Lithgow Family Silver Hilted Sword Made by Andrew Tyler, Boston, circa 1730

Of great historical importance to the state of Maine, Nova Scotia & Boston, an early American silver hilted sword carried by 3 generations of the Lithgow family, made by Andrew Tyler, Boston, circa 1730, twice deeply stamped with his touchmark.

An outstanding, untouched, historically important American small-sword that was carried by at least 3 members of the Lithgow Family during the French and Indian Wars and throughout the American Revolutionary War period.

This fine sword was made in Boston, circa 1730, by one of the most important American colonial silversmiths of that time, Andrew Tyler, and is the only surviving specimen of a sword made by him. It is signed twice by Tyler with his rectangular "AT" touch mark. Once on the middle of the knuckle bow and again on the quillon. Both marks are very deep and clear.

The braided silver wire grip wrap is perfectly intact as are both silver Turk’s head ferrules. This fine sword is 100% original and has no damage or repair. It is in perfect condition for its great age, just as it was preserved and handed down for generations in the Lithgow Family.

The counterguards are nicely engraved for Robert Lithgow "RL 1701" and Captain William Lithgow "Capt Wm Lithgow." Its wide tri-foil blade bears the earliest engraving of a Native American on a sword blade, a full standing Indian with headdress, somewhat worn from age. The sword measures about 33” overall.

This sword is published in the book "Edged Weapons," page 23, four photos, by the American Society of Arms Collectors. A hard cover copy of this book goes with the sword.

Captain William Lithgow was a very important figure in the colonial history of Maine. A set of 11 hardbound volumes "Collections of the Maine Historical Society" and the book "History of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell Maine" in which Captain Lithgow and the Lithgow Family are mentioned in numerous accounts accompanies the sword. Also, accompanying the sword, is a binder full of photocopies of Lithgow family histories, genealogies, military records, etc.

First Lithgow Who Owned the Sword:
The initials "RL" and the date "1701" apply to Robert Lithgow (father of William Lithgow and grandfather of William Lithgow Jr.) and his plight: migrating to this country from Scotland via Ireland, Halifax, Nova Scotia and finally to Boston. Robert Lithgow was the first owner of the sword.The first Jacobite rebellion occurred in Scotland in 1689, after the Scottish Convention had accepted William III as king, John Graham, Viscount Dundee (aka ‘Bonnie Dundee‘) withdrew from the convention in protest and raised a small army based on the cavalry group of which he was commander. His spectacular victory against the Williamite army at Killiecrankie was won at the cost of his own life. He was killed at the moment of victory. Thereafter the rebellion was fought to a standstill at Dunkeld by a regiment of the religiously fanatical Cameronians. Ironically, Colonel Cleland, their commander, died at the moment of their victory. When James died in 1701 (before the union of the Scottish and English parliaments), his son, James Francis Stewart, (aka the ‘Old Pretender‘), became the legitimate king of Scotland (James VIII) in the eyes of the Jacobites.

Second Lithgow Who Owned the Sword:
William Lithgow, born in Boston, prior to 1713, was Robert’s only son. Earlier in life William was known as “Captain William Lithgow”. He was the commander of Fort Richmond and later the commander of Fort Halifax. He was employed by the government for 20 years as an Indian trader (1754-1774) at which time the sword’s blade was probably engraved with the figure of an Indian. A standing Indian in full headdress is engraved on the blade and is the earliest representation of a native American on an American sword. The symbol of the standing Indian represents the interaction between Lithgow and the native Americans at that time. Much is recorded about him in the early history of Maine. Later in life, William Lithgow, became a prominent Court judge and was hence known as “Judge William Lithgow”.

Third Lithgow Who Owned the Sword:
The sword was then passed from father to son. William Lithgow Jr. carried the sword in the American Revolution. William Jr. was an aid-de-camp to General George Washington and was present at General Burgoyne‘s surrender at Saratoga. His likeness is included in John Trumbull’s painting of that event that hangs in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington, DC.

Andrew Tyler:
Andrew Tyler was born about 1642 in Boston and was apprenticed, circa 1705, to John Coney, Boston. He married Miriam Pepperell on 25 Apr 1715 in Kittery, ME. Tyler died on August 12, 1741, in Boston. He is well known for his church silver. Several examples of his work can be found in the collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Art.

The absence of a condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the lot. Please inquire for a detailed condition report.