VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS UPON FIRE-ARMS, BY MEANS OF WHICH THEY LOAD WITH MORE EASE, SAFETY, AND EXPEDITION, FIRE WITH GREATER CERTAINTY, AND POSSESS VARIOUS OTHER ADVANTAGES
Year: 1776

page_text: FERGUSON'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
PATRICK FERGUSON, Esquire, Captain of His Majesty's Seventieth
Regiment of Foot, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third.
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Second day of December, in the seventeenth
year of His reign. did give and grant unto me, the said Patrick
Ferguson, my executors, admors, and assigns, his special license, that
1, the said Patrick Ferguson, my executors, admors, and assigns, during
the term of years therein expressed. should and lawfully might make,
use. exercise. and vend, within England, Wales, and Town of Berwick
upon Tweed, and also within all His Colonies and Plantations abroad,
my Invention of "VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS UPON FIRE-ARMS, BY MEANS OF
WHICH THEY LOAD WITH MORE EASE, SAFETY, AND EXPEDITION, FIRE WITH
GREATER CERTAINTY, AND POSSESS VARIOUS OTHER ADVANTAGES;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said
Patrick Ferguson, under my hand and seal to cause a particular de-
scription of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same are to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within four calendar months next and immediately after

page_text: the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Patrick Ferguson, do hereby declare that my said Invention o
improvements upon fire-arms is executed in the following manner, and
agreeable to the map or plan thereof laid down in the schedule here
unto annexed, and the reference to the said plan, hereunder mentioned
that is to say:
No. 1, is a section along the barrel of a gun, cannon, or pistol, which
loads at the breech by means of a screw plug that descends by one turn
as low as the bottom of the bore to admit the ball and then the powder
after, which by turning the plug the contrary way the breech is closed,
and the piece loaded. Something similar to this has been attempted,
but has always failed for want of the following improvements, and
indeed has never been seriously studied as an object of public utility,
or rendered in any degree fit for service.
The improvements are, First, a projection of the barrel towards the
guard (X), to receive the screw plug long enough to allow the plug to
descend sufficiently low occasionally to be cleaned after much firing
without coming entirely out of the grooves, by which means the
difficulty, loss of time, and embarrassment of hitting the proper groove
(in occasions of hurry and danger), to re-enter the plug is avoided.
Secondly, that part of the screw plug which forms the breech of the
barrel is made smooth and hollow by which means it neither retains so
much of the smoak or foulness, nor in going round does it lodge it into
the female screw so as to clog it and impede the motion of the plug.
Thirdly, there are various channels cut across the outside of the
screws of the plug in such directions as not to communicate and
occasion any part of the charge to blow out, at the same time that they
are contrived to go along the whole surface almost of the female screw
in mounting and descending, thereby loosening and receiving any
foulness that may have lodged.
Fourthly, there is a hollow or reservoir behind the screw plug at the
breech of the barrel into which the smoak which had forced its way
through the grooves is thrown, when the plug turns round so as to

page_text: clear the grooves or female screw from being clogged by the foulness
that might otherwise lodge in them.
Fifthly, there is a rising formed on the breech of the barrel, which
answers as an elevating sight, which is never in the way, nor to be
moved out of its place (like the sights comonly used which are let into
the barrel), and into this elevated sight a sliding sight is let in, which,
by being gradually pulled out in proportion to the distance of the
object, may be adjusted to all manner of distances, whereas those
sights usually in use only answer for two or three given distances.
By means of these improvements the piece is to be loaded and
fired with much more safety, facility and certainty, and can be dis-
charged as often as ever can be necessary without any occasion for the
cleaning, so that the publick is furnished with an arm which unites
expedition, safety, and facility in using with the greatest certainty in
execution, the two great desiderata in gunnery never before united.
No. 2, represents another screw plug made to ascend and descend
enough in half a turn to be loaded with channels in a different direction
that answer equally well, and in fact the situation of these channels
may be varied fifty different ways upon the same principle.
No. 3, is a section along the barrel of a cannon, gun, or pistol, which
loads at the breech by means either of a perpendicular or horizontal
turn cock, in which there is a hole which may be brought in a line
with the bore of the barrel so as to admit the charge at the breech by
turning the cock round. These cocks will of course require as well as
the screw plugs to have grooves or channels to clear them from clogging
in going round from the foulness which would otherwise lodge.
This construction is particularly adapted to artillery. No. 4, is a
plan of the outside of the breech of a cannon, gun, or pistol, that is
loaded either above, or below, or at the side by means of a turn cock,
by turning which round, the orifice behind is brought forwards to afford
a free passage for the charge into the barrel, and by bringing the cock
round again the breech is closed.
No. 5, is the outside plan of the breech of a cannon, gun, or pistol,
which loads with a cross slider, either at the upper part of the barrel,
at the side, or at the bottom. A, is a section of the same along the
barrel; B, is a section across the barrel.

