Helen and Hamilton Meserve have collected antiques since the early 1960s while living in such diverse places as Japan, Taiwan, Korea, India, Saudi Arabia and the Hudson Valley. While visiting their daughter in England during the 1990s, they started collecting early English oak furniture. After retiring as publishers of a group of Dutchess County (NY) weekly newspapers, Helen founded Running Battle Antiques, specializing in English oak and country furniture. Ham, whose ancestors were shipbuilders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, soon joined in with his interest in 19th century maritime history, focusing on China Trade paintings, clipper ship portraits and seascapes.

Together, they do nearly a dozen shows a year from New York to Charleston, SC, and visit England to buy for customers and their own inventory. They welcome clients interested in furniture to their warehouse in Copake, New York. Paintings may be seen by appointment at their home in Newagen, Maine.