Do you recognize this trunk?

Bowery · Nov 28, 2022

Hi all! Wondering if anyone has any information or thoughts on this wooden military trunk that I bought at a yard sale a few years ago. I'm sure you've seen many trunks, but I have never seen one this large and with fancy font.

It is a very large trunk at almost 5' long x 15" high. It has rope handles and strap hinges. Some hardware seems to be maybe forged nails? And some replaced from various periods, although I know nothing about nails, etc. The trunk seems to have been stained on the outside at some point and was maybe previously green like the inside shows.

There are markings on the front face of it. There almost seems to be an older marking and a newer one. See what you think.

There is clearly a very beautiful font of CAPT written in an arch form and it almost seems like there is a rectangle or oval underneath which maybe said something, but now there is LIUET over it - maybe newer than the previous markings? Here is what I can make out in two lines across the trunk:

LIEUT. J. F. AUSTIN
CO. A. 16 REGT. CO(or A)?RY. PA.

Pretty positive on everything except the second line where I've typed CA?RY. It is hard to make out, but it looks to be 5 letters. The abbreviation REGT is in yellow paint and so is the next word, or part of it, which is the one I can't make out.

Is there an abbreviation of "cavalry" that was used? Or would it be a location in PA? I've searched the persons name and could not find anything.

Company A, 16th Regiment? Could this be associated with the 16th Pennsylvania Calvary Regiment? I am in PA.

Thank You!

connecticut yankee · Nov 28, 2022

Capt. J. F. Austin was captain of Co. A of the 16th Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard in the year(s) 1900 and thereabouts.

See: https://www.google.com/books/editio...+j+f+austin"&pg=RA3-PA133&printsec=frontcover

Bowery · Nov 28, 2022

connecticut yankee said:
Capt. J. F. Austin was captain of Co. A of the 16th Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard in the year(s) 1900 and thereabouts.

See: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Official_Documents_Comprising_the_Depart/J2JMAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq="capt.+j+f+austin"&pg=RA3-PA133&printsec=frontcover

Thank you! Someone else just found that he was in the Spanish American War. Any thoughts on the trunk? Could it have been re-issued to Austin, and older than the SAW? Civil War time?

johan_steele · Nov 28, 2022

It's not ACW period, the fixtures are much later. Closer to 1900.

Bowery · Nov 29, 2022

johan_steele said:
It's not ACW period, the fixtures are much later. Closer to 1900.

Any thought on the size of the trunk? The font of "CAPT"?

johan_steele · Nov 29, 2022

Captain being a reference to Captain. Size could be for anything. It wasn't uncommon to repurpose crates to ship items. It's wrong for a footlocker as officers had the coin to purchase nice things. More likely a repurposed crate to ship items. As to the dimensions identifying the original contents… I'm not familiar with ammo or shipping crates from that period.

Bowery · Nov 29, 2022

johan_steele said:
Captain being a reference to Captain. Size could be for anything. It wasn't uncommon to repurpose crates to ship items. It's wrong for a footlocker as officers had the coin to purchase nice things. More likely a repurposed crate to ship items. As to the dimensions identifying the original contents… I'm not familiar with ammo or shipping crates from that period.

Okay thank you! I was wondering on the actual fancy font of CAPT or if anyone has seen a decorative font similar to that before. All the boxes I've seen have very basic forms.

