EVERY ITEM COMES WITH A 3 DAY INSPECTION PERIOD.
Here's an item that used to be common place but not they're hard to find in my next of the woods. This is a Revolutionary War era hand sythe or sickle that was used to keep the grounds clear around camp or the house. This type has the long sweep associated with the early types. The later types had wider blades and shorter sweeps are are quite common. You can see a like example on page 269 of COLLECTOR'S ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by George C. Neumann and Frank J. Kravic. Their note under the illustration states 'The long sweep of this sickle is a typical 18th century pattern; it was employed to keep camp areas neat and defensive areas cleared.' This one is nice with some worm holes in the handle. The tine is peaned over to hold the handle on. Nice early piece! $65.00
Here are two Revolutionary War and later Grappling Hooks. One is 4 tine and one is 3 tine. I think the 3 tine grappling hook is earlier than the other one. Both are blacksmith forged and for heavy large rope use. Grappling hooks were made to throw over walls or fortifications and then climb up over them. They were also used to hook items to pull down or towards the user but mostly for climbing. These are in nice solid condition! The 3 tined model is not quite as primitive as the 4 tine but both have loads of character! Each $45.00
Here's an excellent blowing horn that is circa Revolutionary War use and later. These were used for alarms and communications between soldiers and hunters. Many items were made from horn during this time in our history. This fine horn measures about 17 inches long along the outside curveature of the horn. The mouth piece is a brass mouthpiece. The horn has a nice mellow color and it's quite thin as evidenced when you hold it up to the sun to look through it. There are several scratches on it but I can't make out any pics or words in the scratches. I fininally figured out how to use it and can make a quite loud noise with it. The suspension strap is missing but you can see how it was attached. There is a small hole right by the mouth of the horn and the other end would have fixed around the brass mouth piece. This is a nice piece and would look great in a Rev War display!! There is one tiny matchhead worm damage area that does not penetrate the horn. Nice!! $375.00
Here's a pair of identical pewter whistles that were very popular with the troops during the Revolutionary War for signaling movements. Each whistle is about 2 inches long with the original old dried up pea inside. Both whistles still work fine! No markings. Came from the same source in Central Indiana. Each $65.00
Here is a nice early buck type saw that smacks of Rev War vintage. This is a wonderful piece with a French made blade. This piece is in excellent condition and displays very well! Measures about 26 inches long by 14 inches tall. The blade is held in tension by the cord at the top. The pieces at the bottom just hold the blade in the guides. I believe it is made of pine but I'm not sure. Take a look at the pics. This piece has a dark patina. $125.00
This next item is a wonderful pair of Revolutionary War stirrups! Look at the pics. This pair of stirrups are excellent and in great condition. Someone tried to clean them up a little but luckily stopped before doing too much damage. They are in "as found" condition and have not been altered in anyway... the hinges work, and they swing freely. The stirrups measure 6.5 x 6 inches with a 2.5 inch tread. A great piece of history dating from the Revolutionary War period. $225.00
This next piece is a Revolutionary War era log hewing ax with replaced handle found in Lafayette, IN site of Fort Quiatenon.. This is a dug piece. Heavily pitted but solid as a rock! The beveled edge is on one side as usual for this type of ax. The blade measures 6 1/2 inches across. Who knows- it may have been used to help build Fort Quiatenon! $65.00
Here's a Revolutionary War Gimlet that is hand wrought/blacksmith made. I've seen many gimlets and I can see how they got better as the years went by. This one was made to pull itself down the vent through the debris that was left in there after firing but then you had to pull it out hopefully bringing the litter with you. Just over 10 inches long and it has a great patina! Nice display item! $65.00
Here's 5 clay marbles of the Revolutionary War period thru the Civil War period. Like examples are found in reference books that cover both wars. Good condition! Non dug. $20.00
Here is an Antique Flask that has the likenesses of President George Washington on one side and General Taylor on the other side.
This is a fantastic early 19th century aqua colored hand blown flask with a
pontil on bottom verifies this is an original mold blown piece, not a modern reproduction!!
Dimensions:
Measures Approx. 7" tall
Great shape for its age.
