The Georgia Historical Society recently acquired and processed the Homer F. Peeples, Jr., collection of Ward Allen duck decoys, shotguns, and books.

Best known for being a duck hunter, Robert Ward Allen was born in Savannah in 1856 to a wealthy family. After studying at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, Allen returned to the United States of America. Allen’s father, Robert E. Allen, was a lawyer and desired that his son to likewise enter the legal field. Uninterested, Allen subverted his father’s wish, becoming a market hunter instead. Allen formed a partnership with a local hunter, Christmas Moultrie, and made his living by hunting waterfowl in Savannah's marshland for the local restaurant trade. During his career, Allen was arrested several times for violating hunting laws. He advocated for Savannah’s marshes, writing newspaper articles expressing his concerns as the number of factories increased in the city. At one time, Allen owed a debt to Homer F. Peeples, Sr., and he settled it by giving Peeples the three shotguns and two decoys now included in this collection. Later, the shotguns and duck decoys were passed down to Homer F. Peeples, Jr., who completed this collection by adding books and photographs related to Allen.

“Ward Allen was a colorful figure in Savannah’s past,” said Nate Pedersen, GHS Manager of the Archival and Reference Team. “The collection, assembled by fellow sportsman Homer F. Peeples, Jr., includes two beautiful, hand-carved duck decoys owned by Ward Allen as well as several shotguns. One of the three shotguns is a particularly rare (and particularly large) six-gauge shotgun manufactured in England. Six-gauge shotguns are almost never produced anymore except as a custom order. While they were very heavy to carry into the field, they also had the ability (a shocking ability, to modern sensibilities) to take out whole flocks of ducks at one time. The collection is an interesting glimpse into the past of a bygone era in Savannah’s hunting history.”

Explore the Homer F. Peeples, Jr. Collection of Ward Allen Duck Decoys, Shotguns, and Books.