This small group of items belonged to Lieutenant John A. Kenrick of the 44th Massachusetts Infantry.

The first item in the group is a martially marked Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword made by Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts. The blade is clean and bright with only small amounts of light mottling. The true edge is perfect with no nicks. The etching on the blade is not frosty but it is very visible. One side begins just above the ricasso with a scrollwork design that leads to crossed cannons and horns with a US shield superimposed over them with a flag rising from the center. Above this is a spread-winged eagle with the wings swept upward followed by some more scrollwork. The opposite side also begins just above the ricasso with a scrollwork design that leads to a U.S. above which are crossed spears wrapped in a riband surmounted by more scroll design. One side of the ricasso is etched with “AMES MFG CO. CHICOPEE, MASS.” Below this is an inspector’s stamp of “J.H.” Still present at the base of the ricasso is the original leather washer.

The hilt has a sharkskin covered grip with 15 courses of single strand twisted wire. The sire is complete and tight. The top of the grip has the typical Phrygian pommel cap and single knuckle bow that widens into a counterguard decorated with the usual scrollwork design and curled quillion.

The leather scabbard is in very good to excellent condition with only some light scattered surface creases consistent with age and use. Both mounts and rings are present as is the brass drag. The brass on the scabbard matches the brass on the hilt in age and patina. There is no decoration on the mounts or the drag. The top mount is very nicely engraved “PRESENTED BY G. H. JONES TO LIEUT. J. A. KENRICK JR CO. B. 44TH REGT. MASS. VOLS.”

The next piece in the group is Kenrick’s 18th Corps badge. At top is a coat sized button with the number “44” on a lined field inside an oak leaf wreath. The reverse of the button still has the original “T” bar pin. Suspended from this button is a sky-blue silk ribbon that meas. approx. 0.75 of an inch wide x 1.50 inches long. On the face of the ribbon is the crest of the state of Massachusetts done in gold. Attached to the bottom of the ribbon is a sliver 18th Corps badge with a red diamond. At center of the diamond is a Company letter “B.” Engraved on the back of the silver badge is “JOHN A. KENRICK.” The badge is in excellent condition.

John A. Kendrick was born in Newton, Massachusetts about 1840. He was working as a bookkeeper when he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company B, 44th Massachusetts Volunteers on August 27, 1862 and was mustered in the following September 12th. As evidenced by the date on the sword it was presented to him the day he was commissioned. It is believed that the presenter of the sword, G. H. Jones, was somehow related to Kenrick’s future wife whose name was Sarah Jones. We know it was not Sarah’s father as is name was Peter. It may have been an uncle or someone else in her family.

Kenrick was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on October 10, 1862 and went with his regiment to North Carolina. While there the regiment saw action at Rawle’s Mill, Kinston, Whitehall and Washington suffering 42 casualties and losing 29 men by disease. Kenrick was mustered out on June 18, 1863. He married Sarah Jones in 1866, worked as the Newton City Treasurer and served as Captain of the 5th Massachusetts Militia in the 1870’s. He died of heart disease on March 10, 1896.

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