page_text: No. 6, is the outside plan of the breech of a cannon, gun, or pistol,
which loads with a slider along the barrel either above, below, or at the
side; C, is a section of the same along the barrel; and D, a section
across the barrel.
No. 7, is a cross section of the barrel of a gun, cannon, or pistol,
which loads at the breech by means of a traverse slider which goes
across the bore.
The above manners of loading will apply to fire-arms of every kind,
whether cannon, swivels, wall pieces, guns, or pistols, but some of them
are better adapted to one sort of fire-arms, and some to another.
No. 8, is a section across a rifle barrel, representing a new method
of rifling, where the female rifle or groove, in place of being made less
than the male or projecting rifle, as has been hitherto the practice, is
made much larger. By means of this narrowness of the projecting rifle
the ball is less cut, and although kept equally steady in its spiral motion
meets with less resistance in the barrel, consequently occasions less
recoil and goes with more force; and by means of the wideness of the
female rifle or groove the barrel is less apt to become foul so as to
recoil or fire without certainty, and is easier cleaned, and moreover the
projections formed in the ball by the cut of the rifle being twice
as large as they commonly are, will not be liable to strip; whereas
in the common method of rifling from the smallness of the projections
or knobs formed on the ball, it is exposed to be stripped perfectly
smooth so as to destroy entirely the effect of the rifle in point of
certainty when the barrel is in the least foul or the ball not extreamly
tight.
a
In witness whereof, the said Patrick Ferguson hath hereunto set
his hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, One thousand
seven hundred and seventy-seven.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Seventh day o
March, in the year last above mentioned, the aforesaid Patrick Ferguson
came before our said Lord the King, in His Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Specification of the Inventions aforesaid, and all and every
thing therein contained and specified in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of
the Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and
Queen William and Mary of England, and so forth.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
PATRICK FERGUSON, Esquire. Captain of His Majesty's Seventieth
Regiment of Foot, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third.
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster. the Second day of December. in the seventeenth
year of His reign. did give and grant unto me. the said Patrick
Ferguson, my executors, admors, and assigns. his special license. that
I. the said Patrick Ferguson. my executors, admors. and assigns. during
the term of years therein expressed. should and lawfully might make.
use. exercise. and vend. within England, Wales. and Town of Berwick
upon Tweed. and also within all His Colonies and Plantations abroad.
my Invention of
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS UPON FIRE-ARMS, BY MEANS OF
WHICH THEY LOAD WITH MORE EASE, SAFETY, AND EXPEDITION, FIRE WITH
GREATER CERTAINTY, AND POSSESS VARIOUS OTHER ADVANTAGES;" in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso. obliging me. the said
Patrick Ferguson. under my hand and seal to cause a particular de-
scription of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same are to be performed. to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within four calendar months next and immediately after

page_text: the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Patrick Ferguson, do hereby declare that my said Invention of
improvements upon fire-arms is executed in the following manner, and
agreeable to the map or plan thereof laid down in the schedule here-
unto annexed, and the reference to the said plan hereunder mentioned,
that is to say:
No. 1, is a section along the barrel of a gun, cannon, or pistol, which
loads at the breech by means of a screw plug that descends by one turn
as low as the bottom of the bore to admit the ball and then the powder
after, which by turning the plug the contrary way the breech is closed,
and the piece loaded. Something similar to this has been attempted.
but has always failed for want of the following improvements, and
indeed has never been seriously studied as an object of public utility,
or rendered in any degree fit for service.
The improvements are. First, a projection of the barrel towards the
guard (X). to receive the screw plug long enough to allow the plug to
descend sulliciently low occasionally to be cleaned after much firing
without coming entirely out of the grooves. by which means the
difficulty, loss of time, and embarrassment of hitting the proper groove
(in occasions of hurry and danger), to re-enter the plug is avoided.
Secondly, that part of the screw plug which forms the breech of the
barrel is made smooth and hollow by which means it neither retains so
much of the smoak or foulness, nor in going round does it lodge it into
the female screw so as to clog it and impede the motion of the plug.
Thirdly, there are various channels cut across the outside of the
screws of the plug in such directions as not to communicate and
occasion any part of the charge to blow out, at the same time that they
are contrived to go along the whole surface almost of the female screw
in mounting and descending, thereby loosening and receiving any
foulness that may have lodged.
Fourthly, there is a hollow or reservoir behind the screw plug at the
breech of the barrel into which the smoak which had forced its way
through the grooves is thrown. when the plug turns round so as to

