Captured at the Battle of Trenton Dec. 26 1776

[kanemono]

This is an English Coaching Carbine made by Richard Welford in 1760. The gun was bought during the Depression from a pre-Revolutionary War home in Burlington, New Jersey by Samuel H. Laidacker. The family stated that the gun was captured from a Hessian mercenary on Christmas night 1776 after Washington's successful Crossing of the Delaware during the Revolutionary War. If true, the carbine was probably stolen by a Hessian during their looting, pillaging and raping spree through New Jersey. I have known the antique dealer who bought the gun since the 1950’s and have a signed letter telling the story about the gun's capture. Samuel H. Laidacker was an antiques dealer in eastern Pennsylvania. His specialties were firearms, American historical glass and Anglo-American historical Staffordshire china. Early in his career, he also dealt in other antiques, such as furniture, prints, coins and stamps. In addition to selling antiques, he sought to educate collectors through writing, publishing, and selling books and a magazine. Laidacker also did cataloging for auction houses over a number of years, particularly for Parke-Bernet in New York. The Winterthur Library in Delaware has 82 boxes of the Samuel Laidacker papers. The picture of the desk shows a small portion of the firearms in the Laidacker collection.

 

 

[kanemono]

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[USCapturephotos]

Wow that is an amazing piece of history! I grew up not far from Burlington. That would look awesome displayed with the Hessian helmet forum memeber Danny Griffin found at auction locally a few years back.

Paul

[Dirk]

Dick a timely posting for Christmas Day! In a class of militaria by itself! BTW This year's reenactment I read is cancelled due to high water in the river.

[kanemono]

Yes this would look great with a Hessian Miter. I was involved with reenacting Washington's crossing the Delaware and the battle of Trenton on the 200th anniversary of the battle. The Hessian reenactors spent Christmas night in the original barracks in Trenton. Some of us crossed the Delaware (which had quite a bit of ice flowing) and we all marched, in the snow, to Trenton. Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. We reenacted the battle at the Hessian barracks. The Hessian reenactors were incredibly accurate and many had drank quite a bit the night before. Charles McBarron the "dean of military illustrators" who painted the Battle of Trenton rode as a cavalry officer.

[kanemono]

I wanted to add that when I was a kid in the 1950's we lived close to the Washington Crossing Park. The original painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware was housed in an old empty unlocked church. The painting was on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum hated the painting and didn't want it in their museum. That was the time when abstract expressionism was king and Washington Crossing the Delaware was scorned as junk art. Since I was usually alone with the painting, and loved art even as a kid, I managed to touch every inch of the painting many times to feel the texture of the paint. The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently spent over a million dollars to recreate the original frame. Times change. Another example of changing times is the Liberty Bell. We would often visit Carpenter's Hall and visit the Liberty Bell. All the kids would climb all over the bell. There were no guards. Now it is in a protected case. Times change.

Dick

[kanemono]

Here is a small part of the Laidacker collection.

[439th Signal Battalion]

Just wow! Thank you for sharing.

[bobgee]

Great post, Dick. I knew John Laidacker back in the 70s & 80s. I assume he was Samuel's son.

[doyler]

Dick,True historic item.Great story.Thanks for sharing

[Bluehawk]

Puts the end meaning on "high end"

 

Beautiful, artifact(s) and story.

[M24 Chaffee]

Thats an amazing artifact! Thanks for posting it! We live close to Burlington NJ and Washingtons Crossing. Were never in town for the re-enactment that they do on Christmas Day. This year we were able to attend the rehearsal event on December 9th. It was very cool and well attended.

 

Frank

[gauthieb3sxz]

Is this a first pattern Brown Bess?

[kanemono]

This musket is a military Brown Bess but a high quality civilian arm made for a private individual. This piece was originally longer but I believe it was cut down before or during the Revolutionary War to make it handier to use in the forest. Just a guess.

Dick

[kanemono]

Sorry,

I made a typo. What I should have said is "This musket is not a military Brown Bess."