John Williams, Sr. (NC, 1817-1890), Ruddy Duck

Knotts Island, North Carolina, circa 1870, carved and painted wood.
Length 11 in.
Known as Captain John, he was one of the first waterfowl market hunters in the Currituck Sound area. He established his fishing and hunting camp in the mid 1880s on Mary Island which is situated just southeast of Monkey Island. According to Roy White, great grandson to Captain John Williams, Sr, he credits him to making some large humped back swans. They could have been the model that was used by his son John Williams, Jr. to make his famous and iconic swan decoys.
Collected from the Gilmore family on the easter shore of Virginia. Mr. Andresen also bought a Lee Dudley widgeon and a Pat O'Neal canvasback from the family via auction.
From the Personal Collection of Mr. Kroghie Andresen, Charlotte, North Carolina
Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Old gunning paint chipped down to this existing surface, age check on bottom, two tight age checks down back, bill blunted, hit by shot.