One spot on the side that has some issues - still smooth to the touch from the outside, so all damages on are in the inside. Has bubbles in the glass and imprefections as it should have. Guaranteed original! $125.00
This is quite a find! Here we have 4 cannonballs that were found at a Morton Street Address in Lafayette, Indiana. It is believed that these were part of the inventory of a prewar Militia Artillery group that Colonel Eli Lilly belonged to prior to the Civil War and his forming of the 18th Indiana Light Artillery Unit. This Militia Artillery Unit was the only prior military experience that Eli Lilly had and he was considered by several of his artillerymen to be too young and intemperate to command! What did they know! Despite his initial inexperience, he became a competent artillery officer and his battery was instrumental in several very important battles. These cannonballs were found together as a hoard and appear to be unfired however if they did not strike any hard surface after being fired they would probably look the same as they do now. Three of the cannonballs are 12 pounders being 4.5 inches in circumference and one is a pre-war 5.12 inch ball weighing about 16 pounds. The 12 pounders are $175 each and the pre-war ball is $195. Shipping is extra and exact. Check out the pic! Nice Shape! Only 1 12 pounder Left Now! Revolutional War Paper Machee type Oval snuff boxes with hinged lid that is in very good condition. I have 2 of them with one being a little larger than the other. $95 and $125 The larger one has sold
This is a repro print in an older type frame showing the blowing up of the Fire Ship Intrepid commanded by Capt. Somers in the Harbor of Tripoli on the night of Sept. 4, 1804. Pretty colorful print! Measures about 13 1/2 X 16 1/2 overall. $25.00
This is one interesting early document dated December 20th, 1781. I thought it was 1789 but on the back it says "Mark Taylors Inventory recd. dec 1781 & Examd 81". This is the Inventory of the Estate of Mark Taylor. The document measures 8 1/2 X 13 inches and list all the items that the deceased owned. The first item listed is 1 Negro Man for $75!!! Other items include the livestock which is not valued anywhere near that Negro Man!!! There is also listed pots & pans, skillets, frying pans, saddles, axes, wedges, shoe hammer, knives & forks, razors, pewter dishes, 1000 old nails, and the list goes on and on. Don't know which state it's from but obviously southern. Has a split at one of the folds but in remarkable condition and dated within the Revolutionary War period!! $145.00
We just found this great old letter sent from Richard Dunn (Dunn, Richard F. .
Gunner, 1 November, 1837. Died at Kittery, Maine, 1 February, 1863.) from the U.S. Navy Yard Kittery Oct. 11th, 1848 to Mr. Daniel Jones on board the U.S.S.Decatur African Squadron. The letter/paper measures about 10 inches by 15 1/2 inches overall and is written on 2 of the 4 pages. Here are the stats for the USS Decatur (1840-1865):
USS Decatur, a 566-ton third-class sloop of war, was built at the New York Navy Yard. She was commissioned in March 1840 for a tour with the Brazil Squadron in the South Atlantic that lasted until February 1843. A cruise with the African Squadron followed in 1843-1845. Decatur's next active service was off eastern Mexico in 1847, during which her crew participated in wartime operations to attack Tuxpan and capture Tobasco. Early in 1848 the sloop returned to the anti-slave trade patrol off Africa, where she remained until November 1849.
During the first years of the 1850s, Decatur served along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean. She was sent to the Pacific in 1854, enduring a difficult passage through the Strait of Magellan before arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii, in late March 1855. The next four years were spent cruising in the eastern Pacific from South America northwards. Decommissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in June 1859, Decatur was thereafter laid up "in ordinary" except for Civil War duty as a defensive floating battery at San Francisco. She was sold in August 1865.
USS Decatur was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820), one of the United States Navy's greatest heros and leaders of the first two decades of the 19th Century.
Here is the letter and it's contents to the best of our dechipering ability! We have made the letter contents themselves a different font
The following letter was written to ' Mr. Daniel Jones' on board U.S.S.Decatur Africa Squadron Port Au Bray?
Daniel Jones, of Kittery, Maine. Jones began his career as an acting carpenter, USN, in 1847, and coincidentally was a crewmate on the U.S. sloop of war Decatur when he was warranted a carpenter in November 1848, his commanding officer recommending him as “a first rate mechanic.” Jones served in USS Macedonian during Matthew C. Perry’s expedition to Japan, and during the Civil War in U.S. sloop of war St. Louis on the African coast and on blockade duty. He was placed on the retired list in 1869 and died in 1877.
The Jones collection of letters is published and consists of fifteen letters he wrote, dated 1850-1852 and 1855, twelve of which are to his wife. Those letters reveal facets of a warrant officer’s conditions of service and how service in the navy affected a warrant officer’s family. Jones was a landowner and left his wife in charge of his financial affairs, renting out his land and buildings and collecting his debts. The letters also discuss arrangements for his wife and children to live in Philadelphia while Jones was assigned to duty at the Navy Asylum. Would Mrs. Jones be able to make the journey without her husband’s assistance? How good were Philadelphia schools? What furnishings would they need? If materials accompanying the collection are correct, Jones was a friend of Vice President Hannibal Hamlin’s and served in the Maine state legislature. Landowner, friend of the vice president, state legislator: how typical was this Navy carpenter? What attracted such a solid citizen to naval service? We shall be unable to answer these questions until someone makes close studies of Jones and his fellow warrant officers.
U.S. Navy Yard Kittery Oct 11th, 1848
(Kittery is a town in York County, Maine The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. The town declares itself to be the "Gateway to Maine." Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavery's Island. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the oldest continuously-operating shipyard in the United States Navy.)
