May 17, 2022 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2022
Very nice display of a piece of wood timber and a cannonball which is noted to have been recovered from a US Colonial Warship that rests at the bottom of Lake Champlain in the 1960s. The timber and cannonball are mounted by metal wire which secure the relics to the back of the case. Accompanying the relics are 2 letters, which are framed in plastic and are secured to the upper left corner by hinges. The letters certify that both the timber and the cannonball were recovered from the bottom of Lake Champlain on August 4, 1965. Both letters are signed by Carroll Lonergan who operated "Lonergan's Antiques", an antique store in Ticonderoga, New York. A third letter, which is written on a sheet of notebook paper reveals the story of the Lonergan duo, a father and son who would recover cannonballs and other relics from the lake and how they would sell these pieces to the public. This letter states "He [Craig Lonergan] said he was about 21 when his dad [Carroll Lonergan] got the artifacts I have and that they came from ships involved in the battle of Valcour Island and from near there." The Battle of Valcour Island, which is also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, was a naval engagement which took place at Lake Champlain, on October 11, 1776. This early engagement is generally regarded as one of the first naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, as well as one of the first fought by the United States Navy. Resulting in an American defeat, most of the ships in the American fleet were captured or destroyed by British forces. CONDITION: Relic. The case presents well, and these relics would compliment an early military exhibit or naval themed display. PROVENANCE: Tom Grinslade Collection. JLD
Item Dimensions: 26 - 1/4" X 18 - 1/4" X 6 - 1/4"