as it cooled in the mold.

 

[romeo-1]

Thank you for the additional information.

Because the hole appears to have a raised rim around it, I was concerned that it might be a "mounting-hole" for attaching it onto something. For example, a walking-stick or cane in that era sometimes had a lead ball attached to its top, for use as a "head-knocker" if somebody tried to rob you.

But you say the hole "only extends into the ball a fraction of the way." A shallow hole would not be effective for mounting/attaching the ball onto something. It might be a casting-flaw hole, caused by contraction of the molten lead as it cooled in the mold.

One of the guys I was hunting with today found one as well...I'll check with him to see if his also has a hole...