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Revolutionary War: Highly Important Powder Horn and More.... (Total: 3 Items)
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Sold on Nov 1, 2024 for:
$16,250.00
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Description
"Hang every Tory & gain Immortal Glory"
Revolutionary War: Highly Important Powder Horn and More.
This may be the best Revolutionary War powder horn we have ever
seen. It is approximately 10" long and includes many desirable
design elements, anchored by the best patriotic verse, bar none,
that appears on any horn of the period. One side of the horn shows
two three-masted sailing ships with rows of cannons. There are
three large fish traversing the ocean. The name "George Washington"
encircles the spout. The balance of the inscription reads: "Thomas
Wells of/ Glastonbury his horn/ Made at Peekskill May 10 1777/ Bold
Americans stand up/ Disdain navery of ye British Cur/ Shake off ye
shackle hang every Tory/ Fight Till you die & gain Immortal Glory".
There are records of several members of the Wells family who served
in Connecticut regiments during the Revolutionary War. This horn
was likely carved when Thomas Wells was stationed in Peekskill, New
York. He was possibly an ancestor of Secretary of the Navy Gideon
Welles, a Connecticut native, in whose family the horn descended.
It is attributed to the carver Amos Dunbar based on similarities to
an example pictured in "Engraved Powder Horns". Sold together with
an October 3, 1776 manuscript pass for Samuel Welles "to pass
Kingsbridge & repass with his horse" by order of General Heath. We
also include a small leather bound account book with entries from
1839-onward, likely kept by Gideon Welles. The first page includes
a timeline for Captain Samuel Welles who served in Gay's Regiment
from 1776 to 1783. It lists his reimbursed expenses, including
wages paid while a prisoner-of-war.Condition: The plug to the powder horn has been removed and refitted with a silver cap (slightly loose). The spout has been cut down and refitted with a silver collar. The silver chain is a later addition. Some gouges and loss to laminate, mainly near the spout end. The account book is in fair condition.
Provenance: Thomas Welles Brainard, great-great-grandson of Gideon and Mary Jane Welles.
Auction Info
2024 November 1 - 2 Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6310 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
November, 2024
1st-2nd
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,865
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