(Proper left side, rear edge:) Sherry Fry/Sculptor (Base, west side:) THOMAS ABBEY/BORN APRIL 11, 1731 DIED JUNE 3, 1811/A SOLDIER IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS./TOOK PART IN THE CAPTURE OF FORT TICONDE-/ROGA, 1758, AND THE CONQUEST OF CANADA, 1761./CORPORAL FIRST REGIMENT, CONNECTUCUT/TROOPS, MAY 25 TO NOVEMBER 22, 1758. LIEUTEN-/ANT IN CAPTAIN SETH KING'S COMPANY, APRIL 1/TO DECEMBET 1, 1761./ACCORDING TO TRADITION, AT THE LEXINGTON/ALARM IN APRIL, 1775, DRUMMED THE CONGREGA-/TION OUT OF THE MEETING HOUSE, WHICH STOOD/NEAR THIS SPOT, MARCHED TO THE RELIEF OF/BOSTON WITH THE ENFIELD COMPANY, LED BY/MAJOR NATHANIEL TERRY AND CAPTAIN JOHN/SIMONS, JR., LIEUTENANT IN CAPTAIN HEZEKIAH/PARSON'S COMPANY, 1775/MAY 9, 1776
APPOINTED BY THE GENERAL AS-/SEMBLY OF CONNECTICUT FIRST LIEUTENANT IN/CAPTAIN ABEL PEASE'S COMPANY. SERVED UNDER GENERAL GATES AT TICONDEROGA AND VICINITY./JUNE TO NOVEMBER, 1776. ADJUTANT CHESTER'S/CONNECTUCUT STATE REGIMENT, JUNE TO DECEM-/BER 1776. COMMISSIONED CAPTAIN JANUARY 1, 1777. APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY/FEBRUARY 1, 1777, TO COLONEL SAMUEL WYLLYS'S/REGIMENT IN NEW YORK, HELD THIS COMMAND/UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 1778./THE MEETING HOUSE WHICH STOOD HERE IS/NOW THE TOWN HALL. IT WAS BUILT IN 1775 BY ISSAC KIBBE AND SUCCEEDED THE CHURCH WHICH/STOOD ON THE GREEN ONE-THIRD MILE TO THE SOUTH. THERE, JULY 8, 1741, JONATHAN EDWARDS/PREACHED THE FAMOUS SERMON, "SINNERS IN/THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD." signed
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
Standing figure of Thomas Abbey dressed in 18th century clothing, consisting of knee breeches, buckled shoes and an ankle length cloak. The figure holds the cloak in his proper left hand. His proper right arm is by his side holding a sheaf of rolled papers. His proper left foot is slightly forward. There is a drum behind him draped with the cloak. The figure stands on a plinth which is approximately 40 in. square. At the bottom of the base is a wide step that contains inscriptions on the top. The sculpture is surrounded by four curved benches which are made from the same stone. They are inscribed with information about the life and lineage of John Abbey, ancestor of Thomas.
