French & Indian War/Revolutionary War Boat Caulking Iron, recovered at Lake George, NY (ON HOLD)

This is another early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 artifacts. Being offered is a rare 18^th century Caulking Iron, ca. 1740 - 1780, measuring 7 ½” x 2”. It was recovered years ago at Lake George, NY.

Caulking, a traditional method of waterproofing wooden boats for hundreds of years, involved packing seams between planks with materials like cotton, oakum (hemp soaked in pine tar), or other fibrous materials, then sealing them with a compound to prevent leaks. This process helps to create a watertight hull and also played a structural role in holding the vessel together. Extreme care was needed for this job, as heavy hands could do considerable damage.

The Battle of Lake George was fought on September 8, 1755. British forces of 1,500 soldiers and 200 Mohawk Indians under the command of William Johnson defeated a much larger allied French and Indian force of 3,500 under German General Baron Dieskau.

In June 1759, British General Jeffrey Amherst arrived in Lake George and soon proceeded to build a new fort at the lake. The site was the high ground east of the ruins of Fort William Henry, which had been destroyed by the French in 1757. There is an example of this tool in the Mariners Museum in Virginia (see pictures). Also, there are caulking irons in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic (see pictures).

It remains in very nice condition, typical of an early recovery. These caulking irons are only found in areas close to waterways. This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, and lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with any known provenance. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included.