F&I War – Revolutionary War Pistol – Capt Conway

F&I War – Revolutionary War Pistol

Early flintlock pistol attributed to being made by a German gunsmith that had migrated in the early 18th century to Virginia. This fine pistol was carried by Captain Francis Conway, III, of King George County, Virginia during the Revolutionary War.

This pistol is a beautiful example of and mid 18th century flintlock pistol that was given to Francis III by his father Francis Conway, Sr who died in 1773. Francis, Sr left Francis, III his 843 acres estate and his possession including this flintlock pistol, in 1773. The estate was known as Mount Sion and is located in Caroline County, Virginia.

This was made as a belt pistol and features a grotesque mask, engraved pommel, and a pierced brass sideplate. It has an original forged iron flat lock plate with filed bevel edges that has never been converted. The hardware is European brass. The American walnut stock has a thumb plate that is pierced and engraved. There is wonderful raised carving around the tang, the lock mortise, trigger guard, and from the rear ramrod pipe to the end of the fore end.

The barrel is filed with facets to round and is 10 ½” long. The overall length is 18”. There are no barrel marking or lock markings supporting the gunsmith attribution to an American gunsmith that migrated to America in the early 18th century probably from the Swiss-German region given the pistol Germanic influence.  65 Caliber

The condition is very good with gray patina throughout. There is a period repair around the fore end. Overall it is a pleasing mid 18th century flintlock pistol attributed to an American gunsmith and carried by a Revolutionary War officer that saw service throughout the American War for Independence.

About Captain Francis Conway, III

After the death of his father Francis Conway, Sr, Francis III inherited Mount Sion in Caroline County,  VA and land at Port Conway in  King George County, VA. He lived in the county of King George & was appointed a captain and commanded a minute company in the year 1775.

Captain Conway was in service & commanding a company in the years 1775 through 1781 as Captain of the Third Battalion of Minutemen of the King George County Militia. He replaced Captain John Taliaferro as company commander in 1775. His company served throughout the campaigns in Virginia and was at the Siege of Yorktown from 28 Sep – 19 Oct 1781.

After the Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown Captain Francis Conway returned to King George County, Virginia. In 1783, he founded Port Conway on the Rappahannock River.

Provenance:

Conway Family, King George, Virginia

Robert Roughton, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Rock Island Auctions, 819 42nd Street West, Rock Island, Illinois

Ancestry Guns, LLC, 2615 S Providence Rd, Columbia, Missouri

Gordon Barlow, Swoope, Virginia