page_text: clear the grooves or female screw from being clogged by the foulness
that might otherwise lodge in them.
Fifthly, there is a rising formed on the breech of the barrel, which
answers as an elevating sight, which is never in the way, nor to be
moved out of its place (like the sights comonly used which are let into
the barrel), and into this elevated sight a sliding sight is let in, which,
by being gradually pulled out in proportion to the distance of the
object, may be adjusted to all manner of distances, whereas those
sights usually in use only answer for two or three given distances.
By means of these improvements the piece is to be loaded and
fired with much more safety, facility and certainty, and can be dis-
charged as often as ever can be necessary without any occasion for the
cleaning, so that the publick is furnished with an arm which unites
expedition, safety, and facility in using with the greatest certainty in
execution, the two great desiderata in gunnery never before united.
No. 2, represents another screw plug made to ascend and descend
enough in half a turn to be loaded with channels in a different direction
that answer equally well, and in fact the situation of these channels
may be varied fifty different ways upon the same principle.
No. 3, is a section along the barrel of a cannon, gun, or pistol, which
loads at the breech by means either of a perpendicular or horizontal
turn cock, in which there is a hole which may be brought in a line
with the bore of the barrel so as to admit the charge at the breech by
turning the cock round. These cocks will of course require as well as
the screw plugs to have grooves or channels to clear them from clogging
in going round from the foulness which would otherwise lodge.
This construction is particularly adapted to artillery. No. 4. is a
plan of the outside of the breech of a cannon, gun, or pistol. that is
loaded either above. or below, or at the side by means of a turn cock.
by turning which round, the orifice behind is brought forwards to afford
a free passage for the charge into the barrel. and by bringing the cock
round again the breech is closed.
No. 5. is the outside plan of the breech of a cannon. gun. or pistol.
which loads with a cross slider, either at the upper part of the barrel.
at the side, or at the bottom. A, is a section of the same along the
barrel; B, is a section across the barrel.

page_text: No. 6, is the outside plan of the breech of a cannon, gun, or pistol,
which loads with a slider along the barrel either above, below, or at the
side; C, is a section of the same along the barrel; and D, a section
across the barrel.
No. 7, is a cross section of the barrel of a gun, cannon, or pistol,
which loads at the breech by means of a traverse slider which goes
across the bore.
The above manners of loading will apply to fire-arms of every kind,
whether cannon, swivels, wall pieces, guns, or pistols, but some of them
are better adapted to one sort of fire-arms, and some to another.
No. 8, is a section across a rifle barrel, representing a new method
of rifling, where the female rifle or groove, in place of being made less
than the male or projecting rifle, as has been hitherto the practice, is
made much larger. By means of this narrowness of the projecting rifle
the ball is less cut, and although kept equally steady in its spiral motion
meets with less resistance in the barrel, consequently occasions less
recoil and goes with more force; and by means of the wideness of the
female rifle or groove the barrel is less apt to become foul so as to
recoil or fire without certainty, and is easier cleaned, and moreover the
projections formed in the ball by the cut of the rifle being twice
as large as they commonly are, will not be liable to strip; whereas
in the common method of rifling from the smallness of the projections
or knobs formed on the ball. it is exposed to be stripped perfectly
smooth so as to destroy entirely the effect of the rifle in point of
certainty when the barrel is in the least foul or the ball not extreamly
tight.
In witness whereof, the said Patrick Ferguson bath hereunto set
his hand and seal, this Seventh day of March. One thousand
seven hundred and seventy-seven.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Seventh day of
March, in the year last above mentioned, the aforesaid Patrick Ferguson
came before our said Lord the King, in His Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Specification of the Inventions aforesaid, and all and every
thing therein contained and specified in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of
the Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and
Queen William and Mary of England, and so forth.
Invalled the Twenty-ninth day of March in the seventeenth year

page_text: SPECIFICATION enrolled pursuant to an Act passed in the sixteenth year of
the reign of King George the Third (Sess. 2, Cap. 18), intituled "An
Act for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for
the sole Use and Exercise of certain Engines, Tools, Instruments, and
other Apparatus, for making Blocks, Sheavers, and Pins, used in the
Rigging of Ships."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
TAYLOR, of the Town of Southampton, Blockmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS, by an Act of Parliament made and passed in the sixteenth
year of the reign of His present Majesty King George the Third, intitled
An Act. for enlarging the Term of. Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to. Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton,. Widow, for the
sole Use and Exercise of "CERTAIN ENGINES, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER
APPARATUS, POR MAKING BLOCKS, SHEAVERS, AND PINS, USED IN THE RIGGING OF
SHIPS," it was enacted that all and every the powers, liberties, priviledges,
authorities, rights, benefits, and advantages, which in and by certain Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the third year of. His

page_text: present Majesty's reign, in the said Act of Parliament recited, were originally
given and granted to her, the said Elizabeth Taylor, her executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns (and no further or greater than she or the said Walter
Taylor would have been entitled to if the said Act had not been made),
should be and the same were thereby given and granted to the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, and assigns, and should be held, exer-
cised, and enjoyed by him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, for and during the present term of fourteen years granted
by the said Letters Patent, and from and after the end and expiration of the
said term of fourteen years thereby granted, for and during the further or
additional term of fourteen years, in as full, ample, and beneficial manner in
all respects and to all intents and purposes whatsoever as he, the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, or assigns, could have held and enjoyed
the same, under and by virtue of the said Letters Patent, for the term thereby
granted, in case the said Letters Patent had been originally granted by His
Majesty to him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administrators, and
assigns; and in the said Act of Parliament it is recited that the said Walter
Taylor, having made several considerable improvements in the Invention therein
mentioned, the publick might lose the advantage thereof, unless the same was
specified by an instrument in writing, and inrolled in the High Court of
Chancery; it was therefore further enacted, that if the said Walter Taylor
should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
with his improvements thereon, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the
same to be inrolled in the High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months after passing the said Act, then the said Act should cease, determine,
and be absolutely void, anything therein-before contained to the contrary
thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as in and by the said recited Act of
Parliament, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Taylor, in complyance with the
said recited Act of Parliament, do hereby particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, with my improvements thereon; and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and which is in manner following, that is
to say:
The engine for boreing of blocks and shivers consist of a square frame of
wood, of different dimensions, screwed and keyed together; in which frame a
bed or beds of wood with a grove is or are affixed, to which bed or beds is or
are also applyed two or more poppet heads, with a collar to one of the poppet