Dear Friend,
Having a good chance in sending my letter in a box prepared for the occasion (sic) thought I would let you know how we get along in this yard. In the first place have your letter I thought that you had a tuff time of it for the beginning but hope that you have fared better since and that your health is good. We have a fine Frigate on the stocks which will be launched in about six weeks. Thought? to have said a noble Steam Frigate she is as strong as wood and Iron can make her. Her name is the SARANAC (USS Saranac (1848) – a sloop of war -- was laid down in 1847 during the Mexican-American War; however, by the time she completed sea trials, the war was over. She was commissioned in 1850 and saw service protecting American interests in the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Pacific Ocean. When the American Civil War broke out, Saranac patrolled America’s West Coast. Retained by the Navy post-war, she continued serving her country until wrecking in 1875.)
Some of her engine works have come. They are cast at South Boston and when the hold is together will weigh over 300 tons. she is to be propelled, it is said, by 800 horse power. She is 210 feet long and that with the dry dock and other improvements makes the yard lively. There is also a new Blacksmiths shop another Timber Shed and a magazine to build so that you will hardly know this yard when you return and they are cutting away the Hill also, now Friend Jones I wish it could so happen that this yard could be vacant when you get home for I want you for a neighbor. Mr Leightons time is out in December and Mr. William Jenkens has just got home and sure he will get it. Mr Drews time is out in January but am afraid his health will not be able for sea. He is pretty well at present. I hope that you will be relieved soon and sent to the Mediterranian of that dreaded coast. I am happy to state that your family are all in good health and long for your return. Everything goes well with us here. I sincerely hope all is well with you and your good messmates. Mr Pearson has build him a new house next to Dames on the hill and his Father and Mother and 2 daughters live in my house and may perhaps live there until I want it. I have had it all painted and all fixed up. It looks well. As for Kitteng there is not much alteration. A Mr. Mathews is buiding a new house above Mr Oatis next to Mr. Selams and now my friend I wish we have your vote in November but think we gan get Cass (Lewis Cass October 9, 1782-June 17, 1866 was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory , an American ambassador, and a U.S. Senator representing Michigan. He was the nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States in 1848.)
and Butler (William Orlando Butler (April 19, 1791-August 6, 1880) was a U.S. political figure and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky . He served as a Democratic congressman from Kentucky from 1839 to 1843 , and was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee under Lewis Cass in 1848.).
in without it. There is a complete split in the Whig ranks what with Taylor, Clay and VanBuren. It will be no go for the Whigs. I hope to have a chance in sending you the Presidents name when the die is cast. Th? I have told you all the smear and will close with my wife Susan kind love to you and may God bless and prosper you. I send you safe home to your dear family is the sincere wishes of your old friend, Richard F. Dunn. (Richard Dunn born on 9 Jan 1792 - died on an unknown date)
?? My kind respoect to your Brother Messmates and may you live as Brothers ought to. Le me hear from you when you have a chance. God Bless you (Amen)
Outstanding letter from 1848 that lets us peer into the lives of these 2 gentlemen as well as a little bit into the Presidental Election of 1848. The United States presidential election of 1848 was an open race. President James Polk, having achieved virtually all of his objectives in one term and suffering from declining health that would take his life less than four months after leaving office, kept his promise not to seek re-election.
The Whigs in 1846-47 had focused all their energies on condemning Polk's war policies. They had to quickly reverse course. In February 1848 Polk surprised everyone with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the war and gave the U.S. vast new territories (including California and most of Arizona and New Mexico). The Whigs in the Senate voted 2-1 to approve the treaty. Then in the summer the Whigs nominated the hero of the war, Zachary Taylor. While he did promise no more future wars, he did not condemn the war or criticize Polk, and Whigs had to follow his lead. They shifted their attention to the new issue of whether slavery could be banned from the new territories. The choice of Taylor was almost in desperation--he was not clearly committed to Whig principles, but he was popular for leading the war effort. The Democrats had a record of victory, peace, prosperity, and the acquisition of both Oregon and the Southwest; they appeared almost certain winners unless the Whigs picked Taylor. Taylor's victory made him one of only two Whigs to be elected President before the party ceased to exist in the 1850's, the other Whig to be elected President was William Henry Harrison, who had also been a general and war hero, but died a month into office.
The letter itself is in very good condition with a hole/tear on an outside section that looks like part of the wax seal was there and may have had to be torn to get the letter open as it was sent out of a cover. Where the tear is is on blank paper and doesn't affect a thing. Take a look at the pics. Outstanding with just a little stable staining! $125.00
This is a nice Rev War type hand made Corkscrew with turned maple grip. Nice little piece measuring about 5 inches long with the handle being about 3 1/4 inches across. $45.00
