[HG] HG in Colonial America

[Jocelyn Demuth]

I live in New England and recently played the HG at a colonial craft day. I told the organizers that I didn't think the HG was very big in colonial America but they didn't care.  It was old, it was cool looking at it was loud - so I played anyway.  It then dawned on me that I have absolutely no knowledge of the history of the HG in the US.  Anyone know how the HG was used in the US?  I guess some of them must have been packed with the clothes, pots, pans and other stuff people brougth from Europe - but anyone know anything more than that? - Jocelyn