R. Porter · Nov 29, 2022

A little exploration using Ancestry.com shows the following:

From a database listed as: Pennsylvania, U.S., Spanish War Compensation, 1898-1934

John F. Austin
Capt. Co. A 16th Regt. Infantry Pennsylvania Volunteers
Residence: Corry, PA
Enrolled: 04/27/98
Mustered in: 05/10/98
Mustered out: 12/28/98
Note:
IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY WAR DEPT. THAT DEC 30 1898 IS THE TRUE DATE OF MUSTER-OUT OF CO A 16TH PVI

From the Federal Census:

John F Austin

in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Detail Source Discover

Name:

John F Austin

Respondent:

Yes

Age:

76

Estimated Birth Year:

abt 1864

Gender:

Male

Race:

White

Birthplace:

New York

Marital Status:

Married

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Home in 1940:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania

Map of Home in 1940:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania

Street:

West Pheasant Street

House Number:

27

Farm:

No

Inferred Residence in 1935:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania

Residence in 1935:

Corry

Sheet Number:

1A

Number of Household in Order of Visitation:

9

House Owned or Rented:

Rented

Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented:

25.00

Attended School or College:

No

Highest Grade Completed:

Elementary school, 8th grade

Weeks Worked in 1939:

0

Income:

0

Income Other Sources:

Yes

Neighbors:

View others on page

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
John F Austin	76	Head
Jeanette Austin	76	Wife
Brinker Wm G Austin	70	Lodger

John F Austin

in the 1930 United States Federal Census

View

Detail Source Discover

Name:

John F Austin

Birth Year:

abt 1864

Gender:

Male

Race:

White

Age in 1930:

66

Birthplace:

New York

Marital Status:

Married

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Home in 1930:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

Map of Home:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania

Street Address:

West Pleasant Street

Ward of City:

4

House Number:

27

Dwelling Number:

79

Family Number:

128

Home Owned or Rented:

Owned

Home Value:

6000

Radio Set:

Yes

Lives on Farm:

No

Age at First Marriage:

22

Attended School:

No

Able to Read and Write:

Yes

Father's Birthplace:

England

Mother's Birthplace:

England

Able to Speak English:

Yes

Occupation:

Deputy Marshal

Industry:

United States

Class of Worker:

Wage or salary worker

Employment:

Yes

Veteran:

Yes

War:

Sp

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
John F Austin	66	Head
Jeanette N Austin	66	Wife
William G Brinker	59	Brother-in-law
Mary Cashman	22	Roomer
Mary Clinger	25	Roomer
Anna Drobneck	35	Roomer

John F Austin

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Detail Source Discover

Name:

John F Austin

Age:

56

Birth Year:

abt 1864

Birthplace:

New York

Home in 1920:

Corry Ward 1, Erie, Pennsylvania

Street:

W Pleasant St

House Number:

27

Residence Date:

1920

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Marital Status:

Married

Spouse's Name:

Jeanette H Austin

Father's Birthplace:

England

Mother's Birthplace:

England

Able to Speak English:

Yes

Occupation:

Commercial Traveler

Industry:

Fire Apprentice

Employment Field:

Wage or Salary

Home Owned or Rented:

Owned

Home Free or Mortgaged:

Free

Able to read:

Yes

Able to Write:

Yes

Neighbors:

View others on page

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
John F Austin	56	Head
Jeanette H Austin	56	Wife

John F Austin

in the 1910 United States Federal CensusView
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...=UtR6393&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true

Detail Source Discover

Name:

John F Austin

Age in 1910:

46

Birth Date:

1864[1864]

Birthplace:

New York

Home in 1910:

Corry Ward 4, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

Street:

West Placemont St

House Number:

27

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Marital Status:

Married

Spouse's Name:

Jeanette Austin

Father's Birthplace:

England

Mother's Birthplace:

England

Native Tongue:

English

Occupation:

Past Machinist

Industry:

City Of Condy

Employer, Employee or Other:

Employer

Home Owned or Rented:

Own

Home Free or Mortgaged:

Free

Farm or House:

House

Able to read:

Yes

Able to Write:

Yes

Years Married:

24

Out of Work:

N

Neighbors:

View others on page

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
John F Austin	46	Head
Jeanette Austin	46	Wife
Marie Austin	33	Daughter

John F Austin

in the

1900 United States Federal Census

Detail Source

Name:

John F Austin[John H Austin]

Age:

36

Birth Date:

Jun 1863

Birthplace:

