Original Item: One of a Kind. We've never seen anything like this before, but it came from an old Collection that I.M.A. Purchased some while ago. It is a HORN Ale Jug measuring 7 1/2" tall by 3 1/2" across at the bottom. It has an applied horn grip for pouring and bears a large regimental device under a CROWN of the numeral 60 surrounded by a ribbon marked HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (Evil to him who evil thinks). Interestingly the bottom of the jug is glass for which there may be a very good reason.

We have all heard of Press Gangs that roamed the Taverns on England's waterfront pressing common laborers into the British Royal Navy. The most common ploy was to buy the unwitting clod a drink into which is slipped a King's Shilling piece. The unsuspecting fellow drinks the beer, only to find the coin in the bottom. By law this was treated as if the lad had accepted the King's Shilling and had enlisted. Many a drunk woke up abroad Ship many miles away then having a new career.

Well the Army needed men as well so a Sergeant would roam a Tavern carrying a jug of ale offering to "top up" any drunk's glass. The coin trick was well known so to give comfort to the unwary a glass bottom to the pitcher could show that there were no Coins included. Of course while the Sergeant filled the drinker's tankard the unseen Corporal slipped the coin in as well and King George's Army now had a fresh recruit. A Good Story, but did this really happen???

Anyway here we have just such a Pitcher or Jug Regimentally marked with the glass still intact or at least replaced, who knows how many times? Ready to go recruiting or just display!

History of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment

The regiment was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment to defend the thirteen colonies against attack by the French and their Native American allies. The unit was made up mostly of colonists. It was then RE-TITLED in February as the 60th (Royal American) Regiment in February 1757 after two other regiments surrendered during the war. They took parts in the French & Indian Wars (Known as the Seven Years War in Europe) of 1756-1763. They fought at the Battle of Louisburg in 1758 and at Quebec in 1759. They were then posted to the British West Indies but returned during the Revolutionary War and fought at the Battle of Bear Creek and the Siege of Savannah in 1779. They returned to the West Indies but reappeared to fight in the War of 1812.