September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
This rare Roger's Rangers and Minuteman map horn is inscribed: "Edmvnd MVNRO"
"1758"
The map portion of this horn includes the place names: "NEW . YORK", "ALBANy", "HELFNOON", "STELLWATR", "SARATO GA", "FT. HELLER", "BVLLSFORT", "F. STANW IX", "ONOydA", "OSWEgO", "LAKK ONTARIO", "CATARACVI", "SOVTH. BAy", "FT. HANTER", "F. CARILION", "Ft. EdWARd", and "SKNAKEdy". Many of these place names are accompanied by symbols for forts, houses and cities. New York city is prominently illustrated, along with outlying structures, including a windmill and a fort. Albany and Schenectady are also depicted. Ships of varying sizes are engraved around the horn.
The darker, recessed throat and spout display very distinctive vase and ring type turnings. This horn has a nicely carved, domed plug with unusual geometric patterns. The lobe is serrated and has a formal border below. This horn measures 10 - 1/2 inches overall.
The Munros were Highlanders who lived around Inverness, Scotland. They immigrated to Massachusetts around 1660. Edmund was born February 2, 1736, oldest of six children in Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, Mass. He entered the provincial service at an early age, and saw action in The French and Indian War.
According to Walter's research, he joined "the celebrated corps" of Roger's Rangers in 1758, the date engraved on this New York map powder horn. He was their Sergeant-Major, serving with them until they were disbanded in 1760. At one point he acted as an Orderly Sergeant and the adjutant of the regiment. In a small memorandum book kept with him at Lake George he wrote on August 28th, 1758. "The Rangers to be under arms at six o'clock this evening to illuminate the rejoicing for the success of his Majesty's army at Louisburg at which time Major Rogers to give his Ranging companies, as a token of his dependence on their Loyalty and Bravery, a Barrel of Wine treat, to congratulate this good news to them, and the good behavior of the four Companies of Rangers at Louisburg, which has won to the corps a universal national character."
He was acting adjunct in Colonel Hoar's regiment at Crown Point, Ticonderoga until the peace in 1763. Edmund married Rebecca Harrington in 1768. They had five children.
Edmund was enrolled in the company of Lexington Minutemen and was with them on the green on the 19th of April, 1775, the day the American Revolution commenced. During the Revolution he served under Rodgers and Hoar. He was made lieutenant on July 12, 1776, and was in the northern army under Gates at Stillwater, Saratoga, and Bennington. He so distinguished himself at the capture of Burgoyne that his superiors presented him with a pair of candlesticks that belonged to Burgoyne.
Captain Munro was then sent to the Jerseys and joined the army under George Washington. He was with General Washington at Valley Forge. A letter written to his wife from Valley Forge May 17, 1778 states "I am going on command tomorrow morning down to the enemy's lines. There are two thousand going on the command. I am of the mind we will have a dispute with them before we return". Fifteen men from Lexington were in his company on the continental line.
On June 28, 1778, Edmund was killed on the field of Freehold, commonly called the battle of Monmouth. The same cannon ball that killed him also took the life of his kinsman George Munroe, and maimed Joseph Cox for life. Much of this information is taken from Martha Wood Coutant's booklet "Be Not Ashamed".
According to page 407 of Hitman's "Register of Officers of the Continental Army", Munro was a Captain in the Lexington Alarm, April 1775; Regimental Quartermaster in the 13th Continental Infantry, the 20th August to 31st of December 1776; Captain of the 15th Mass., 1st of January 1777; killed at Monmouth 28th of June 1778.
Walter included the following period documents with this horn: Three diary entries from 1758 and a pass from Crown Point "regarding letters for his excellency General Amhurst" dated 1762.
Condition: Excellent. This horn displays a beautiful, extremely warm, mellow amber patina with very little wear to the engraving. The extended lobe is cracked through at one side, but is still attached and stable. There has been some movement in the plug with several minor chips of varying sizes along the edge of the horn. One of the carved rings is missing part of its surface, but is smooth from period use.