New York, USA

Home in 1900:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania

Ward of City:

4

Street:

West Pleasant Street

House Number:

84

Sheet Number:

11

Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:

268

Family Number:

269

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Relation to Head of House:

Head

Marital Status:

Married

Spouse's Name:

Jeanette Austin

Marriage Year:

1896

Years Married:

4

Father's Birthplace:

England

Mother's Birthplace:

England

Occupation:

Post Master

Can Read:

Yes

Can Write:

Yes

Can Speak English:

Yes

House Owned or Rented:

Rent

Farm or House:

H

Neighbors:

View others on page

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
John F Austin	36	Head
Jeanette Austin	36	Wife
Marie Austin	12	Daughter

The 1890 U.S. Federal Census was mostly burned up in a fire.

John Austin

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

View

Detail Source

Name:

John Austin

Age:

17

Birth Date:

Abt 1863

Birthplace:

New York

Home in 1880:

Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

Street:

Ridge Street

Dwelling Number:

249

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Relation to Head of House:

Stepson (Step Son)

Marital Status:

Single

Father's Birthplace:

England

Mother's Name:

Ann Hoskins

Mother's Birthplace:

England

Occupation:

Works In Printing Office

Neighbors:

View others on page

Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
Ed. Hoskins	52	Self (Head)
Ann Hoskins	44	Wife
Walter Hoskins	14	Son
John Austin	17	Stepson (Step Son)
Annie Austin	14	Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Mary Austin	12	Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Carrie Austin	10	Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

John Austin

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Detail Source

Name:

John Austin

Age in 1870:

7

Birth Date:

abt 1863

Birthplace:

New York

Dwelling Number:

114

Home in 1870:

Corry Ward 1, Erie, Pennsylvania

Race:

White

Gender:

Male

Post Office:

Corry

Father of Foreign Birth:

Yes

Mother of Foreign Birth:

Yes

Attended School:

Yes

Inferred Father:

John Austin

Inferred Mother:

Ann Austin

Household Members (Name)	Age
John Austin	37
Ann Austin	33
James Austin	12
Sarah Austin	9
John Austin	7
Ann Austin	5
Mary Austin	3
Caroline Austin	2/12

From the Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards:

John Frederick Austin in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012

Name: John Frederick Austin
Birth Date: 29 Jun 1863
Age: 82
Death Date: 6 Dec 1945
Military Branch: Army
Veteran of Which War: Spanish-American War
Registration County: Erie
Cemetery Name: Pine Grove Cemetery
Cemetery Location: Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania

From a quick Web search :

In a report to the Adj. General of PA for 1899:

From a report to HQ 16th Regt. Infantry, Second Brigade, National Guard of PA, Oil City, PA dated Dec. 9, 1899, the writer states that the commission of John F. Austin had expired and he declined to be a candidate for re-election.

Elsewhere there is a brief listing of Austin's rise through the ranks:

In a report to the Adj. General of PA for 1903: at his request, John F. Austin was moved to the retired list on Dec. 21, 1903.

At the url:

https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...ate-for-captured-spanish-mauser-rifles-325192
There is a Bid Square listing of an item from an auction put on by Cowan's in November of 2015. The item is a Shipping Crate for Captured Spanish Mauser Rifles that has an appearance similar to the crate in question. It had an estimate of $400 to $600.

connecticut yankee · Nov 30, 2022

Bowery said:
Thank you! Someone else just found that he was in the Spanish American War. Any thoughts on the trunk? Could it have been re-issued to Austin, and older than the SAW? Civil War time?

Civil War trunks were not issued by the army. They were privately provided, i.e. an officer provided his own trunk. I think the trunk could be older than the SAW. I have seen many wooden military trunks that over time added new wood, replaced hardware, added nails and tacks, or painted on new lettering to suit the purpose. As to the trunk pictured, I especially am attracted to the lettering which suggests 1850 - 1870, as does the size and style of the box. As to hardware and how the wood is formed and put together, I don't know the time period. You very well may have a Civil War era trunk that afterward was altered in various ways to end up for use in the SAW.

