Of interest re. axes
Reading through this excellent thread Jim one issue springs to mind.
The final chapter in the Addenda of my book on the Shotley Bridge swordmakers is about the Saugus Ironworks.
It gains entry into my book because of the involvement of the Vintons: Swedish metalworkers and miners who were active in the Shotley Bridge area from around 1600.
They were a big family and are on record as immigrants to Massachusetts and active in the "Iron works at Lynn", later known as Hammersmith (a most aposite title, yes?) about 1646 to 1670. There is even a town named after them: although the residents don't know where their name came from.
What made Hammersmith special was that it was the first site to successfully implement the full range of iron production and refinement at one facility, producing cast iron, refined bars, as well as nails.
Also active there was Joseph Jenkes of Hounslow fame.
On the tailrace of the Saugus blast furnace, Joseph Jenks established a mill for the making of Sithes (sic), saw blades, and other edge tools for which he was granted a Massachusetts patent in 1646: probably one of the first patents ever issued in the colonies. Jenks brought his millwright and smithing skills to the banks of the Saugus River where he forged, hardened, and tempered iron and steel into saw blades and axes.
Jenks Jr., established a forge shop and sawmill on the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Iron tool manufacturing continued within this branch of the Jenks family well into the nineteenth century.
If you are looking for an early source of axe heads then this is a likely suspect.
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