Cane or walking stick of wood. The handle end is carved with the bust of a man.
Carving is the likeness of General Lafayette (1757-1834) who, according to family tradition, presented this cane to Amos Slaymaker when Lafayette visited White Chimneys and dined at the Slaymaker's tavern/hotel "The Pennsylvania Arms" during his grand U.S. tour in 1825. Carved gentleman wears a coat, jabot and high collar and is highly detailed. Executed in light toned hardwood, hair has light brown stain and pedestal portion is stained dark. Band of copper alloy below pedestal. Shaft of cane tapers to an end and is stained brown. Two-piece copper alloy tip, secured with two small nails.
Provenance
Passed from Amos Slaymaker through 5 generations of Slaymaker family and donated by Mrs. Samuel R. Slaymaker II.
Multiple minor nicks in carving and shaft with some loss of finish, esp. near bottom tip. Superficial checking/splitting in wood. Copper alloy tip is discolored with minor corrosion and band at top has multiple small dents. Cane tip not worn, thus not used.
Object ID
G.98.12.8
Notes
See page 30 of History of the Slaymaker family.
Place of Origin
France
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Foldable eyeglasses with D-shaped blue-tinted lenses and similar side panel lenses. Worn by Amos Ellmaker (1787-1851) and are seen in portrait.
Provenance
Amos Ellmaker (1787-1851) wore these glasses, including during his sitting for accomplished Lancaster portrait painter Jacob Eichholtz. Amso graduated from Princeton before embarking on a long and successful career as both an officer in the army and a lawyer; rising to positions such as State Representative and Attorney General of the Commonwealth. Amos almost became a state senator as well, but lost to the future president, James Buchanan.
Corn knife used by one of the Black resistors in the Christiana Riot on September 11, 1851. Wrought iron long curved blade of 19.5" is fitted into oak or ash turned handle rounded terminal end. Tang of blade extends through length of handle and protrudes at terminal where it is clinched.
The Christiana Resistance resulted from the efforts of a Maryland slave holder to claim fugitives hiding in the home of Willam Parker, a free black man living in Chritiana, PA. This corn knife was used by one of the black resistors during this confict. The bloody confrontation, occurring in September of 1851, resulted in the death of Edward Gorsuch, the slaveholder, and the escape of William Parker and the fugitive slaves to freedom in Canada.
On reverse is attached note, "To make sure that the old portrait of Julie Shultz and her father, who has her by the hand shall go into permanent possession of Lancaster County Historical Society
Miss Ella B. Hart who lived with her niece Mary Agnes Schultz when she died at 9 or 11 Shippen Street in 1911 gave it to me with that understanding (gave in the fall of 1935)
Julie was sister of Alexander Shultz who was a tinsmith in Strasburg. He built the house now owned by Robert E. Groh on site of birthplace of Thomas Burroughs.
White silk political campaign ribbon, "Henry Clay / The people's choice" at top and bottom of oval black and white portrait of Henry Clay. Oval is wreathed with corn stalks on left and spray of oak leaves and acorns on the right.
Underneath a mounted horseman on a country road : "The Pride of America."
Pennsylvania Long Rifle; percussion cap; curly maple stock; iron barrel stamped "H. GIBBS" on top of barrel. Brass fittings and patch box. Some rust on iron and brass parts. Approximately .40 caliber muzzle. 44" barrel with an overall length of 61 inches.
See notes for information on Gibbs.
Provenance
Purchased by donor (Walt Dunlap) at auction in Lancaster County in 1956.
Henry Gibb Sr. and his son Henry Gibb were Lancaster City gunsmiths active for most of the nineteenth century. The father from 1812 until 1843 and the son from 1843 until 1880.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Reproduced copies of seals of citizens of Lancaster County, Casts were taken from documents of the Lancaster County Courthouse - deeds, justice of the peace, notary public, personal. Includes Penn's Grant seal.