Bowery · Nov 30, 2022

R. Porter said:
A little exploration using Ancestry.com shows the following:

From a database listed as: Pennsylvania, U.S., Spanish War Compensation, 1898-1934

John F. Austin
Capt. Co. A 16th Regt. Infantry Pennsylvania Volunteers
Residence: Corry, PA
Enrolled: 04/27/98
Mustered in: 05/10/98
Mustered out: 12/28/98
Note:
IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY WAR DEPT. THAT DEC 30 1898 IS THE TRUE DATE OF MUSTER-OUT OF CO A 16TH PVI

From the Federal Census:

John F Austin

in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Detail Source Discover

Name:
John F Austin
Respondent:
Yes
Age:
76
Estimated Birth Year:
abt 1864
Gender:
Male
Race:
White
Birthplace:
New York
Marital Status:
Married
Relation to Head of House:
Head
Home in 1940:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania
Map of Home in 1940:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania
Street:
West Pheasant Street
House Number:
27
Farm:
No
Inferred Residence in 1935:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania
Residence in 1935:
Corry
Sheet Number:
1A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation:
9
House Owned or Rented:
Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented:
25.00
Attended School or College:
No
Highest Grade Completed:
Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939:
0
Income:
0
Income Other Sources:
Yes
Neighbors:
View others on page

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John F Austin 76 Head
Jeanette Austin 76 Wife
Brinker Wm G Austin 70 Lodger

John F Austin

in the 1930 United States Federal Census

View

Detail Source Discover

Name:
John F Austin
Birth Year:
abt 1864
Gender:
Male
Race:
White
Age in 1930:
66
Birthplace:
New York
Marital Status:
Married
Relation to Head of House:
Head
Home in 1930:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Map of Home:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania
Street Address:
West Pleasant Street
Ward of City:
4
House Number:
27
Dwelling Number:
79
Family Number:
128
Home Owned or Rented:
Owned
Home Value:
6000
Radio Set:
Yes
Lives on Farm:
No
Age at First Marriage:
22
Attended School:
No
Able to Read and Write:
Yes
Father's Birthplace:
England
Mother's Birthplace:
England
Able to Speak English:
Yes
Occupation:
Deputy Marshal
Industry:
United States
Class of Worker:
Wage or salary worker
Employment:
Yes
Veteran:
Yes
War:
Sp

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John F Austin 66 Head
Jeanette N Austin 66 Wife
William G Brinker 59 Brother-in-law
Mary Cashman 22 Roomer
Mary Clinger 25 Roomer
Anna Drobneck 35 Roomer

John F Austin

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Detail Source Discover

Name:
John F Austin
Age:
56
Birth Year:
abt 1864
Birthplace:
New York
Home in 1920:
Corry Ward 1, Erie, Pennsylvania
Street:
W Pleasant St
House Number:
27
Residence Date:
1920
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Relation to Head of House:
Head
Marital Status:
Married
Spouse's Name:
Jeanette H Austin
Father's Birthplace:
England
Mother's Birthplace:
England
Able to Speak English:
Yes
Occupation:
Commercial Traveler
Industry:
Fire Apprentice
Employment Field:
Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:
Owned
Home Free or Mortgaged:
Free
Able to read:
Yes
Able to Write:
Yes
Neighbors:
View others on page

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John F Austin 56 Head
Jeanette H Austin 56 Wife

John F Austin

in the 1910 United States Federal CensusView
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewe...=UtR6393&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true
Detail Source Discover

