Our newest exhibit is Turning 250 which is a patriotic display of historical artifacts. It is running from July 2026 to mid-May 2027.

Unusual Map of New York 1777

This map was compiled and designed by H.F. Andrews in 1927.

He created it as a commemorative piece for the 150th anniversary of the Burgoyne Campaign
and the founding of New York as a state.

Andrews’ work is notable for several reasons:
Historical Accuracy: It depicts the state’s 14 original counties and the progression of British invasions during the Revolutionary War.
Design: The map uses unique visual cues, such as heavy red lines to indicate the limits of British invasions and dotted lines for incomplete plans.
Context: It was published by the J.B. Lyon Company in Albany, NY, which served as the state’s official printer at the time.

While specific biographical details about H.F. Andrews himself are scarce, he is recognized for this specific cartographic contribution that serves as a “snapshot” of a critical moment in New York’s history.  87.2120

Jawbone of a Revolutionary War soldier 1776

 

 

 

 

This jawbone was gifted by Dr. Nicholas M. Murphy (1922-2014) on December 9, 1984. It was found in Dr. Albert G. Barrett’s (1892-1980) personal effects. Both were dentists in Granville. 96.0075

Revolutionary War Saber & Scabbard – James Luddington Dean

The saber and scabbard was gifted by Lula Chamberlin Daniels (1876-1966) based on the typewritten tag on the scabbard but the date of donation is unknown. The saber was carried by James Luddington, a Revolutionary ancestor of Lula.

What we found through research: The saber was probably made between 1800-1820 based on the fire blue and gilt etchings on the blade. Common from 1780s through the 1850s, serving as marks of status for War of 1812 officers. The grip and guard are not original. The sword has the possibility of being an old heirloom being updated to a ceremonial item.

James Luddington Dean (1764-1860) was a Revolutionary War private from March 1, 1782 to June 30, 1783 in the 4th and 6th Connecticut Regiments. He is the great grandfather to the donor, Lula Chamberlin Daniels.     26.0002

Wooden Gavel

This gavel was presented to Franklin T. Pember in November, 1915 by George H. Ripley (1863-1952). Made from wood excavated from Lake Champlain in 1910, this gavel is thought to contain timber from a vessel in Benedict Arnold’s fleet (1777). Ripley included historical information on the fleet by Dr. E.T. Horton of Whitehall, NY. The documentation suggests that the vessel found through dredging the canal in 1910 was one of three – Enterprise, Revenge or Liberty. Horton presumes it to be the Enterprise.     96.0017

Through historical newspapers and online research:
No articles could be found which specifically mentioned a vessel found through dredging the canal in 1910.

The sloop Enterprise was presumed to have been found by J.F. Nadeau in early 1910 at Crown Point per a March 1910 news article. A knee of timber was sent to the Maine Historical Society. The object is listed in their collection database (object #2007.171) and attached to it is a worn b&w photo of a 72ft vessel raised at Ft. Frederick 1909. This photo postcard is also in the Adirondack Experience’s (museum) collection (catalog #1978.071.0077). The ship’s name is not identified. The Enterprise was originally the HMS George which Arnold captured in May 1775 and renamed. The ship was 62ft. Per historic records, the Enterprise was run aground at Skenesboro (now Whitehall, NY) and burned by the Americans 7/7/1777.

The sloop Revenge (70′) was presumed to be recovered from the lake bottom in January 1909 per a Vermont magazine article and newspaper articles. The August/September 1909 issue of The Vermonter magazine (page 238) includes a photo of the remains of a ship with a caption, “The Revenge, one of the battleships of Benedict Arnold’s fleet. – This vessel, with two others, escaped to shelter of Fort Ticonderoga, after a running battle with a superior British force in 1776. In January 1909, it was recovered from the lake bottom and is now on exhibition near the lake shore at Fort Ticonderoga.” The Revenge may have been burned and sunk in July 1777 near Fort Ticonderoga.

The schooner Liberty (50 feet) was not involved in the Battle of Valcour but was scuttled near Skenesboro (Whitehall) by the Americans in 1777 to avoid capture. Records do not show her recovery.

