Jeff Wisnia wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@conversent.net:
Yup, boys carrying powder where powdermonkeys,
The shot carriers where something else, don't know what. The larger shot carriers where Bowsers, both the person and the rope sling they carried the heavier shot (32-64lbs) in. According to one of the naval histories I've got, a bowser went on to be anything that carried anything heavy, as opposed to a lighter, a barge that carried the heavy stuff like water, shot and powder..
never knew that one, great thing about news groups