Name:
John F Austin
Age in 1910:
46
Birth Date:
1864[1864]
Birthplace:
New York
Home in 1910:
Corry Ward 4, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Street:
West Placemont St
House Number:
27
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Relation to Head of House:
Head
Marital Status:
Married
Spouse's Name:
Jeanette Austin
Father's Birthplace:
England
Mother's Birthplace:
England
Native Tongue:
English
Occupation:
Past Machinist
Industry:
City Of Condy
Employer, Employee or Other:
Employer
Home Owned or Rented:
Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:
Free
Farm or House:
House
Able to read:
Yes
Able to Write:
Yes
Years Married:
24
Out of Work:
N
Neighbors:
View others on page

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John F Austin 46 Head
Jeanette Austin 46 Wife
Marie Austin 33 Daughter

John F Austin

in the

1900 United States Federal Census

Detail Source

Name:
John F Austin[John H Austin]
Age:
36
Birth Date:
Jun 1863
Birthplace:
New York, USA
Home in 1900:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania
Ward of City:
4
Street:
West Pleasant Street
House Number:
84
Sheet Number:
11
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:
268
Family Number:
269
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Relation to Head of House:
Head
Marital Status:
Married
Spouse's Name:
Jeanette Austin
Marriage Year:
1896
Years Married:
4
Father's Birthplace:
England
Mother's Birthplace:
England
Occupation:
Post Master
Can Read:
Yes
Can Write:
Yes
Can Speak English:
Yes
House Owned or Rented:
Rent
Farm or House:
H
Neighbors:
View others on page

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John F Austin 36 Head
Jeanette Austin 36 Wife
Marie Austin 12 Daughter

The 1890 U.S. Federal Census was mostly burned up in a fire.

John Austin

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

View

Detail Source

Name:
John Austin
Age:
17
Birth Date:
Abt 1863
Birthplace:
New York
Home in 1880:
Corry, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Street:
Ridge Street
Dwelling Number:
249
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Relation to Head of House:
Stepson (Step Son)
Marital Status:
Single
Father's Birthplace:
England
Mother's Name:
Ann Hoskins
Mother's Birthplace:
England
Occupation:
Works In Printing Office
Neighbors:
View others on page

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Ed. Hoskins 52 Self (Head)
Ann Hoskins 44 Wife
Walter Hoskins 14 Son
John Austin 17 Stepson (Step Son)
Annie Austin 14 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Mary Austin 12 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Carrie Austin 10 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

John Austin

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Detail Source

Name:
John Austin
Age in 1870:
7
Birth Date:
abt 1863
Birthplace:
New York
Dwelling Number:
114
Home in 1870:
Corry Ward 1, Erie, Pennsylvania
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Post Office:
Corry
Father of Foreign Birth:
Yes
Mother of Foreign Birth:
Yes
Attended School:
Yes
Inferred Father:
John Austin
Inferred Mother:
Ann Austin

Household Members (Name) Age
John Austin 37
Ann Austin 33
James Austin 12
Sarah Austin 9
John Austin 7
Ann Austin 5
Mary Austin 3
Caroline Austin 2/12

From the Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards:

John Frederick Austin in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012

Name: John Frederick Austin
Birth Date: 29 Jun 1863
Age: 82
Death Date: 6 Dec 1945
Military Branch: Army
Veteran of Which War: Spanish-American War
Registration County: Erie
Cemetery Name: Pine Grove Cemetery
Cemetery Location: Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania

From a quick Web search :

In a report to the Adj. General of PA for 1899:

From a report to HQ 16th Regt. Infantry, Second Brigade, National Guard of PA, Oil City, PA dated Dec. 9, 1899, the writer states that the commission of John F. Austin had expired and he declined to be a candidate for re-election.

Elsewhere there is a brief listing of Austin's rise through the ranks:

In a report to the Adj. General of PA for 1903: at his request, John F. Austin was moved to the retired list on Dec. 21, 1903.

At the url:

https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...ate-for-captured-spanish-mauser-rifles-325192
There is a Bid Square listing of an item from an auction put on by Cowan's in November of 2015. The item is a Shipping Crate for Captured Spanish Mauser Rifles that has an appearance similar to the crate in question. It had an estimate of $400 to $600.

