Lot 15
c. 1770, Cased Set of Wogdon Flintlock Dueling Pistols Belonging to Major Hugh Maxwell. Matched, custom-made set housed in a 9 x 22 x 2½ inch English walnut case, lined with green Irish baize, with brass plaque inscribed, "Major Hugh Maxwell / Charlemont / 1779." The silver-mounted pistols have ten-inch octagonal, steel barrels, engraved "Wogdon London"; the silver lock plates are engraved "Wogdon." Various parts of the pistol's hardware have attractive ornamental engravings, mostly as rosettes. One of the ramrods is probably a replacement and one pistol has minor splitting to stock. Accessories include a bullet mold, a gunpowder flask with storage compartment for bullets, a cleaning rod, eight bullets and eight flints. In full working order. Overall Very Fine condition. Robert Wogdon's dueling pistols were considered the crème de la crème because of their accuracy. After Wogdon's death, it was discovered that he had bent his pistol barrels slightly to make the bore true. The pistols were deaccessioned from the Francis T. Maxwell Memorial Library.
Hugh Maxwell was an American surveyor and farmer from Charlemont (now Heath), Massachusetts who fought in five campaigns during the French and Indian War. In early 1775, he was appointed lieutenant of a company of minute men, with whom he marched to Cambridge, joined Col. William Prescott's regiment, fought and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was commissioned major July 7, 1777 and lieutenant colonel August 1, 1782. He was present at the siege of Boston, battles of Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, and Monmouth, and in the attack on De Lancey's Loyalists at Morrisania.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 25,000.
|
| |
| Realized $25,300 |