page_text: heads, thro' which collar a maundrell of iron and steel runs, to be turned by a
crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse or water wheel, as the power
may require. And to the maundrell the several instruments for boreing the
shivers, of different sizes, in iron, brass, or wood, are screwed or fixed, which
instruments are made and edged throughout from the entering end, and
gradually increase one degree above another to the ultimate size of the
intended boreing. The larger instruments that follow the first sizes may, as
required, run in a center at the entering end; and likewise to the same
maundrell are the tools screwed or fixed for boring of blocks, which are made
of iron and steel, resembling center bitts of different sizes, and likewise other
bitts in an half circle, like the pod of an augur, and turned up at the ends in
different shapes, as the size of the boreings require. There are also frames of
wood screwed and keyed together, which slide in the inside of the frame first
expressed, and on the top of the bed or beds, in the center of which the said
frames or slides are fixed with screws. The shivers, blocks, or what else is
intended to be bored, should be placed for the said purpose at right angles to
the boring instruments or tools above described, and applyed in such manner
as gradually to bring on the slides in the working, while the instruments or tools
are running round, and thereby compleat by that mechanism the said borings.
The engine for making of pins is called the pin engine or witch, which
pins may be made of iron, steel, metal, or wood; which engine has a hole
in its center of the size the pins are to be turned; in which is fixed a
piece or pieces of iron or steel, sharpened at one end, and fixed true with the
inside of the hole; which pin engine or witch is fastened to the front part of
the slide, above described, for boring of blocks and shivers in right angles with
the maundrell, above also described; to which maundrell the pin intended to
be turned is fastened, so as to be turned round with the same in the inside of
the hole, whilst the slide is drawing on the pin, so as to compleat the same.
The engine for turning the shivers consists of a strong bed or beds of wood,
supported with posts and braces, on which are affixed two or more poppet
heads, a collar, and maundrell; to which maundrell are screwed other maun-
drells, of different sizes, on which the shivers intended to be turned are made
fast by screws, turned either with foot, hand, horse, or water wheel.
The engine for sawing of blocks, shivers, and pins, consist of wood, framed of
different sizes, screwed and keyed together; at the end of which, two other
upright wood frames are affixed in' right angles. Between which two frames
there is another frame, in which the saw is strained or fixed, so as to work
backwards and forwards. And likewise there is a slide supported on rails or
rollers, and slides in the inside of the frames; on which slides the timber

page_text: intended to be sawed for shivers, pins, or blocks, is fastened or fixed with
screws, and moves paralel to the end of the frame under the saw to a stop,
which shifts to the different thickness required; and the said slide is fixed or
fastened with screws on the side thro' the upright posts of either of the said
two first-mentioned frames. A round saw or saws may be used to cut off
shivers, and to mortis the blocks with expedition, which saw may be turned by
a crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse, wind, or water wheel.
The improvement in coqueing of shivers, which may be made of lignum vitæ,
or other wood, consists as follows:-The bush or coque is made of iron or other
metal, being cast or made with flanches at each end, or flap at one end, and a
flanch fixed on the barrel of the bush or coque at the other end, which being
let in even with the wood on each side the shiver, and rivetted together, so as
to jam part of the wood between the inside of the flap and flanch, therebý
securing the bush or coque from getting loose in the shiver; which shiver,
when bushed or coqued, is fastened to the slide of the engine, before described,
for boring blocks and shivers, and is bored in the same manner as the shivers
before described.
The improvement in working the before-mentioned engines for boring,
turning, and sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, consists in introducing friction
wheels instead of cogg wheels, which friction wheels are so made as the end
way of the timber should rub one against another, by which means they run
more steady, and are more durable, and make less noise, than any kind of cogg
wheels whatever; may be turned by water, horse, or wind, or any other power;
and are made use of, not only for blocks and shivers, and turning of pins, and
sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, but may be made use of in boring boxes and
turning axeltrees for carriages, and all branches in which boreing or turning is
concerned.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that the said Twelfth day of July, in the
year above written, the aforesaid Walter Taylor came before our said Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all
and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And
also the Instrument aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen
William and Mary of England, and so forth.

