A Victorian silver Salver presented for defending the rights of the Borough of Saltash, Cornwall.
£750.00
Saltash, Cornwall.
A Victorian presentation small Salver, London 1844, by William and Henry Paprill. The field of the salver is flat-chased with scrolls and flowerheads, the centre engraved: ‘The Mayor and Free Burgesses of the Borough of Saltash to Messrs. Evans & Cleverton Solicitors, in testimony of the great talent and zeal evinced by them in successfully maintaining the ancient rights & privileges of the said Borough in the several actions for the recovery of the Anchorage and Buoyage dues. 11th April 1844. Wm. Hutchison. Mayor.’
This salver is one of two presented to celebrate the defence by the Borough of its rights to dues from Buoyage and Anchorage on the River. Each of the solicitors involved received a salver and the presentation was recorded in the local newspaper in August 1844:
‘SALTASH. Friday last being the anniversary of the Water Court day, the ladies resident in this borough presented a very elegant silk banner to the Mayor and Corporation. The pole was surmounted with a crown, above which were two silver oars crossed; on a brass plate, under the banner was inscribed – “By the Ladies, to the Mayor and Free Burgesses of the Borough of Saltash; in commemoration of the 21st day of March, 1844, in the mayoralty of W. HUTCHINSON, Esq.” The ladies assembled in the Card Room, and walked in procession to the Hall, where they were received by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses. The banner was borne by Mr. EDWARD, son of the late lamented CAPTAIN HAWKINS, the presentation being assigned to Mrs. HAWKINS, as the Lady Patroness. F. CLEVERTON, Esq., officiated for Mrs. Hawkins, and after an appropriate address presented the banner to W. HUTCHINSON, Esq., the Mayor. His Worship paid a just tribute to the liberality of the ladies, and having eulogized the present with great feeling, was followed by Mr. Alderman WESTCOTT. The banner is made of fine white silk, and bears the borough arms, beautifully executed. The Saltash band was in attendance, and played the “Bonnets of Blue,” as the ladies passed in procession, and after the Mayor’s address, the national anthem of “God save the Queen.” The cheering having subsided, the band played “Here’s a health to all good houses,” while the company returned to the Card Room to partake of refreshments. The Mayor and Free Burgesses then proceeded to hold the Water Court, according to the annual custom. On Saturday last, two elegant silver salvers were presented to Messrs. EVANS and CLEVERTON, the Town Clerks, bearing the following inscription: – “The Mayor and Free Burgesses of the Borough of Saltash, to Messrs. Evans and Cleverton, solicitors, in testimony of the great talent and zeal evinced by them, in successfully maintaining the ancient rights and privileges of the borough, in the several actions for the recovery of the anchorage and buoyage dues. Wm. Hutchinson, Mayor.” ‘
See case was also noted in the ‘Morning Post’ of April 18th 1844:
‘Court of Queen’s Bench. Wednesday, April 17.
The Mayor and Corporation of Saltash v Fenimore.
This was an action of assumpsit for port dues. The dues claimed were alleged to be payable in respect of buoyancy and anchorage of vessels entering and departing from the port of Saltash, and the plaintiffs insisted that that port extended down the river to, and included, the water called Plymouth Sound. The cause was tried at the last assizes at Exeter. To support the claim many witnesses were examined, and much documentary evidence was adduced. It was contended, on the other side, that the general claim arose out of one which was not now contested, but was of a very restricted nature, and that buoyancy fines were not, as a general rule, payable to the plaintiffs, in respect of the entry or departure of vessels from Plymouth Sound. The Jury returned a verdict for the defendant. …’
See the website Cornwall.gov.uk – ‘The rights of the ferry and most of the estuary system belonged to the Manor, but most of the water based activities such as operating the ferry, the fisheries, the oysterage, collecting dues for anchorage, buoyage, the barges etc were leased to the burgesses. The stretch of the Tamar bordering Saltash had the advantage of a relatively calm, safe deep-wateranchorage for large ships at all states of tide.‘
Description
Condition:
Good.
Dimensions:
Diameter – 27 cm.; Weight – 617.70 gms.
