The quill pen (with inkwell) was a common writing utensil during the American Revolution.

The hollow shafts of bird feathers called quills store ink while writing. The writer periodically refills his/her quill in a small basin filled with ink (inkwell).

The quills for writing were generally from geese or turkey feathers. Swan feathers provided very strong quills and crow feathers are for delicate fine writing.

Quills from larger birds were sometimes used to store secret messages as a spy traveled the countryside.