page_text: seu in the sixteenth year of
the reign of King George the Third (Sess. 2, Cap. 18), intituled "An
Act for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for
present
the sole Use and Exercise of certain Engines, Tools, Instruments, and
other Apparatus, for making Blocks, Sheavers, and Pins, used in the
Rigging of Ships."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
TAYLOR, of the Town of Southampton, Blockmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS, by an Act of Parliament made and passed in the sixteenth
year of the reign of His present Majesty King George the Third, intitled
An Act for enlarging the Term of. Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for the
sole Use and Exercise of "CERTAIN ENGINES, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER
APPARATUS, FOR MAKING BLOCKS, SHEAVER3, AND PINS, USED IN THE RIGGING OF
SHIPS," it was enacted that all and every the powers, liberties, priviledges,
authorities, rights, benefits, and advantages, which in and by cortain Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the third year of His

page_text: present Majesty's reign, in the said Act of Parliament recited, were originally
given and granted to her, the said Elizabeth Taylor, her executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns (and no further or greater than she or the said Walter
Taylor would have been entitled to if the said Act had not been made),
should be and the same were thereby given and granted to the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, and assigns, and should be held, exer-
cised, and enjoyed by him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, for and during the present term of fourteen years granted
by the said Letters Patent, and from and after the end and expiration of the
said term of fourteen years thereby granted, for and during the further or
additional term of fourteen years, in as full, ample, and beneficial manner in
all respects and to all intents and purposes whatsoever as he, the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, or assigns, could have held and enjoyed
the same, under and by virtue of the said Letters Patent, for the term thereby
granted, in case the said Letters Patent had been originally granted by His
Majesty to him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administrators, and
assigns; and in the said Act of Parliament it is recited that the said Walter
Taylor, having made several considerablo improvements in the Invention therein
mentioned, the publick might lose the advantage thereof, unless the same was
specified by an instrument in writing, and inrolled in the High Court of
Chancery; it was therefore further enacted, that if the said Waiter Taylor
should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
with his improvements thereon, and in what manner the samo was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the
same to be inrolled in the High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months after passing the said Act, then the said Act should cease, determine,
and be absolutely void, anything therein-before contained to the contrary
thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as in and by the said recited Act of
Parliament, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Taylor, in complyance with the
said recited Act of Parliament, do hereby particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, with my improvements thereon; and in what
manner the.
e-same is to be performed, and which is in manner following, that is
to say:
The engine for borcing of blocks and shivers consist of a square frame of
wood, of different dimensions, screwed and keyed together; in which frame a
bed or beds of wood with a grove is or are affixed, to which bed or beds is or
are also applyed two or more poppet heads, with a collar to one of the poppet

page_text: There are also frames of
heads, thro' which collar a maundrell of iron and steel runs, to be turned by a
crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse or water wheel, as the power
may require. And to the maundrell the several instruments for boreing the
shivers, of different sizes, in iron, brass, or wood, are screwed or fixed, which
instruments are made and edged throughout from the entering end, and
gradually increase one degree above another to the ultimate size of the
intended borcing. The larger instruments that follow the first sizes may, as
required, run in a center at the entering end; and likewise to the same
maundrell are the tools screwed or fixed for boring of blocks, which are made
of iron and steel, resembling center bitts of different sizes, and likewise other
bitts in an half circle, like the pod of an augur, and turned up at the ends in
different shapes, as the size of the boreings require.
wood screwed and keyed together, which slide in the inside of the frame first
expressed, and on the top of the bed or beds, in the center of which the said
frames or slides are fixed with screws. The shivers, blocks, or what else is
intended to be bored, should be placed for the said purpose at right angles to
the boring instruments or tools above described, and applyed in such mauner
as gradually to bring on the slides in the working, while the instruments or tools
are running round, and thereby compleat by that mechanism the said borings.
The engine for making of pins is called the pin engine or witch, which
pins may be made of iron, steel, metal, or wood; which engine has a hole
in its center of the size the pins are to be turned; in which is fixed a
piece or pieces of iron or steel, sharpened at one end, and fixed true with the
inside of the hole; which pin engine or witch is fastened to the front part of
the slide, above described, for boring of blocks and shivers in right angles with
the maundrell, above also described; to which maundrell the pin intended to
be turned is fastened, so as to be turned round with the same in the inside of
the hole, whilst the slide is drawing on the pin, so as to compleat the same.
The engine for turning the shivers consists of a strong bed or beds of wood,
supported with posts and braces, on which are affixed two or more poppet
heads, a collar, and maundrell; to which maundrell are screwed other maun-
drells, of different sizes, on which the shivers intended to be turned are made
fast by screws, turned either with foot, hand, horse, or water wheel.
The engine for sawing of blocks, shivers, and pins, consist of wood, framed of
different sizes, screwed and keyed together; at the end of which, two other
upright wood frames are affixed in right angles. Between which two frames
there is another frame, in which the saw is strained or fixed, so as to work
backwards and forwards. And likewise there is a slide supported on rails or
rollers, and slides in the inside of the frames; on which slides the timber

