Page 31 - Antiques and Collectibles September 2019 Historic Hudson Valley
P. 31
Another example, a French model musket, marked to the Continental
Army 3rd Battalion, bore the initials NH and “167.” Research at the
Massachusetts Historical Society uncovered an arms list for Captain Gray’s
Company of the 3rd, indicating that it was issued to Enoch Thomas of
Wolfborough, New Hampshire. Based on this information, experts discovered
that he enlisted on May 2, 1777, fought at Valley Forge, then at the Battle of
Monmouth in New Jersey.
“This musket was auctioned along with proof of provenance – copies of
Gray’s Company arms list, as well as Enoch Thomas' service and pension
records,” Bohy explains. “Our research not only added interest to this artifact
but also substantially increased its value. As appraisers, our deep understanding
of the material, as well as its military and social history, allows us to put items
into historical context.”
British Infantry Hanger of the 23rd Regiment, Royal Welch Fusileers, c. 1750-60,
brass hilt with heart guard, seamed cast brass grip with crown over Prince of
Wales feathers and horse, slightly curved blade, overall lg. 31”, provenance:
Collection of George Snook, M.D., acquired from Norm Flayderman,
June 1964, realized $12,300 in 2016. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
Colonial and British artifacts differed at the outbreak of the Revolutionary
War. “Continental Minute and Militia companies initially armed themselves French Model 1768 Musket with 3rd
with whatever was at hand,” explains Joel Bohy, director of Historic Arms & New Hampshire Battalion Markings,
Militaria at Skinner, Inc. “Civilian fowling pieces (used to shoot birds in .70 caliber, walnut stock (period
flight), French arms captured from the French & Indian War, and guns
restock) with a small “NH” stamped
cobbled together from found parts, for example, were counterparts of the arms just below the trigger guard and “ID”
used by forces of King George III. Colonial and British equipment also varies carved into the left side of the stock by
in appearance, material, and methods of manufacture.” the side plate, steel fittings, barrel
In time, both sides bore long, smoothbore, muzzle-loading, flintlock breech marked “US” and “NH 3 B
muskets When a musket was triggered, its flint struck a steel plate creating No. 167,” barrel lg. 44 1/8, overall
lg. 58 1/2”, identified to Enoch
sparks which ignited gunpowder in its priming pans. This set off main powder Thomas, Wolfborough, NH, included
charges which discharged a single, marble-size musket ball. are copies of the Gray’s Company
These mechanics determined the military strategy of the day. Well-trained arms list as well as Thomas’s service and pension records, provenance: The Bill Ahearn
men, even in the midst of battle, could fire muskets at a rate of three to four collection, realized $24,600 in 2018. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
times a minute. Yet their limited firing range – and poor accuracy required
close combat – close enough to see the “whites of their [enemies’] eyes.”
Most Revolutionary War artifacts that reach auctions hail from collections Lead or lead-alloy, hand-molded musket balls (as well as bullet and shot
molds) also survived. Intact ones may have rolled from sight, sunk into wintry
prized by deeply passionate enthusiasts. Others were passed down from
generation to generation. Their paths, through the past 50, 100 or 250 years, mud, or missed their targets. Malformed ones may have hit their targets. Others
bear imprints of human molars. While bored or enduring corporal punishment,
may prove as fascinating as their underlying military history. Yet their
provenance is everything. did Revolutionary soldiers “bite the bullet?”
Revolutionary army muskets bore marks of battalions as well as numbers, Soldiers stored gunpowder in water-proof, funnel-like ox, cow, or buffalo
Bohy reveals. “A recently auctioned British Pattern 1756 Long Land musket, horns. Scores feature engraved maps, pictorials, and/or owners' names,
for example, was initially ascribed to a certain regiment. Through further dates, and places of production. Many display morale-boosting slogans like
research, however, Skinner’s Historic Arms & Militaria experts were able to LIBERTY OR DEATH, SUCCESS TO AMERICA or KIL OR BE KILD.
connect it to a more historically significant one.” Some also boast original butt plugs.
Joseph Eliot’s Cheese Box-Style Canteen,
c. 1776, pine sides, carved on one side
with “IOSEPh/ELIOT/1776,” one iron
wire cord loop remaining on the side, dia.
7 3/8, wd. 2 3/4”, provenance: by family
descent to the consignor, realized $20,910
in 2017. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
Note: Joseph Eliot (or Elliot) marched
Pennsylvania Committee of Safety Contract Musket made by Henry Voigt, c. 1775, on the Lexington alarm, Siege of
.75 caliber, walnut stock, British-style brass fittings, the tail of the lock plate marked Boston, New York Campaigns of 1776
“VOIGT/1775,” remnants of British proof marks on the breech of the barrel, sheet brass and fought at the Battle of Saratoga.
nose cap and an iron ramrod, barrel lg. 42, overall lg. 58”, provenance: The Bill Ahearn He became sick and was sent home on
collection, realized $12,300 in 2018. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com furlough where he died not long after,
on December 15th, 1777. His canteen
Literature: Bill Ahearn, “Our Nation’s First Shoulderarm-The Pennsylvania
Committee of Safety Contract Musket,” The Gun Report (October 1991); is listed as being owned in 1908 by his
Bill Ahearn, “Identifying American Revolutionary War Firearms,” The Gun Report descendant, Charles Darwin Elliot. It
(August 1992); Bill Ahearn, “Colonial Firearms Displayed at the Princeton was sold to the family of the consignor
Battlefield,” The Gun Report (May 1994); and Bill Ahearn, “Muskets of the after C.D. Elliot died.
Revolution and French & Indian Wars” (Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray Publishers,
2005), pp. 155-57.
