Original U.S. Revolutionary War Era Named & Scrimshawed Rum Horn with Map of Lake Champlain & Fort George Region of New York - L.B. Jessup - Dated 1788

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendously unique rum horn scrimshawed and inscribed by L.B. Jessup at Lake George, New York in 1788. The Jessup family moved in the 1760s from Dutchess County, NY to Albany, and engaged in land speculation in the Hudson River Valley and Lake George area. Due to this connection with the map, we are certain that the horn was inscribed by a member of this Jessup family.

The horn measures roughly 12” long and 3½” wide, a very large example. It retains its original thin leather carrying strap, held on two lead rings. The original wooden “cork” is still retained as well, measuring 1⅞” and showing an extreme difference in wear on the top and bottom.

The horn is inscribed with a map denoting locations such as Lake “Champlin” (Champlain), Lake George, Fort George, Ticonderoga, Crown Point. There is a gorgeous engraving of a deer and a fish, the fish having great scale detailing. Both ends of the horn are etched with a pattern, one being a wave-like pattern and the other being cross-hatching. Interestingly, in the name & location inscription, he misspells Lake George as Lake Gorge. The spelling and grammatical errors are entirely correct for a piece etched in 1788. The patina of the horn is outstanding and is truly a “one-looker”.

Edward Jessup served with the New York Militia during the French & Indian War, fighting in the Battle of Ticonderoga. During the Revolutionary War, he served with other loyalists in the area in Sir John Johnson’s regiment, later commanding a new provincial regiment known as the “Loyal Rangers”, or Jessup’s Rangers, which maintained garrisons in southern Quebec and occasionally took part in raids into New York State.

This is a fantastic scrimshawed rum horn inscribed to a very famous family in 18th Century New York. There is much more research to be done, but there is some printed material included about the family. We did speculate that the inscription could actually be L.R. Jessup, for Loyal Rangers Jessup, but this is unlikely. Comes ready for further research and display.