page_text: intended to be sawed for shivers, pins, or blocks, is fastened or fixed with
screws, and moves paralel to the end of the frame under the saw to a stop
which shifts to the different thickness required; and the said slide is fixed or
fastened with screws on the side thro' the upright posts of either of the said
two first-mentioned frames. A round saw or saws may be used to cut off
shivers, and to mortis the blocks with expedition, which saw may be turned by
a crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse, wind, or water wheel.
The improvement in coqueing of shivers, which may be made of lignum vita;
or other wood, consists as follows:-The bush or coque is made of iron or other
metal, being cast or made with flanches at each end, or flap at one end, and a
flanch fixed on the barrel of the bush or coque at the other end, which being
let in even with the wood on each side the shiver, and rivetted together, so as
to jam part of the wood between the inside of the flap and flanch, thereby
securing the bush or coque from getting loose in the shiver; which shiver,
when bushed or coqued, is fastened to the slide of the engine, before described,
for boring blocks and shivers, and is bored in the same manner as the shivers
before described.
The improvement in working the before-mentioned engines for boring,
turning, and sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, consists in introducing friction
wheels instead of cogg wheels, which friction wheels are so mado as the end
way of the timber should rub one against another, by which means they run
more steady, and are more durable, and make less noise, than any kind of cogg
wheels whatever; may be turned by water, horse, or wind, or any other power;
and are made use of, not only for blocks and shivers, and turning of pins, and
sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, but may be made use of in boring boxes and
turning axeltrees for carriages, and all branches in which boreing or turning is
concerned.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that the said Twelfth day of July, in the
year above written, the aforesaid Walter Taylor came before our said Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all
and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And
also the Instrument aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen
William and Mary of England, and so forth.
Inrolled the said Twelfth day of July, in the year above written.

page_text: DE MUIFICATION enrolled pursuant to an Act passed in the sixteenth
the reign of King George the Third (Sess. 2, Cap. 18), intituled "An
year of
Act for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for
present
the sole Use and Exercise of certain Engines, Tools, Instruments, and
other Apparatus, for making Blocks, Sheavers, and Pins, used in the
Rigging of Ships."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. WALTER
TAYLOR, of the Town of Southampton, Blockmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS, by an Act of Parliament made and passed in the sixteenth
year of the reign of His present Majesty King George the Third, intitled
An Act. for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton,. Widow, for the
sole Use and Exercise of "CERTAIN ENGINES, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER
APPARATUS, FOR MAKING BLOCKS, SHEAVERS, AND PINS, USED IN THE RIGGING OP
SHIPS," it was enacted that all and every the powers, liberties, priviledges,
uthorities, rights, benefits, and advantages, which in and by certain Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the third year of His

page_text: present Majesty's reign, in the said Act of Parliament recited, were originall
given and granted to her, the said Elizabeth Taylor, her executors, admi
nistrators, and assigns (and no further or greater than she or the said Walte
Taylor would have been entitled to if the said Act had not been made)
should be and the same were thereby given and granted to the said Walte
Taylor, his executors, administrators, and assigns, and should be held, exer
cised, and enjoyed by him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administra
tors, and assigns, for and during the present term of fourteen years granted
by the said Letters Patent, and from and after the end and expiration of the
said term of fourteen years thereby granted, for and during the further o
additional term of fourteen years, in as full, ample, and beneficial manner in
all respects and to all intents and purposes whatsoever as he, the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, or assigns, could have held and enjoyed
the same, under and by virtue of the said Letters Patent, for the term thereby
granted, in case the said Letters Patent had been originally granted by His
Majesty to him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administrators, and
assigns; and in the said Act of Parliament it is recited that the said Walter
Taylor, having made several considerable improvements in the Invention therein
mentioned, the publick might lose the advantage thereof, unless the same was
specified by an instrument in writing, and inrolled in the High Court of
Chancery; it was therefore further enacted, that if the said Waiter Tayior
should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
with his improvements thereon, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the
same to be inrolled in the High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months after passing the said Act, then the said Act should cease, determine,
and be absolutely void, anything therein-before contained to the contrary
thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as in and by the said recited Act of
Parliament, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Taylor, in complyance with the
said recited Act of Parliament, do hereby particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, with my improvements thereon, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and which is in manner following, that is
to say:
The engine for boreing of blocks and shivers consist of a square frame of
wood, of different dimensions, screwed and keyed together; in which frame a
bed or beds of wood with a grove is or are affixed, to which bed or beds is or
are also applyed two or more poppet heads, with a collar to one of the poppet

