Lot 1185

Thomas H. Seymour's Mexican-American War Presentation Sword

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Thomas H. Seymour's Mexican-American War Presentation Sword

Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Starting Bid: $11,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Historic Mexican-American War Engraved Silver and Gold Deluxe N. P. Ames Knight's Head Pommel Officer's Sword with Gilt Scabbard Presentation Inscribed to Major Thomas H. Seymour of the U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment, "Hero of Chapultepec" and Later Governor of Connecticut, by the Citizens of Hartford in May 1847 This extravagant presentation sword was presented to Hartford, Connecticut, native son Thomas Hart Seymour (1807-1868) by his fellow citizens in May of 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The Seymour family had deep ties in Hartford and multiple generations of military service. His grandfather Thomas Seymour (1735-1829) was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War and Hartford's first mayor. His uncle founded the Governor's Horse Guards, and his father, Major Henry Seymour (1764-1846), served as their commander. Seymour attended the Middleton Military Academy, graduating in 1829, and then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833. After three years practicing law in Hartford, he became a probate judge. He also worked as the editor of the Jeffersonian and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1843-1845. With the outbreak of war with Mexico in 1846, Seymour volunteered and was commissioned as a major in the Connecticut state infantry on March 16 before being commissioned as a major in the 9th U.S. Infantry on April 9, 1847. He earned distinction at the Battle of Chapultepec on September 12-14, 1847, leading his men after their regimental commander was killed in the bloody uphill assault on Chapultepec Castle defending Mexico City. Seymour was one of the first American's to breach the walls and was reported to have struck down the Mexican flag with his sword. In response, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 12th Infantry on August 12, 1847, and then given a brevet to colonel for his "gallant and meritorious conduct at Chapultepec, Mexico." He returned home as “the Hero of Chapultepec.” After an initial unsuccessful run for governor as a the Democratic candidate in 1849, his famed leadership in battle propelled him to office from May 4, 1850, to October 13, 1853. While governor, he notably appointed Samuel Colt as a lieutenant colonel and aide-de-camp in the state militia, allowing Colt to go by Colonel Colt, aiding him in his pursuit of military contracts. Afterwards, Seymour became the U.S. Minister to Russia during the Pierce administration. He later ran for governor and president unsuccessfully. He died from typhoid in Hartford on September 3, 1868, and was interned at Cedar Hill Cemetery not far from Samuel Colt's grave. The sword is designed to N. P. Ames's recommendations for presentation swords: "straight blade with a cross hilt" and a "cost not less than $150." It is an Ames Militia Staff Cruciform pattern sword. The historical presentation inscription is found on the gilt scabbard between the suspension bands: "Presented/as a TOKEN of ESTEEM to MAJOR THOMAS H./SEYMOUR 9th, REGIMENT INFANTRY/U.S. ARMY. By CITIZENS of HARTFORD/CONN. MAY 1847". The scabbard also features scroll and classical martial trophy engraving motifs, oak leaves and acorns at the drag, and "N. P. AMES/Cabotville/MASS" inscribed on the reverse. The 31 1/4 inch straight blade has a central fuller, fine etching including scroll and martial motifs, a patriotic bald eagle with an "E PLURIBUS UNUM" inscribed banner on the left, liberty cap and "N. P. Ames/Cutler/Springfield" on the right, and frosted backgrounds. The cruciform German silver hilt is finished in silver with gilt highlights in the crossguard, pearl and silver grip with engraved straps including an eagle on the right, a double gilt chain knuckle guard, and a knight's helm pommel with a spread wing eagle perched on its crest. The sword is accompanied by a research binder with information about the sword and Seymour and is listed on page 126 of "The Ames Sword Company 1829-1935" as one of the Mexican War presentation swords made by Ames and is listed as purchased by James T. Pratt. Pratt was a former Connecticut general, Hartford mayor in 1826-1829, and the state adjutant general in 1846 and was serving as a representative in the state house in 1847. Like Seymour, he was a Democrat. In an included letter to Greg Lampe, American sword authority John H. Thillman notes "Mexican War presentations are very rarely seen on the collectors market - in perhaps a ratio of one to every hundred or more Civil War presentations found today. The sword was purchased from N. P. Ames in April of 1847 according to original presentation records in Springfield for a then princely sum of $150."

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

Class: Other

  • Provenance: The Richard Johnson Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection
  • Condition: Extremely fine overall. The exceptional blade is mostly bright with distinct etching and frosted backgrounds, light staining, and generally minimal age and storage related wear. The hilt has strong original gilt finish in the protected areas, attractive dark aged patina on the silver, attractive iridescence to the pearl panels which have some slight flakes and cracks, a small piece of the lower silver strap absent, and crisp engraving and designs. The scabbard has a crisp inscription and distinct designs, some bright original gilt finish remaining in the protected areas, attractively aged patina on the balance, lighter aged patina on the mounts, and generally light age and storage related wear including some small dings and scratches. Overall, a incredible sword that belonged to a key American hero during the Mexican-American War and the governor of Connecticut during Samuel Colt's meteoric rise in the early 1850s.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000