Conner Collection

We have been collecting for over 100 years combined time in my family, purchasing many of our items from the most reputable sources including London, New York and New England Auction houses as well as leading dealers such as Flayderman, Summers, Bannerman and Ables. The majority of purchases were made in the 1920's - 70's when good things were still available on a regular basis. We have sold over 1000 items (400 of them being antique arms) and are now in the cleanup stages of selling the remainder of this old collection.

Shown are just a few items that came from this collection and have been offered for sale or trade over the years. The family has asked that a few items be displayed, to answer questions of what happened to this well known collection now belonging to others. The remaining pieces are being prepared for a "loan program" to travel different museums across North America.

Archaeology
Information about archaeological excavations done by a field school in the Lake George area. Included are pictures and some information about forts and other locations in the area.

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"Once the interest in collecting is gone so is the collection". Buck

"Going" "Going" "GONE" SOLD

Finished sales on personal collections, wares and household goods:
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mid 1700's to 1870's:
12 hand sewn quilts.
124 knitted & crocheted articles.
24 cast iron pots, pans, braziers, kettles.
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1800 to 1865:
4 original shirts, (2) coats and a vest.
1 pr of gentleman's shoes, (3) prs of ladies shoes.
61 pieces of costume jewelry.
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early 1700's to 1890's shoulder and hand held firearms and acc.:
Of 400 antique arms sold to date, 167 of then would have fit into this area, the rest were a few years later Spanish American War to WWII.
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17 flintlocks rifles, smooth bores.
4 flintlock side by side shotguns
9 flintlock pistols.
79 perc. rifles, smooth bores.
13 perc. shotguns.
27 revolvers.
18 muskets and breech loaders.
31 powder flasks.
a wheel barrow of parts, pointed weapons and misc. little things.
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The sad part is after a while no matter what one collects it becomes a problem for floor space, insurance and maintance to keep things in good condition and slow down the aging process. For example I would come home from work every night (weekends included) and clean one gun, the task never ended. The yard goods had to be checked on a regular schedule and so on. That's when we tried to get the daughter involved, she wasn't interested at all after growing up around a 1400 s.f. basement and 2500 s.f house packed full with items mentioned along with antique chairs, tables, chests, etc. I'm starting to think we are freekin' pack rats. That's when I decided to start cleaning out as soon as I retired from the real world in 2001, its taken till now to regain back my basement and get down to what we use or like, never realized what a nice floor the basement had.

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The French and Indian Wars Collection.

1755 - The French and Indian War
This site is dedicated to the French soldiers who came to New France to fight the British. The author of this page has provided a list of French regulars who fought in the war, and this information is to be used in a book that the author is currently working on.

THIS FOUR PIECE GROUPING OF DUG EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD TAVERN PIPES WHICH ALSO BECAME KNOWN AS TRADE PIPES CIRCA 1600 & 1700's ORIGINALLY BROUGHT BY THE DUTCH THEN MADE AND SOLD TO THE BRITISH AND COLONISTS SOON WERE USED BY THE BRITISH TO TRADE WITH THE LOCAL INDIANS FOR FOOD, SKINS, GUIDES, ETC.

THESE PIPES WERE FOUND AT OLD FORT LOUDOUN, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1923 BY L. N. CONNER, JR. WHILE CLEARING A SECTION OF GROUND NEXT ONE OF THE BATTLE FIELD ENCAMPMENTS ON THE FAMILY FARM.

[ Conner collection ]

Fort Loudoun, Pennsylvania A French and Indian War fort located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The site has an interesting history of the fort, along with information about facilities at the fort and the local area.

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The American Revolution Collection.

1777 - The American Revolution - Philadelphia Campaign
This site is dedicated to the French soldiers who came to New France to fight the British. The author of this page has provided a list of French regulars who fought in the war, and this information is to be used in a book that the author is currently working on.

[ Conner collection ]

ASSORTED EARLY COLONIAL BUTTONS WITH SHANKS SHOWING NATURAL AGED PATINA THESE STYLE BUTTONS ACTUALLY DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S THROUGH THE 1770's FRENCH & INDIAN WARS ERA AND WERE WORN FOR MANY YEARS BY THE AMERICANS AND LOYALISTS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD DUG ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES WITH THE LAND OWNERS PERMISSION NEAR FORT LIGONIER, PENNSYLVANIA. SIMILAR TYPES AND STYLE BUTTONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEUMANN'S COLLECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND OTHER COLONIAL ERA REFERENCE BOOKS............

Paoli Massacre Bloody bayonets in a midnight raid "Mad" Anthony Wayne, assigned to attack the rear guard of the British army, is himself surprised in a "dirty" early morning raid.

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The War of 1812 Collection.

