AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR OFFICER'S ENGLISH-MADE SILVER-HILTED CUTTOE AND DOCUMENT
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Description
This wonderful American Revolutionary War officer's hanger/short saber was purchased at an estate sale, together with the pay voucher for Captain Silvanus Brown.
Sword bears the marks of two natives of Birmingham, sword-maker Samuel Harvey and silversmith Benjamin May. Hilt consists of hallmarked sterling silver re-curved guard, shaped-to-hand ebony grip, wrapped with silver wire, and a silver pommel cap. Blade is 66 cm / 26" long, in the Montmorency style. Hilt is marked with Benjamin May's cartouche, Birmingham date letter L in the shield, dating it precisely to 1782-1783, Birmingham town assay mark in the shape of an anchor, and the Lion passant guardant, certifying the silver's quality.
The pay voucher from the State of Connecticut to Captain Silvanus Brown for £30 is dated March 31st, 1783, same year as the silver mark on the hilt. Document is hand-signed in ink by Oliver Wolcott Jr., the son of one of the Declaration of Independence signers, Oliver Wolcott Sr.
Oliver Wolcott Jr. was one of George Washington's protegees, and served as a Secretary of the Treasury in Washington's administration. He was later elected a Governor of Connecticut.
Captain Silvanus [also spelled Sylvanus in several historical sources] Brown served during the American Revolutionary War with the artillery of the 8th Connecticut Regiment, which was raised on September 16, 1776 in Danbury, Connecticut. On January 1st 1781 the regiment was merged into the 1st Connecticut Regiment at West Point, New York, re-designated the 5th Connecticut Regiment, and disbanded on November 15, 1783.
The 8th Connecticut Regiment took part in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, the New York Campaign and the Battle of Monmouth.
Although there is no proof that the sword belonged to Captain Brown, I thought it prudent to offer both the sword and the pay voucher together, as they came to me.
Although there is no proof that the sword belonged to Captain Brown, I thought it prudent to offer both the sword and the pay voucher together, as they came to me.