View attachment 458816

View attachment 458817

Thank you for all the info! I do not have an Ancestry account. That is the only box I've seen that even comes close to what mine looks like.

Bowery · Nov 30, 2022

connecticut yankee said:
Civil War trunks were not issued by the army. They were privately provided, i.e. an officer provided his own trunk. I think the trunk could be older than the SAW. I have seen many wooden military trunks that over time added new wood, replaced hardware, added nails and tacks, or painted on new lettering to suit the purpose. As to the trunk pictured, I especially am attracted to the lettering which suggests 1850 - 1870, as does the size and style of the box. As to hardware and how the wood is formed and put together, I don't know the time period. You very well may have a Civil War era trunk that afterward was altered in various ways to end up for use in the SAW.

connecticut yankee said:

Civil War trunks were not issued by the army. They were privately provided, i.e. an officer provided his own trunk. I think the trunk could be older than the SAW. I have seen many wooden military trunks that over time added new wood, replaced hardware, added nails and tacks, or painted on new lettering to suit the purpose. As to the trunk pictured, I especially am attracted to the lettering which suggests 1850 - 1870, as does the size and style of the box. As to hardware and how the wood is formed and put together, I don't know the time period. You very well may have a Civil War era trunk that afterward was altered in various ways to end up for use in the SAW.

Click to expand...

Very interesting! Yes, I've been trying to look online for other boxes with similar writing but I haven't found anything yet. Do you mean the writing just looks of that time period or you've seen that style on boxes before?

There almost looks to be something else under the word LIEUT, like the CAPT font is separate. Any techniques out there to help better see what is written?

connecticut yankee · Nov 30, 2022

First, I think your trunk is just that---I don't think it a shipping crate. And yes, I have seen the the CAPT writing style before on flags, trunks, printed documents, etc., and it looks pre 1870 maybe even pre 1850. The LIEUT style is a different matter altogether. It is typical block lettering of late 1800s. Without a doubt the CAPT and LIEUT letterings were placed on the box years and years apart.

Your photos of the area of the lettering is not definitive enough to see, however it appears there is some kind of motiff (shield, emblem?) below CAPT. It seem to be obscured by the LIEUT lettering which overlays it. I would look very closely at this area.

Bowery · Nov 30, 2022

connecticut yankee said:
First, I think your trunk is just that---I don't think it a shipping crate. And yes, I have seen the the CAPT writing style before on flags, trunks, printed documents, etc., and it looks pre 1870 maybe even pre 1850. The LIEUT style is a different matter altogether. It is typical block lettering of late 1800s. Without a doubt the CAPT and LIEUT letterings were placed on the box years and years apart.

Your photos of the area of the lettering is not definitive enough to see, however it appears there is some kind of motiff (shield, emblem?) below CAPT. It seem to be obscured by the LIEUT lettering which overlays it. I would look very closely at this area.

The only other boxes that closely resemble mine say that are rifle shipping cases. Similar in size and style, rope handles, etc.

Yes I agree about an emblem or something being there. I will try to get some better pictures!

bobinwmass · Nov 30, 2022

I'm thinking it is a shipping crate, quite possibly for weapons, that has been repurposed as a soldiers storage trunk/foot locker. That's what I've always thought about a similar but smaller one that I have. It also at one time had a rope handle on one end. Inside, wrapped up in old newspapers was a National Lancers jacket, sword belt, vest and leggings. The pencil name identification of "C A Rachel" on the crate was written inside the collar of the jacket.

