Red Lead!

[SAWMA]

Was looking over an account of goods brought in Charlestown and Augusta in 1758-1760. In the list was Red Lead.

I assume this lead was for shooting?, Or are they talking something else?

35 ½ lb red lead at 2/6 4:07/06
a light deerskin to put the red lead in :07/06

[Gordon H.Kemp]

I don"t know if that red lead was uused for paint base back then ? But right up into the 1940s both red and white lead was used for paint.  Used to come in 50 lb . blocks and it was shaved into turpitentine  and linseed oil .  The red was used mostly for barns sheds and such .

[SAWMA]

That makes more sense, later today i came across this.

"A Pound Vermilion 16 Pounds red Lead, mixed."

Maybe used for the Indian trade?

[Loyalist Dave]

That's an odd ratio of vermilion to red lead, if one was trading to the Indians, might as well save the vermilion.  Red lead is corrosion resistant with a boiled linseed oil base, so the vermilion was probably a color modifier, and it sounds like a pigment for paint.  On wood it would help to shield the wood from water.  On iron or tin it does a good job preventing rust.

LD