The schooner Royal Savage was discovered in 1909 per news articles, and there were plans to raise her, but it was not raised until 1934 by Lorenzo Hagglund.

Deeper research by museum staff discovered a 2021 dissertation written by Daniel E. Bishop which states on page 24, “The brig Duke of Cumberland remained undisturbed in the King’s Shipyard until 1909 when Stephen Pell decided to raise the vessel and display it in an effort to increase publicity for the Fort Ticonderoga Museum’s opening and the tercentenary celebration. Pell and architect Alfred Bossum incorrectly associated the hull with the War of American Independence-Era schooner Revenge.”

In 1909, Stephen H. P. Pell (1874-1950) and his wife, Sarah G. T. Pell, were the key figures of the Pell family at Lake Champlain. Stephen spearheaded the major restoration and public opening of Fort Ticonderoga, and together they established the fort’s prominent museum collection. He was co-founder of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum.

What does this mean? It means there are historical photographs of a ship labeled with the name Duke of Cumberland (90-ft British sloop/brig) and also Revenge. Newspaper articles from 1909 mention the Revenge being raised, and nothing about the Duke. The Duke of Cumberland was built in 1759 and abandoned in 1767, left to rot at a wharf at Fort Ticonderoga.

So… was the ship raised in 1909 the Duke of Cumberland (1759) or the Revenge (1776)? By the way, the photos are similar. Was the gavel made from either or another shipwreck? If Stephen Pell made the mistake of labeling the Duke of Cumberland as the Revenge, then why are there no news articles with this information prior to the 2021 research paper by Bishop? A 1921 article says a chair was made from the Revenge and given to President Harding. A 1930 article mentions the Revenge is still on view at the Fort. In a 1940 news article, the writer mentions standing in front of the Revenge at the Fort. If remains were found during dredging in 1910, why are there no news articles? We might never know the answer.

1758 Powder Horn

This 1758 powder horn of Charles Houdelette was gifted to the museum by Ellen C. Hulett Wood (1864-1933) in 1924.            96.0001

What we were told through the donor’s letter:
This horn was given to her father, Darwin Hulett (1838-1873) by Samuel J. Culver, Jr. (1789-1864) (Mrs. Wood’s great-uncle). She mentions that his “ancestor” had taken it from a French officer during the French and Indian War in 1762. She assumed it was his father, Samuel J. Culver, Sr (1747-1831) although he would have been 15, but she didn’t think it was improbable.

What we found through research:
There are no official records of anyone with the surname Houdelette that served in the French and Indian War. Powder horns with names engraved on them were either the artist or owner. We did find a Charles Estienne (Stephen) Houdelette (a lace weaver) who arrived and settled in Dresden, Maine in 1752. His family were French Huguenots. Nothing in his family tree ties him to military service and we even reached out to a descendant. One would think Maine history would have mentioned it in some of the family documents we came across. Perhaps he was the artist and not the owner.

Internet research states French Huguenots and their descendants served in the French and Indian War, primarily on the British side. By 1754, many were assimilated into British colonial life, and their descendants served in local militias. It also states that descendants of French Huguenots served extensively in the American Revolutionary War as military officers, political leaders, and civilian supporters.

Samuel J. Culver (1747) would have been too young to serve, but he did serve in the Revolutionary War. Records show a Daniel Culver (possibly his father) in 1755, and a Samuel Culver in 1761 and 1762. The Colver/Culver family is quite large, and the names Daniel and Samuel were given multiple times. Many Colvers/Culvers served in the French and Indian War. The horn was  evidently passed down from an ancestor.

In 1877, an article was published in a Pennsylvania newspaper regarding the powder horn. It has the horn being found by Culver at the Battle of Bennington during the Revolutionary War. The forts and battles on the horn are from the French and Indian War. The horn could have been handed off or passed down after the War.

We might never know the complete story.

