History at the Old Stone Fort - Tooth Yanker & Ellerson Marker

Dental Forceps

Forceps were used for tooth extraction and eventually replaced the dental key. Dentists would (and still do) maintain a full set of forceps, as different teeth require different shapes and sizes of tips. 

These instruments were first introduced in the 17th century and, through the American Civil War, often resembled pliers and send to us from the Old Stone Fort’s collection by the ever-talented Clay Edmunds.

David Ellerson Marker

This is possibly an old headstone that once marked the burial place of David Ellerson. He is buried in Gilboa, New York, where he lived. 

Ellerson served in Morgan’s Rifle Brigade during the American Revolution, alongside Timothy Murphy. He also helped defend the Middle Fort during the Johnson Raid of 1780.