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Wilton Militia Verbruggen Cannon

The Grasshopper

In 2003 the Wilton Militia acquired a replica of a Revolutionary War cannon. It was cast in 1968 and modeled after the British three pound Verbruggen cannons of the Revolutionary period. The Americans captured a number of these cannons at Saratoga and put them to good use against the British. One of the cannons actually captured at Saratoga was used as the pattern for making the 20th century castings.

Jan and Pieter Verbruggen

The original Verbruggen cannons were manufactured by Jan Verbruggen, Master Founder, and his son Pieter at the Woolwich Arsenal, (outside of London) for the British military. Jan Verbruggen, a Dutchman, had been the Master Military Founder in Holland but left over a controversy and was brought to the Woolwich Arsenal shortly before the American Revolution. He was joined there by Pieter.

The cannon foundry was in poor condition before the Verbruggens arrived. In response, the foundry was expanded and refurbished by the father and son, who added a furnace, re-lined the older ones, and stabilized the foundations of the pit the molds rested in. They also introduced to Britain the technique of casting cannon solid then drilling them with horizontal boring machines.

With their foundry expansion and improvements in quality, Woolwich produced the vast majority of the army's needs, even during the War of American Independence, when they produced well over 500 pieces, including new and innovative light guns

An Important Symbol

We are very happy to have had the good fortune to acquire this authentic replication and are delighted to show it to the community. It's always a thrill for us, and all our visitors, to experience the actual firing of this cannon. We try to do this whenever circumstances permit.

Although a replica, the Wilton Militia’s Verbruggen cannon is an important symbol of the early Wilton Militia and its part in the American Revolution. We hope its presence at various Militia events will contribute to the understanding and respect that everyone today should have for the role played by local militias in early American history.