F&I War / Revolutionary War Pistol

F&I War / Revolutionary War Pistol

Beautiful F&I War / Revolutionary War flintlock pistol attributed to being made by an American gunsmith (ca. 1740). The barrel and hardware are hand forged and filed of iron, and retains a pleasing untouched dark patina. Large approximately .78 caliber. They forged lock is marked inside with a Liege makers mark.

This pistol has original flintlock with all original parts. There is wonderful relief carving around the tang, lock, and side plate.  The barrel is 11 1/8” and is octagon at the breech and round at the muzzle with a brass front sight. Interesting iron band around the stock at the muzzle. The stock is pin fastened.

The overall length is 18 ½”. Interesting that it was made without provision for a ramrod which is an American feature found on pistols intend for military / frontier use. This feature was favored for quick use on the frontier and in battle so as not to be incumbered by a ramrod when holstering or placing in a belt. Ramrods were carried in hunting pouches with the round balls. Lock works well, No makers or proof marks on the barrel. This delightful flintlock pistol, attributed to being made by an American gunsmith, was carried by Captain Samuel Hawes, I, in the F&I War, and by his son, Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hawes, II (often referred to as Jr.) in the Revolutionary War.

Hawes, I lived in eastern Caroline County until he built “Woodpecker Plantation” in 1750, which was became his home. Hawes I and II lived at “Woodpecker Plantation” in Caroline County which was located near Woodford, Virginia. A road branching off from the old State Road just north of the town limits of Bowling Green, and leading to Paige, is remembered as ‘Hawes Lane’, in honor of this important Caroline County family.

Woodpecker Plantation was built by Samuel Hawes I in 1750 and was willed to his son Samuel Hawes II. Hawes II live at Woodpecker until he died and willed Woodpecker   to his daughter, Anne, who married Colonel John Washington and the plantation passed into the Washington family. Colonel John Washington was a nephew of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Captain Samuel Hawes, I

Samuel Hawes, I (bef. 1696 – 1769)

Born before 1696 in Gloucester, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Died before 15 Sep 1769 at about age 73 in Caroline County, Colony of Virginia

Samuel Hawes, I was the son of Thomas and Anne Hawes of Northampton Colony, Virginia.  Around 1717, he married Elizabeth (Spencer) Hawes (abt. 1697 – 1753) and moved to Essex County, Virginia.

Samuel Hawes and wife lived in the part of Essex County which was cut off into Caroline County, VA and appears many times in court order books in Caroline. Based on road orders, estate inventory orders, etc., which appeared in Caroline County court order books, he lived in the southeast corner of Caroline County near the Essex county line.

Little is known about the military history of Samuel Hawes, I, except that his family states that he was a Captain with Colonel William Byrds, Virginia Regiment at the Red-Stone Meeting Place (Fort), in western Pennsylvania during the F&I War.

Anne Hawes Hambrick Uzmed, was a descendant of Captain Samuel Hawes, I and caretaker of this pistol. According to Anne, Captain Samuel Hawes, I, carried it during the F&I War and gave the pistol to his son Samuel Hawes, II, at this death in 1769. Hawes II who carried this pistol during his service in the Revolutionary War.

Lieutenant-Colo Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hawes, II (1754 – 1788)

Lt. Col. Samuel Hawes, II, of Woodpecker Plantation, Caroline Co., Virginia

b.1 Feb 1727 Caroline County, Virginia

d.1 Apr 1794 Caroline County, Virginia

Samuel Hawes, II, of Caroline County, Virginia was a distinguished officer of the American Revolution.  He was commissioned captain in the 2nd Regiment of the Virginia Continental Line in February 1776. In October 1777 he was promoted to major and transferred to the 10th Virginia.

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March, 1778.

Samuel Hawes, II served in the Revolutionary War as Captain 2d Virginia, 19th February, 1776; Major 10th Virginia 4th October, 1777; Lieutenant Colonel, 1st March, 1778; regiment designated 6th Virginia 14th September,1778; transferred to 5th Virginia, 1st January, 1781, and served until 15th November, 1783 when he resigned his commission.

He was, also, a Field Officers at Valley Forge were Colonel John Green, Colonel Edward Stevens, and Lt. Colonel Lewis Willis.

Lieutenant-Colo Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hawes, II (1754 – 1788)

Lt. Colonel Hawes commanded the 5th Virginia on General Greene’s third line at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in March 1781, and at the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill in April.

He returned to his home in Virginia and was elected to four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates before passing away at age 34, on September 29, 1788.

There is preserved in the State Papers of Virginia the Samuel Hawes, II discharge or certificate of service, with a large red wax seal attached, of which the following is a copy: “I do certify that Sam’l Hawes was appointed an officer in the 2nd Virginia Continental Regiment in the winter of 1775-’76, and continued in service till the close of the war at which time he ranked as lieutenant-Colonel.” Given under my hand this 27th of June 1788.

Samuel Hawes, II., was a members and clerk of the Caroline Committee of Safety in 1774-1775. .

Samuel Hawes II, or Samuel Hawes, Jr., as he is called in the records, represented Caroline County in the Virginia House of Delegates in the year 1784-5, 1785-6, 1786-7 and 1787-8.

Great flintlock pistol.