Forty-Four Years, the Life of a Hunter: Being Reminiscences of Meshach Browning, a Maryland Hunter and Trapper

by Meshach Browning

Meshach Browning spent decades as a professional hunter and trapper of bears, boars and deer in rural Maryland during the early 1800s ? this is his story, in his own words. Born in modest circumstances, Browning grew up at a time when the USA as a nation was in its infancy, with much of the population living in rural areas. From his youth, the author vowed to be self-sufficient, leaving his home and first love to hone his hunting skills. Returning with money gained from selling pelts and meat, it is then that Meshach contemplates hunting as a career. The equipment the author used is much inferior to today's. Meshach's use of a musket gun ? whose reliability is demonstrated as poor in several instances ? leads him to rely on his skills in close quarters combat. On multiple hunts, described with stunning vividness in these pages, Browning's ability to battle animals in melee saves his life. Dangers of his trade are balanced by its lucrativeness: bear meat and pelt for instance fetched high prices.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2015

Reviews

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for any Western Maryland native. Amazing stories of one of the first settlers, Meshach Browning. A local classic which I'm due to read again- it's been at least 10 years.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book isn't written with impressive English or even correct grammar. If that's what you're looking for, don't pick this book up. But if you're interested in learning about a man who lived in the local to Western Maryland area, and about his life living off the land in honest and simple writing, pick this one. Timelines don't really exist here, but you will hear many stories or hunting, trapping, living off the land, and the successes and challenges of such a life. I gave it a four because it's not one that gripped me deeply, but didn't want to give it less than that because of the life he really did live.

[Mark P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in Kentucky and hunted during most of my youth. I picked this book up after I got out of the service and was only hunting with flintlock rifles. The author is not a writer, but a hunter and I gleaned several tricks from him that I used successfully in my hunts. Keep in mind, some of his "tricks" might not be legal, or even safe in today's woods. I read it through twice and have used it as reference several times. My son-in-law is currently reading it. If you're not a hunter, you can certainly read it for the history and I would recommend it to anyone interested in those two aspects (hunting or history).

[P. Pherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a quaint charm to it. You can admire much of Mr. Browning's perspective and determination, and the simple way he sets his sights on things and solves his problems. I bought this mostly cause my Father in Law had it, and they have roots in Garret county.

[Fins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical perspective

[Chr*s Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite the book I wanted it to be when I used to contemplate interpolating the memoirs of an ancestor with my own life story - it is exactly what it says on the tin, and after a few chapters of hardscrabble youth and courting his wife, Mesach really does just give you 200 pages of hunting anecdotes, all more or less the same with different sized bears/deer/panthers. Still, it’s compelling nonetheless and his blood does run through my veins (allegedly, in a much watered-down form), so 3.5 rounded up for the relation effect.

[Joeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this autobiographical history of the life of Meshach Browning.. It was good for the wee bit of Nimrod blood in my veins. Great insight to the life of one of our pioneer/long hunters which helped tame the land in and about Western Maryland's Savage River, Meadow Mountain area just west of Cumberland.