Artifact of the Month

Step into history with Rutherfurd Hall’s Artifact of the Month — a special feature highlighting a unique piece from our collection. Each month, we showcase an artifact that tells a story of the Rutherfurd family, the estate, or the broader historical landscape of Allamuchy and beyond.

Through detailed descriptions, expert insights, and captivating images, we bring history to life — one artifact at a time. Discover how everyday objects, rare heirlooms, and forgotten treasures connect us to the past and enrich our understanding of the present.

ARTIFACT SPOTLIGHT APRIL 2026

Plate 256, British Navy 1704-1714

Series Military Uniforms of America,

Copyright 1964 by Company of Military Historians

This print, depicting the flogging of a sailor in the British Navy, illustrates the corporal punishment which was regularly used by both the Royal Navy and Army. Later in the century, as the American colonies moved toward armed conflict with Great Britain, the American rebels referred to British sailors as “lobsterbacks” for the bloody condition of their backs after such a floggin.