Bullet Mold

 

This is a bullet mold in a plier design and was used to press a musket ball to the proper size caliber. It belonged to Angus MacIntosh, who owned the "New Store" of Dunvegan in the mid-1800s. This "New Store"  was eventually converted into a stagecoach stop, and is now the Star Inn at the museum. This bullet mold could have been used to make bullets for the weapons that were gathered in fear of the Fenian Raids between 1866-1870. The Fenians were a group of disgruntled Irish immigrants who lived in the United States. They started these raids in hopes of capturing the Dominion of Canada (which was still very much under British control) and then using it as a bargaining chip to secure Ireland's freedom from British rule. Although these threats never amounted to much, the fear of the Fenian raids was substantial to the people of Glengarry County. We will never be sure what the fate of the bullets made by this mold were; perhaps Angus was making them for his own protection, the protection of the community, or was selling the bullets -or the bullet mold itself- in his store.   This mold was donated to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum by Angus MacIntosh's great-great nephew, Donald A. MacLaurin, and has been a highlight in many of museum's displays.