page_text: heads, thro' which collar a maundrell of iron and steel runs, to be turned by a
crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse or water wheel, as the power
may require. And to the maundrell the several instruments for borcing the
shivers, of different sizes, in iron, brass, or wood, are screwed or fixed, which
5 instruments are made and edged throughout from the entering end, and
gradually increase one degree above another to the ultimate size of the
intended boreing. The larger instruments that follow the first sizes may, as
required, run in a center at the entering end; and likewise to the saine
maundrell are the tools screwed or fixed for boring of blocks, which are made
of iron and steel, resembling center bitts of different sizes, and likewise other
bitts in an half circle, like the pod of an augur, and turned up at the ends in
different shapes, as the size of the borcings require. There are also frames of
wood screwed and keyed together, which slide in the inside of the frame first
expressed, and on the top of the bed or beds, in the center of which the said
frames or slides are fixed with screws. The shivers, blocks, or what else is
intended to be bored, should be placed for the said purpose at right angles to
the boring instruments or tools above described, and applyed in such manner
as gradually to bring on the slides in the working, while the instruments or tools
are running round, and thereby compleat by that mechanism the said borings.
The engine for making of pius is called the pin engine or witch, which
pins may be made of iron, steel, metal, or wood; which engine has a hole
in its center of the size the pins are to be turned; in which is fixed a
piece or pieces of iron or steel, sharpened at one end, and fixed true with the
inside of the hole; which pin engine or witch is fastened to the front part of
the slide, above described, for boring of blocks and shivers in right angles with
the maundrell, above also described; to which maundrell the pin intended to
be turned is fastened, so as to be turned round with the same in the inside of
the hole, whilst the slide is drawing on the pin, so as to compleat the same.
The engine for turning the shivers consists of a strong bed or beds of wood,
supported with posts and braces, on which are affixed two or more poppet
heads, a collar, and maundrell; to which maundrell are screwed other maun-
drells, of different sizes, on which the shivers intended to be turned are made
fast by screws, turned either with foot, hand, horse, or water wheel.
The engine for sawing of blocks, shivers, and pins, consist of wood, framed of
different sizes, screwed and keyed together; at the end of which, two other
upright wood frames are affixed in right angles. Between which two frames
here is another frame, in which the saw is strained or fixed, so as to work
backwards and forwards. And likewise there is a slide supported on rails or
ollers, and slides in the inside of the frames; on which slides the timber

page_text: intended to be sawed for shivers, pins, or blocks, is fastened or fixed with
screws, and moves paralel to the end of the frame under the saw to a stop
which shifts to the different thickness required; and the said slide is fixed or
fastened with screws on the side thro' the upright posts of either of the said
two first-mentioned frames. A round saw or saws may be used to cut off
shivers, and to mortis the blocks with expedition, which saw may be turned by
a crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse, wind, or water wheel.
The improvement in coqueing of shivers, which may be made of lignum vitæ
or other wood, consists as follows:-The bush or coque is made of iron or other
metal, being cast or made with flanches at each end, or flap at one end, and a
flanch fixed on the barrel of the bush or coque at the other end, which being
let in even with the wood on each side the shiver, and rivetted together, so as
to jam part of the wood between the inside of the flap and flanch, thereby
securing the bush or coque from getting loose in the shiver; which shiver,
when bushed or coqued, is fastened to the slide of the engine, before described,
for boring blocks and shivers, and is bored in the same manner as the shivers
before described.
The improvement in working the before-mentioned engines for boring,
turning, and sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, consists in introducing friction
wheels instead of cogg wheels, which friction wheels are so made as the end
way of the timber should rub one against another, by which means they run
more steady, and are more durable, and make less noise, than any
kind of cogg
wheels whatever; may be turned by water, horse, or wind, or any other power;
and are made use of, not only for blocks and shivers, and turning of pins, and
sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, but may be made use of in boring boxes and
turning axeltrees for carriages, and all branches in which boreing or turning is
concerned.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six..

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that the said Twelfth day of July, in the
year above written, the aforesaid Walter Taylor came before our said Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all
and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And
also the Instrument aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen
William and Mary of England, and so forth.
Inrolled the said Twelfth day of July in the year ahore writton.

page_text: SPECIFICATION enrolled pursuant to an Act passed in the sixteenth year or
the reign of King George the Third (Sess. 2, Cap. 18), intituled "An
Act for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for
the sole Use and Exercise of certain Engines, Tools, Instruments, and
other Apparatus, for making Blocks, Sheavers, and Pins, used in the
Rigging of Ships."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
TAYLOR, of the Town of Southampton, Blockmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS, by an Act of Parliament made and passed in the sixteenth
year of the reign of His present Majesty King George the Third, intitled
An Act for enlarging the Term of Letters Patent granted by His present
Majesty to Elizabeth Taylor, of the Town of Southampton, Widow, for the
sole Use and Exercise of "CERTAIN ENGINES, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER
APPARATUS, FOR MAKING BLOCKS, SHEAVERS, AND PINS, USED IN THE RIGGING OF
SHIPS," it was enacted that all and every the powers. liberties, priviledges.
authorities, rights, benefits, and advantages, which in and by certain Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the third year of His

page_text: present Majesty's reign, in the said Act of Parliament recited, were originally
given and granted to her, the said Elizabeth Taylor, her executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns (and no further or greater than she or the said Walter
Taylor would have been entitled to if the said Act had not been made),
should be and the same were thereby given and granted to the said Walter
Taylor, bis executors, administrators, and assigns, and should be held, exer-
cised, and enjoyed by him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, for and during the present term of fourteen years granted
by the said Letters Patent, and from and after the end and expiration of the
said term of fourteen years thereby granted, for and during the further or
additional term of fourteen years, in as full, ample, and beneficial manner in
all respects and to all intents and purposes whatsoever as he, the said Walter
Taylor, his executors, administrators, or assigns, could have held and enjoyed
the same, under and by virtue of the said Letters Patent, for the term thereby
granted, in case the said Letters Patent had been originally granted by His
Majesty to him, the said Walter Taylor, his executors, administrators, and
assigns; and in the said Act of Parliament it is recited that the said Walter
Taylor, having made several considerable improvements in the Invention therein
mentioned, the publick might lose the advantage thereof, unless the same was
specified by an instrument in writing, and inrolled in the High Court of
Chancery; it was therefore further enacted, that if the said Walter Taylor
should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
with his improvements thereon, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the
same to be inrolled in the High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months after passing the said Act, then the said Act should cease, determine.
and be absolutely void, anything therein-before contained to the contrary
thereof in anywise notwithstanding, as in and by the said recited Act of
Parliament, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Taylor, in complyance with the
said recited Act of Parliament. do hereby particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, with my improvements thereon, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and which is in manner following, that is
to say:
The engine for boreing of blocks and shivers consist of a square frame of
wood, of different dimensions, screwed and keyed together; in which frame a
bed or beds of wood with a grove is or are affixed, to which bed or beds is or
are also applyed two or more poppet heads, with a collar to one of the poppet

