November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
Captain Daniel Tyler, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, was born in 1750. He graduated from Harvard University in 1771, which was the same year that he married Israel Putnam's daughter, Mehitable. On April 20, 1775, a messenger from Worcester's Town Clerk delivered a dispatch to Daniel Tyler, giving notice of the attack at Lexington. Daniel Tyler served on General Israel Putnam's staff and was an Adjutant in the Continental 34th Regiment of Foot (Putnam's Connecticut Regiment) at the Battle of Bunker Hill, according to a Regimental Return dated September 20, 1775. Two years later, he raised his own artillery company and equipped them at his own expense. He is credited with successfully protecting the city of Newport, Rhode Island in 1778, which is perhaps why these pistols were presented to him with the commemorative date of 1778. He fought through the Revolution and was in active service until around 1780. Daniel Tyler died in 1832. According to "Gunmakers of London: 1350 - 1850" by Howard Blackmore, Henry Tatham was listed in 1799 as a maker to the Prince of Wales. He is listed as a Gunmaker and Sword Cutler at 37 Charing Cross between 1800 and 1833. He has a partnership with Egg at the same address between 1801 and 1814. With this in mind, it is likely that these pistols were made before 1801, as the locks bare only the name "TATHAM". The pistols themselves have tapered 8 - 1/2" round .69 smoothbore barrels with slightly swamped muzzles, tapered top flats and hooked breeches. They also have gold-lined touch holes and small notched rear sights and small front blade sights. The bottoms are stamped with London view and proof marks and the top flats once had an inscription with only traces now visible. The high-quality locks are retained by a single screw, have stepped tails engraved with arms motifs and are marked "TATHAM" in the centers. They feature sliding half-cock thumb safeties, waterproof pans and roller frizzens. The iron furniture includes small pommel caps engraved with borders and floral engraving around the center screws. The trigger guards have arms engraved on the bows and the front tangs terminate with engraved pineapple finials. Ramrod ferrules are also iron. Both pistols have a small silver shield-shaped escutcheon inscribed "DT" for Daniel Tyler. They are stocked in plain walnut and the grips feature punch dot checkering. Pistols are complete with horn-tipped wooden ramrods with iron worms at opposite ends, one a replacement. The pistols have their original Oak case with a partitioned interior lined with green wool. The brass handle on top is inscribed "Captain Daniel Tyler Pomfret 1778". There are two brass hooks on the front as well as a brass-lined keyhole. The original label is not absent, but two remnants accompany the set. Accessories include an oiler, a lidded compartment with several lead balls, an iron single-cavity mold, a wooden ramrod with brass tip, a later ebony handled screwdriver, a brass powder measure, spare flints and a copper duel-cavity powder flask. Key is absent. CONDITION: Barrels retain traces of brown finish but are mostly cleaned. Locks are in their original flintlock configurations and function very well, markings are excellent. Cock on one pistol has a repair at the neck. Iron furniture shows light pitting and a light grey patina. Stocks show some oil stains, scattered marks from use and a few minor age cracks. One has a thin splinter replaced along the barrel. Exterior of case shows scattered marks and retains a nice dry surface, brass furniture is unpolished and retains a pleasing dark mustard patina. Interior shows stains, deterioration, fading and some glued repairs. One area of loss to interior wood lip. Accessories fair to good. A very important pair that were most likely presented to him by Rhode Island for his service protecting Providence in 1778. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Henry Tatham I
Model
Flintlock Dueling Pistols