American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

Two unmatched, bent wood stirrups. Rollers on stirrups secured by a pair of nuts and bolts on either side. Neither stirrup with a leather hood. The larger of the two measuring approx. 5 1/2 in. across at widest points, 7 3/4 in. high, and 4 1/8 in. tread depth. The smaller of the two measuring approx. 5 3/4 in. across at widest points, 6 3/4 in. high, and 3 1/2 in. tread depth. (wear, scattered abrasions, light soil, small crack at bolt on smaller stirrup, but both stirrups in overall good condition). Period label affixed on the side of each stirrup, both reading: “Made by / Charles G Sherman. For the Civil War / at Monroe / Cont [Connecticut].”

Charles G. Sherman (1843-1907) of Monroe, Fairfield County, Connecticut, is listed in the 1860 US Federal Census as a seventeen-year old "Stirrup Maker" as is his father, Frederic Sherman. The 1870 US Federal Census identifies Charles as a "Farmer & Stirrup Manuf" though by 1880 the census lists him as a farmer only. HDS does not indicate that Charles G. Sherman served in the Civil War, though he would have been of age to serve. Census records indicate that Sherman spent the entirety of his life in Monroe, Connecticut, married, had children, and his obituary indicates that he was a Mason. Additional details about the nature of his work as a stirrup maker, and additional examples of his stirrups, were not located.