Revolutionary War 9-pounder solid shot cannonball from a British shipwreck at Lake Champlain, NY

This is another nice early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of Revolutionary War/French & Indian War artillery. Being offered is a 9-pounder solid shot cannonball. It has a 4” diameter and weighs 8 pounds, 12 ounces. During the war, 9-pounders were used by all sides (see pictures). It was recovered many years ago from a British shipwreck at Lake Champlain, New York.

Between 1664 and 1763, the Champlain Valley witnessed a continuous struggle between the French and British Empires for control of Lake Champlain and its tributaries. These water routes were strategic highways that provided access into the interior of the Northeast in a period when the only viable means of transportation over rugged land was by water.

Expeditions and forts were continually raised in defense of rival claims of the Champlain Valley and its waterways. Armies and war parties transported themselves on Lake Champlain in fleets of canoes, bateaux, radeaux, row galleys, schooners, and sloops – the remains of many of these vessels now remain on the lake’s bottom.

This cannonball is in nice condition, it has a little roughness, but solid and no chipping or flaking, indicative of an early recovery. This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, and from lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance. Many of the pieces went through electrolysis to remove crusted rust.

This is the first time this cannonball has been on the open market, and it is truly a great piece of early American History. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included.