R. Porter · Dec 1, 2022

I think I've found a way for the box to date from the Civil War. If you look at the census listing for John Austin from 1870 you will see that his father was named John Austin and was born about 1833 in England. If you comb through the Civil War soldier databases at Ancestry.com you will find:

John Austin
in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

Detail Source

Name:	John Austin
Enlistment Age:	30
Birth Date:	abt 1832
Birth Place:	England
Enlistment Date:	23 Mar 1862
Enlistment Place:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Enlistment Rank:	Private
Muster Date:	23 Mar 1862
Muster Place:	Pennsylvania
Muster Company:	I
Muster Regiment:	3rd HA
Muster Regiment Type:	Artillery
Muster Information:	Enlisted
Rank Change Date:	1 Apr 1864
Rank Change Rank:	1st Sergeant
Muster Out Date:	1 Apr 1864
Muster Out Information:	Transferred
Side of War:	Union
Survived War?:	Yes
Complexion:	Light
Eye Color:	Blue
Hair Color:	Sandy
Height:	5 ft, 7 1/2 inches
Occupation:	Weaver
Additional Notes 2:	Muster 2 Date: 01 Apr 1864; Muster 2 Place: Pennsylvania; Muster 2 Unit: 2185; Muster 2 Company: F; Muster 2 Regiment: 188th Infantry; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster 2 Information: Enlisted; Rank Change 2 Date: 18 Dec 1864; Rank Change 2 Rank: First Lieutenant; MusterOut 2 Date: 04 Feb 1865; MusterOut 2 Information: disch;
Title:	History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865; PA State Archives: Civil War Veterans' Card File 1861-1865

So it would appear that the trunk could have been obtained during the Civil War because the trunk belonged to John F. Austin's father, John Austin, who achieved the rank of lieutenant in the infantry during the Civil War.

A quick check of the Web shows that in the summer of 2021 Case Auctions had a Civil War rifle crate at auction: Summer 2021 Auction – July 24 & 25 >> Lot 766: Civil War Colt Special Model 1861 Pine Packing Crate.

The construction was similar to our trunk in question. There is no hardware on the Colt crate and the holes for the rope handles do not appear to have been drilled all the way through, but the internal structure at either end to allow for the rope handles appears the same. See the url:

https://caseantiques.com/item/civil-war-colt-special-model-1861-pine-packing-crate/

Bowery · Dec 1, 2022

Thank you for that investigating! Very intriguing.
Okay, so if his dad did indeed use the trunk, yes it would be ACW time but it does say "J.F." And not just John or J. Not sure the F would have been added later based on spacing. Wonder what is dads middle name was. That's still doesn't explain the "CAPT". Trying to get more detailed pics! Thanks all!

Bowery · Dec 1, 2022

bobinwmass said:
I'm thinking it is a shipping crate, quite possibly for weapons, that has been repurposed as a soldiers storage trunk/foot locker. That's what I've always thought about a similar but smaller one that I have. It also at one time had a rope handle on one end. Inside, wrapped up in old newspapers was a National Lancers jacket, sword belt, vest and leggings. The pencil name identification of "C A Rachel" on the crate was written inside the collar of the jacket.

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Thanks for sharing!

Present Arms · Dec 8, 2022

This box appears to be a re-purposed packing box for rifle muskets, like this reproduction.

R. Porter · Dec 10, 2022

That is a great looking gun crate! And you even show how the guns were packed! Talk about workmanship, you don't find that kind of effort anymore unless you are shipping art masterpieces between museums. Thanks!

Present Arms · Dec 10, 2022

Thank you for your comment! These reproduction packing boxes are faithful to the specifications of the Ordnance Manual for Officers of 1862. The original boxes were intended to be disposable, so the hinges, removable cleats and clamps and shellac coating allow continued use and preservation. The Springfield rifle muskets have narrower stock butts than Enfields; so, even though the box is the correct length for the Pattern 53, the butt clamps must be altered for the English rifles.

Do you recognize this trunk?

Cadet

First Sergeant

Cadet

Regimental Armorer

Cadet

Regimental Armorer

Cadet

Sergeant Major

First Sergeant

Cadet

Cadet

First Sergeant

Cadet

First Sergeant

Sergeant Major

Cadet

Cadet

Private

Sergeant Major

Private

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