Cane

Date1881

MediumWood, silver alloy

DimensionsOverall: 34in. (86.4cm)

Credit LineGift of the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-258

DescriptionA walking sticking made from Oak taken from the HMS Charon, dredged from the York River when preparing from the centennial in 1881. The stick is missing its end point. The head is cast white metal with floral designs and inscribed on the top “E.W.P from T.S.P; Charon; Yorktown 1781” and the side is marked “E. W. Peck to John H. F. Peck June 26th, 1905.”Label TextThis walking stick was probably made from the keelson of the HMS Charon that were accidentally dredged out of the York River in 1881 to clear an approach for larger vessels for the centennial celebration. The HMS Charon was burned to the water line by Franco-American forces during the siege of Yorktown in 1781.Inscription(s)Engraved on the top “E.W.P from T.S.P; Charon; Yorktown 1781” and the side is engraved “E. W. Peck to John H. F. Peck June 26th, 1905.”Provenance? -1968, Eleanor Hatch (Lyndhurst or Roanoke, VA); 1968, given to The Valentine Museum (Richmond, VA); 2023, given to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)