Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Rifleman’s Chevrons – SOLD

Description

Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Rifleman’s Chevrons.  Made by Charles L. Hovey, Boston, located at 13 Avon Street.  The small paper label is glued down to the one chevron only. I found him in the Blue Book, Brookline, Mass, their directory of citizens, and businesses for 1888, and later.  He may have worked earlier, but this was a quick search on the net.

He advertised as a tailor making military uniforms, and it also seems he found a niche providing bicycle suits for the various clubs in the Boston area.

The dark green wool corporal chevrons are applied to dark blue wool, and the green is much darker than that used (U.S. regulation) for hospital steward chevrons [the flash makes them look lighter in color].  It is possible that these can be either or, since they are militia, and anything goes.  I found mention of two rifle units in the Boston area that i have included in with the images. Both of the units were made up largely of Irish, and the green would be fitting for both the Sheridan Rifles of Roxbury, and Dorchester Rifles.

Certainly a scarcer pair that the usual infantry, or artillery chevrons common the MVM in this Indian Wars era.

Fine condition