Chest

Object/Artifact

-

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Chest

Entry/Object ID

1912.1

Description

Large, black iron chest with strapped reinforcement. The lid of the chest overhangs the body and hinges open at the back. The ends each have a large U-shaped handle, threaded and secured through large iron eyes. The front has four large iron eyes with straps for locking the chest closed. The center front is decorated with a large, floral escutcheon applied onto the side.

Context

Used by a Hessian regiment in the Revolutionary War. It was captured at the Battle of Trenton and given to Lewis R. Morris of Springfield, VT "to secure your valuables from that dishonest and reckless population of the Green Mountain State, who have held against the just and true claims of New York."

Acquisition

Accession

1912.1

Source or Donor

Ballard, S.J.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Anonymous gift

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1770

Place

Country

Germany

Continent

Europe

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Chest

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Trunk

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Storage & Display Furniture

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Personal Carrying & Storage Gear

Nomenclature Class

Furniture

Nomenclature Class

Personal Gear

Nomenclature Category

Category 02: Furnishings

Nomenclature Category

Category 03: Personal Objects

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

12 in

Width

23 in

Depth

14 in

Material

Iron

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Morris, Lewis Richard (1760-1825)

Person or Organization

Morris, Richard (1730-1810)

Related Places

Place

Town

Springfield

County

Windsor County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Related Events

Event

American Revolutionary War

Interpretative Labels

Label

Trunk or Chest, circa 1770 Germany (Hesse or Brunswick) Iron and wood Anonymous Gift, #1912.1 This heavy iron trunk was brought to New Jersey by Hessian mercenaries serving in the British army. Victorious Americans captured it at the Battle of Trenton in 1777. It was acquired by Richard Morris, Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, who sent it to his son, Lewis, in Springfield, Vermont. Attached was a note instructing Lewis to use the trunk “to secure your valuables from that dishonest and reckless population of the Green Mountain State, who have held against the just and true claims of New York.”