Chapeau-de-bras
French for “hat-arm”, War of 1812

A collapsible, crescent-shaped bicorne hat designed to be folded flat and carried under the arm rather than worn on the head. Silk-banded, possibly beaver felt, missing the cockade (rosette of ribbons) and plume.  Provenance unknown.      96.0062

Confederate Bills  1861-1864          96.0006

50-dollar Jeff Davis, #72104, Richmond, Feb 17th, 1864, The Confederate States of America (facsimile – reproduction)

50-dollar #7916 or 7918, Richmond VA, Sept 2nd, 1861, The Confederate States of America

2.50, Richmond VA, June 4th, 1862, Bank of the Commonwealth banknote, 11th series

1.00, Adrian Insurance Co., Michigan, date not legible.

Possibly collected by F.T. Pember. He made a collecting trip to Kentucky from August through October in 1864, but perhaps these were given to the museum in later years.

Revolutionary Saber – Captain Allison White

This saber was gifted by Mrs. Emmeline Clark (1869-1971), May 30, 1939                         26.0001

What we were told through a donor letter:
The sabre was carried by Capt. Allison White of Johannesburg (Johnsburg) NY during the Revolutionary War. Presented by Mrs. Emmeline Clark, granddaughter.

What we found through research:
The saber was probably made between 1800-1815 for the War of 1812 based on the design. There are no markings. Emmeline’s grandfather is listed in the Civil War Draft Registration May-June 1863. His brother, Alson B. White is also listed, but service could not be found for either. Her great-grandfather possibly served in the War of 1812. Her 2nd great-grandfather is Aaron White, Jr. There is several Aaron Whites listed for the War of 1812 and therefore we are unable to accurately say for sure if he served. We could not find a Revolutionary soldier named Allison White.

 

Pistol Saddle Holsters – Revolutionary War era

This pair of saddle holsters have been in the collection’s storage room. Only a note of “pre-civil war” was found in the files. No other information has been found.

The holsters were in poor shape and treated with Pecard antique leather dressing for preservation in 2023. The brass end caps were cleaned and polished.

Saddle Holsters were either attached to the saddle horn through a hole in the seat which is the connecting piece between the holsters or strapped to the saddle.             96.0060

Civil War Utensils 1861

W.H. Richards Combined Knife, Fork & Spoon – Patented July 23, 1861. This set belonged to Charles P. Tufts (1824-1861), Civil War soldier of Wallingford, VT. Note: Knife is not part of the patented set. It was gifted to the museum by Fred V. Smith of Middle Granville, date unknown.                96.0002

48-Star American Flag

The 48-star U.S. flag was official from July 4, 1912, to July 3, 1959, representing the addition of New Mexico and Arizona. As the longest-serving flag (47 years) until the 50-star flag, it spanned major events like WWI, WWII, the Great Depression, and the Korean War. It was the first flag with a formally mandated six-row, eight-star grid design.

Adoption: The 48-star flag was adopted following an executive order from President Taft on June 24, 1912, which officially ordered the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each.

Significance: It was the flag that served as a symbol of American unity and strength during the peak of 20th-century conflicts, including World War I and World War II.

WWII Flag: It is often referred to as the “Flag of Liberation,” famously raised over Berlin and Iwo Jima in 1945.

Retirement: The flag remained official until July 3, 1959, when it was replaced by the 49-star flag upon Alaska’s statehood, and later the 50-star flag for Hawaii.

Manufacturing: The 48-star flag is a popular item for collectors, frequently made of cotton or wool with cotton stars and often marked with the maker’s name. National Park Service (.gov)

This flag was found hanging in the museum’s attic until 2015 when it was then placed in storage. It’s in very poor condition. Provenance is unknown. 17.0012

Lefaucheux Pinfire Revolver
Liege, Belgium, 1810 – 1853 based on markings. This revolver was gifted to the museum by Gilbert H. Wiley (1896-1991) in 1956.

However, this revolver is listed in Nichol’s c1932 Collections Inventory as “about 1865”. A 1958 letter to the Library & Museum from Gilbert H. Wiley mentioned his donation of the revolver and a sword as being on display two years prior that belonged to Captain H.O. Wiley of the Civil War. No other revolver is in the collection.         96.0004