September 2019 29
Army 3rd Battalion, bore the initials NH and “167.” Research at the
Massachusetts Historical Society uncovered an arms list for Captain Gray’s
Company of the 3rd, indicating that it was issued to Enoch Thomas of
Wolfborough, New Hampshire. Based on this information, experts discovered
that he enlisted on May 2, 1777, fought at Valley Forge, then at the Battle of
Monmouth in New Jersey.
“This musket was auctioned along with proof of provenance – copies of
Gray’s Company arms list, as well as Enoch Thomas' service and pension
records,” Bohy explains. “Our research not only added interest to this artifact
but also substantially increased its value. As appraisers, our deep understanding
of the material, as well as its military and social history, allows us to put items
into historical context.”
British Infantry Hanger of the 23rd Regiment, Royal Welch Fusileers, c. 1750-60,
brass hilt with heart guard, seamed cast brass grip with crown over Prince of
Wales feathers and horse, slightly curved blade, overall lg. 31”, provenance:
Collection of George Snook, M.D., acquired from Norm Flayderman,
June 1964, realized $12,300 in 2016. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
Colonial and British artifacts differed at the outbreak of the Revolutionary
War. “Continental Minute and Militia companies initially armed themselves French Model 1768 Musket with 3rd
with whatever was at hand,” explains Joel Bohy, director of Historic Arms & New Hampshire Battalion Markings,
Militaria at Skinner, Inc. “Civilian fowling pieces (used to shoot birds in .70 caliber, walnut stock (period
flight), French arms captured from the French & Indian War, and guns
restock) with a small “NH” stamped
cobbled together from found parts, for example, were counterparts of the arms just below the trigger guard and “ID”
used by forces of King George III. Colonial and British equipment also varies carved into the left side of the stock by
in appearance, material, and methods of manufacture.” the side plate, steel fittings, barrel
In time, both sides bore long, smoothbore, muzzle-loading, flintlock breech marked “US” and “NH 3 B
muskets When a musket was triggered, its flint struck a steel plate creating No. 167,” barrel lg. 44 1/8, overall
lg. 58 1/2”, identified to Enoch
sparks which ignited gunpowder in its priming pans. This set off main powder Thomas, Wolfborough, NH, included
charges which discharged a single, marble-size musket ball. are copies of the Gray’s Company
These mechanics determined the military strategy of the day. Well-trained arms list as well as Thomas’s service and pension records, provenance: The Bill Ahearn
men, even in the midst of battle, could fire muskets at a rate of three to four collection, realized $24,600 in 2018. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
times a minute. Yet their limited firing range – and poor accuracy required
close combat – close enough to see the “whites of their [enemies’] eyes.”
Most Revolutionary War artifacts that reach auctions hail from collections Lead or lead-alloy, hand-molded musket balls (as well as bullet and shot
molds) also survived. Intact ones may have rolled from sight, sunk into wintry
prized by deeply passionate enthusiasts. Others were passed down from
generation to generation. Their paths, through the past 50, 100 or 250 years, mud, or missed their targets. Malformed ones may have hit their targets. Others
bear imprints of human molars. While bored or enduring corporal punishment,
may prove as fascinating as their underlying military history. Yet their
provenance is everything. did Revolutionary soldiers “bite the bullet?”
Revolutionary army muskets bore marks of battalions as well as numbers, Soldiers stored gunpowder in water-proof, funnel-like ox, cow, or buffalo
Bohy reveals. “A recently auctioned British Pattern 1756 Long Land musket, horns. Scores feature engraved maps, pictorials, and/or owners' names,
for example, was initially ascribed to a certain regiment. Through further dates, and places of production. Many display morale-boosting slogans like
research, however, Skinner’s Historic Arms & Militaria experts were able to LIBERTY OR DEATH, SUCCESS TO AMERICA or KIL OR BE KILD.
connect it to a more historically significant one.” Some also boast original butt plugs.
Joseph Eliot’s Cheese Box-Style Canteen,
c. 1776, pine sides, carved on one side
with “IOSEPh/ELIOT/1776,” one iron
wire cord loop remaining on the side, dia.
7 3/8, wd. 2 3/4”, provenance: by family
descent to the consignor, realized $20,910
in 2017. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com
Note: Joseph Eliot (or Elliot) marched
Pennsylvania Committee of Safety Contract Musket made by Henry Voigt, c. 1775, on the Lexington alarm, Siege of
.75 caliber, walnut stock, British-style brass fittings, the tail of the lock plate marked Boston, New York Campaigns of 1776
“VOIGT/1775,” remnants of British proof marks on the breech of the barrel, sheet brass and fought at the Battle of Saratoga.
nose cap and an iron ramrod, barrel lg. 42, overall lg. 58”, provenance: The Bill Ahearn He became sick and was sent home on
collection, realized $12,300 in 2018. photo: Skinner, Inc., skinnerinc.com furlough where he died not long after,
on December 15th, 1777. His canteen
Literature: Bill Ahearn, “Our Nation’s First Shoulderarm-The Pennsylvania
Committee of Safety Contract Musket,” The Gun Report (October 1991); is listed as being owned in 1908 by his
Bill Ahearn, “Identifying American Revolutionary War Firearms,” The Gun Report descendant, Charles Darwin Elliot. It
(August 1992); Bill Ahearn, “Colonial Firearms Displayed at the Princeton was sold to the family of the consignor
Battlefield,” The Gun Report (May 1994); and Bill Ahearn, “Muskets of the after C.D. Elliot died.
Revolution and French & Indian Wars” (Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray Publishers,
2005), pp. 155-57.
September 2019 29
