This wonderful American Revolutionary War officer's hanger/short saber was purchased at an estate sale, in conjunction with the pay voucher for Captain Silvanus Brown. There were other Revolutionary War Brown family effects at the sale.
Sword bears the marks of two famous natives of Birmingham, sword-maker Samuel Harvey and silversmith Benjamin May.
Hilt consists of hallmarked sterling silver re-curved guard, shaped-to-hand ebony grip, entwined with silver wire, and a sterling silver pommel cap. Blade is 66 cm / 26" long, in the Montmorency style.
Hilt is marked with Benjamin May's cartouche, Birmingham date letter L in the shield, dating it precisely to 1782-1783, Birmingham town assay mark in the shape of an anchor, and the Lion's passant quardant, certifying the silver's quality.
The pay voucher from the State of Connecticut to Captain Silvanus Brown for £30 is dated March 31st, 1783, same year as the silver mark on the hilt.
Captain Silvanus [also spelled Sylvanus in several historical sources] Brown served during the American Revolutionary War with the artillery of the 8th Connecticut Regiment, which was raised on September 16, 1776 in Danbury, Connecticut. On January 1st 1781 the regiment was merged into the 1st Connecticut Regiment at West Point, New York, re-designated the 5th Connecticut Regiment, and disbanded on November 15, 1783.
The 8th Connecticut Regiment took part in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, the New York Campaign and the Battle of Monmouth.
I am certain that more comprehensive research can [and ought to] be done on Captain Brown, but I will leave it to this historic sword's new owner.