War of 1812

The major battles and causes of the War of 1812 ... The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States.

AN EARLY FOLDING KNIFE SHOWING NATURAL AGED PATINA THIS STYLE OF KNIFE ACTUALLY DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S THROUGH THE 1850's.

An example of what can happen when swapping and trading some of these items, we had one is marked incorrectly - Tony Seo contacted us with the correct information as he had sold this knife and we traded for it. Read on:

Buck,

This knife was purchased by me at the Madison Bouchville NY Antiques show back in Aug of 2003. The dealer if I remember correctly was from New York. But in any case, I made NO claims about where it came from originally. If my records are right, I sold that knife back in Oct 2003.

Tony

[ Tony Seo photo. ]

The Battle of Baltimore - Fort McHenry Early September, shortly after their success in Washington, Britain decided to follow up with an attack on Baltimore. This city was an attractive target not only because it was a large commercial center and an important base for privateers but also because it was such a hotbed of Anglophobia.

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The American Civil War Collection.

Civil War PA

From the Gettysburg Battlefield, to the Pennsylvania Civil War Discovery Trail, to Camp William Penn, historical experiences will captivate everyone in your family.

[ Tony Seo photo. ]

AN EARLY FLAT PRIMING OR SALT HORN WITH BRASS SHANKS SHOWING NATURAL AGED PATINA. THIS STYLE ACTUALLY DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S THROUGH THE 1870's ERA.

Here's another example of what can happen when swapping and trading some of these items, we had this marked wrong - Tony Seo contacted us with the correct information as he had sold this horn and we traded for it. Read on:

Buck,

This horn came from the flea market in Leesport PA (which is a few miles north of Reading PA in Berks County), I want to say spring of 2003. I had it out for sale at a number events where I sutler at (selling old tools and original items) and sold it off of Ebay Dec 26 of 2004. I don't have the original listing but you can be darn sure I didn't make no claims about no fort. I do remember mentioning that the base plug had been recently stained.

Tony

CHECK TONY'S PLACE OUT

Olde River Hard Goods - 350 West Catawissa Street, Nesquehoning, PA. 18240.

570-669-9421

The best old tool store in Pennsylvania! http://www.oldetoolshop.com

Camp William Penn Camp William Penn was established just north of Philadelphia, becoming the first recruitment and training center for black soldiers operated by the U.S. Government. The camp was recognized for its vital importance to the Union's war effort and unique mission.

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The American Fur Trade Collection.

Mountain Men and the Fur Trade

About history of the fur trade in the Rocky Mountain West from 1800 to 1850. Intends to become a text collection of historical source materials about the trade.

Trade Token

On May 2, 1670, a Royal Charter was granted by Charles II to the "Company of Adventurers From England Trading into the Hudson's Bay" (The Hudson's Bay Company). By 1685, ports or forts were established at Rupert River, Moose Factory, Port Albany (later in 1708/09 - Albany Factory), and Port Nelson (later in 1690 - York Factory). The trade carried on at these forts seriously affected French trade to the south. Colonization was not conducted by England during this period of time; however, the Hudson's Bay Company needed a large number of employees. These employees came to the new world as indentured servants of the company. The men were brought to the new world for 7 to 9 years; coming mainly from Ireland and Scotland (specifically the Orkney Islands). The Cree women of the cohabitated with these men and created what historically was known as the "Half-breeds".....

[ Conner collection ]

Bent's Old Fort William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, built the original fort on this site in 1833 to trade with plains Indians and trappers. The adobe fort quickly became the center of the Bent, St.Vrain Company's expanding trade empire that included Fort St.Vrain to the north and Fort Adobe to the south, along with company stores in Mexico at Taos and Santa Fe. The primary trade was with the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians for buffalo robes.

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American Westward Movement Collection.

Westward Movement: 1775-1883 The movement westward by the settlers was a very hard and trying experience. The trips were painfully long and very grueling. The days were hot, the food was limited, and the diseases were running wild. ...

[ Conner collection ]

AN EARLY AXE WITH REPLACEMENT HANDLE SHOWING NATURAL AGED PATINA ON THE IRON DUG ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES WITH THE LAND OWNERS PERMISSION NEAR ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING. SIMILAR TYPES AND STYLES OF CHOPPING TOOLS CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEUMANN'S COLLECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA, THE AMERICAN WESTERN MOVEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA AND OTHER COLONIAL ERA REFERENCE BOOKS............

The Oregon Trail, basic information, historic sites, odd facts, and other available material from a variety of sources about the Oregon Trail, the way West for many pioneers of the 1800's.

*	_________________ *NOTE* **Items shown on the "Conner Collection" pages have been SOLD and have been transferred to museum and personal collections across N. America.** _________________