Did they exist in the 18th century??? I posted this on another site, but didnt really get much help.

Highlander - I'm no expert on the 18th Century by any means, but in some discussions on other boards by those who are well versed for that period do say that a 5" or so crown is not unknown.
you might try the frontierfolk.net board?

Highlander if you mean the stovepipe type hats like what lincoln is known to wear, those didnt really catch on til around mid 19th century. 18th century style was mostly the tricorn hat being around 5 inches.

Did they exist? During the late 18th century are 'carriage hats' which are basically a tapered stovepipe. In the 17th century there were the 'pilgrim hats.' High crowned hats might not have been worn much during the 18th century, but they had been 'invented' so they did 'exist.'

I would look on Clearwater Hats or Dirty Billys hat sites for hats of the era. I believe they tell you if a hat was used then or not (as opposed to being a Hollywood developed hat).

Sparks

Websites:
Clearwater Hats
http://www.clearwaterhats.com/

Dirty Billy's Hats
http://www.dirtybillyshats.com/

Sparks

Lewis and clark where issued high crown hats(7") and so were their troops. the hats were called "round hats" but they were similar to a stove pipe hat, except that they had a flat brim instead of a rolled brim. they were also usually decorated with a stip of bear fur going over the top.

This is not 18th but 19th century, but in the war of 1812 many Army and milita units wore a high crown or top hat looking hat. I remember seeing a print of U S horsemen charging English Foot using Tommihawks instead of swords. Very cool!

P.

Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration, is almost always portrayed wearing a relatively high, flat crowned hat.

After the Trumbull painting:
www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp16671&rNo=0&role=sit#