page_text: heads, thro' which collar a maundrell of iron and steel runs, to be turned by a
crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse or water wheel, as the power
may require. And to the maundrell the several instruments for boreing the
shivers, of different sizes, in iron, brass, or wood, are screwed or fixed, which
instruments are made and edged throughout from the entering end, and
gradually increase one degree above another to the ultimate size of the
intended boreing. The larger instruments that follow the first sizes may, as
required, run in a center at the entering end; and likewise to the same
maundrell are the tools screwed or fixed for boring of blocks, which are made
of iron and steel, resembling center bitts of different sizes, and likewise other
bitts in an half circle, like the pod of an augur, and turned up at the ends in
different shapes, as the size of the boreings require. There are also frames of
wood screwed and keyed together, which slide in the inside of the frame first
expressed, and on the top of the bed or beds, in the center of which the said
frames or slides are fixed with screws. The shivers, blocks, or what else is
intended to be bored, should be placed for the said purpose at right angles to
the boring instruments or tools above described, and applyed in such manner
as gradually to bring on the slides in the working, while the instruments or tools
are running round, and thereby compleat by that mechanism the said borings.
The engine for making of pins is called the pin engine or witch, which
pins may be made of iron, steel, metal, or wood; which engine has a hole
in its center of the size the pins are to be turned; in which is fixed a
piece or pieces of iron or steel, sharpened at one end, and fixed true with the
inside of the hole; which pin engine or witch is fastened to the front part of
the slide, above described, for boring of blocks and shivers in right angles with
the maundrell, above also described; to which maundrell the pin intended to
be turned is fastened, so as to be turned round with the same in the inside of
the hole, whilst the slide is drawing on the pin, so as to compleat the same.
The engine for turning the shivers consists of a strong bed or beds of wood,
supported with posts and braces, on which are affixed two or more poppet
heads, a collar, and maundrell; to which maundrell are screwed other maun-
drells, of different sizes, on which the shivers intended to be turned are made
fast by screws, turned either with foot, hand, horse, or water wheel.
The engine for sawing of blocks, shivers, and pins, consist of wood, framed of
different sizes, screwed and keyed together; at the end of which, two other
upright wood frames are affixed in right angles. Between which two frames
there is another frame, in which the saw is strained or fixed, so as to work
backwards and forwards. And likewise there is a slide supported on rails or
rollers, and slides in the inside of the frames; on which slides the timber

page_text: intended to be sawed for shivers, pins, or blocks, is fastened or fixed with
screws, and moves paralel to the end of the frame under the saw to a stop,
which shifts to the different thickness required; and the said slide is fixed or
fastened with screws on the side thro' the upright posts of either of the said
two first-mentioned frames. A round saw or saws may be used to cut off
shivers, and to mortis the blocks with expedition, which saw may be turned by
a crank, or a hand or foot wheel, or by a horse, wind, or water wheel.
The improvement in coqueing of shivers, which may be made of lignum vitæ,
or other wood, consists as follows:-The bush or coque is made of iron or other
metal, being cast or made with flanches at each end, or flap at one end, and a
flanch fixed on the barrel of the bush or coque at the other end, which being
let in even with the wood on each side the shiver, and rivetted together, so as
to jam part of the wood between the inside of the flap and flanch, thereby
securing the bush or coque from getting loose in the shiver; which shiver,
when bushed or coqued, is fastened to the slide of the engine, before described,
for boring blocks and shivers, and is bored in the same manner as the shivers
before described.
The improvement in working the before-mentioned engines for boring,
turning, and sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, consists in introducing friction
wheels instead of cogg wheels, which friction wheels are so made as the end
way of the timber should rub one against another, by which means they run
more steady, and are more durable, and make less noise, than any kind of cogg
wheels whatever; may be turned by water, horse, or wind, or any other power;
and are made use of, not only for blocks and shivers, and turning of pins, and
sawing blocks, shivers, and pins, but may be made use of in boring boxes and
turning axeltrees for carriages, and all branches in which boreing or turning is
concerned.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth
day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBRED, that the said Twelfth day of July, in the
year above written, the aforesaid Walter Taylor came before our said Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all
and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And
also the Instrument aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen
William and Mary of England, and so forth.