Lot 500
Powder Horn of Col. Peter Van Ness, 9th Regt. Albany, NY Militia. Deeply-carved scrimshaw inscription: "Col. Peter Van Ness" and diagonally: "9th Regt. Alb.y Co. N.Y. Ma. 1780." Also, beautiful carvings of a view of the harbor of New York, a forest, a large carving of a militia soldier, an Indian holding a tomahawk and a flintlock rifle, Lake George, a small map of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, noting Fort Hunter, Half Moon, and Saratoga, and a carving of Col. Van Ness astride his horse with upraised sword, as well as the initials "PV". Approximately 10½".
Accompanied by documents researched by a former owner regarding the service of Peter Van Ness (1734-1804) and his public life. He is listed in the Colonial History of the State of New York, the National Archives of the Daughters of the American Revolution, etc. In October 1775 Van Ness was appointed Colonel in command of the 9th Albany County militia regiment (2nd Claverack battalion); he was re-appointed in May 1778. According to Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York (edited by Berthold Fernow, Vol. XV, State Archives, Vol. I, 1887), Van Ness begged leave to resign in October 1780 because "he considers himself unjustly treated in point of rank by the promotion of Colonel Robert Van Rensselaer." Since the horn is dated 1780, it was likely carved and presented to Van Ness by his troops when he resigned.
The inscription on Van Ness' grave, at Lindenwald in the town of Kinderhook, N.Y., states his command of the company, as well as the information that he was in command of a regiment at the surrender of Burgoyne in 1777, that he was a member of the State Convention that adopted the Federal Constitution, that he served as a state senator, was a member of the Council of Appointment, and was the chief judge of Columbia County.
Powder horns of high-ranking officers are rare.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
Ex. The Claude Harkins Collection of Americana; Frank Murphy, Massapequa Park, NY, 1992.
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| Realized $4,320 |
