American Gig

The gig is a one-horse, two-wheeled vehicle characterized by its light construction and capacity for rapid motion, as its reduced weight required less exertion from the horse in draft. The etymology of the term is unknown, although it was a well established term in carriage nomenclature by the 18th century.
This 18th century American gig resembles a sophisticated riding chair, a type of single passenger vehicle favored by men. The seat, trimmed in blue wool edged in blue, red and white broad lace and narrow seaming lace, has a square back and padded arm rests. It is suspended by thoroughbraces mounted on a fluted, curved and bent transom mounted on cantilevered wood supports. The dash is leather with silverplated handles. The step plate is mounted well in front of the body. The axles are wooden and turned. The gear, or under carriage, is painted a bright yellow striped in black. The seat is black and has an ogee back with scrolled terminations. There is a storage compartment, or "boot," rear of the seat which can be opened by a silver-plated knob. The floor is covered with a black oil cloth with a white cross pattern in the field and edged in a white Greek key pattern.

This vehicle originally belonged to the Brinckerhoff family of Chittenango, New York.

The History of the so-called "Lafayette Gig":
The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire acquired at some time prior to 1919 a Gig which has been known throughout the years as the so-called "Lafayette Gig". This Gig was turned over to the Society by Daniel Gilman, at one time Vice President, who received it from Mr. J. S. Poyen of Amesbury, MA. The gig was probably bought by one Frank Denison of Syracuse, NY about 1886 at the sale of the effects of the Brinckerhoff family of Chittenango, NY (near Syracuse). Here Mr. C . C. Bradley was in the farm machinery business, also in the carriage business, and is said to have obtained the Gig from Mr. Denison. At the close of the Bradley business (about 1889) the Gig was given to Mr. J. S. Pyen of Amesbury, MA. A letter in the possession of the Society from Mrs. Jonathan Thorne, dated Bridgeport, Conn., July 23, 1919, states that she is the granddaughter of Stephen I Brinckerhoff of Chittenango, NY, and recalls "very well two old vehicles kept in his stable there. One was a coach in which it was said and I do not doubt, Lafayette had ridden. The other was a Gig with no particular history".