American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

Approx. 14 1/2 in. lg. carved horn (some wear to surface; plug with heavier wear including punctures and a small area of loss). Horn features raised ring carved near spout, with scalloped ring carved in throat, and horn proper with scalloped edge.

Central cartouche reads, "Crown Point 1759 / John Hosmer His Horn." A map of northern New York winds around the horn proper, with illustrated forts, geographic features, and towns along the North (Hudson) and Mohawk Rivers including Albany, "Schenaktedy," Saratoga, Ticonderoga; Forts Ontario, Bull, Stanwix, Henry, Hunter, Miller, Edward; and Lakes Champlain, George, and Onyda. Also illustrated are a compass rose and a patriotic motif featuring a central drum flanked by cannons and surmounted by 8 fanned flags.

One John Hosmer (1712-1761) is listed in Rolls of Connecticut Men in the French and Indian War, 1755-1762 as a soldier serving in the 5th Company of the 3rd Regiment under Colonel Nathan Whiting. Additionally, his last will and testament appear in the Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, Vol. 17-19, 1753-1770. Dated 4 September 1755, the text of the will reads, in part, "I John Hosmer of Hartford...Connecticut in New England being in perfect health & of Sound Mind & memory, but being bound on an expedition to Crown point against the Enemy...do therefore make & ordain this to be my last Will & Testament..."