A George III Scottish provincial silver teapot, Glasgow 1776 by Milne and Campbell

A George III Scottish provincial silver teapot, Glasgow 1776 by Milne and Campbell

Of cylindrical drum form with a cast fluted scroll spout opposite a wooden C scroll handle pinned to tubular sockets. The pull off disc lid surmounted by a detachable ebonised knop finial. The body and lid edged with bright cut engraved guilloche bands. The side with an engraved contemporaneous inscription reading “The Gift of the underwriters on the Betsy to Captain William Colvil for his spirited and prudent behaviour in refusing to strike to fire [Provinciall Prirateers] (?) 1776”. Marked underneath only with town mark, maker’s mark, and date letter M.

Length – 24.7 cm / 9.7 inches

Weight – 658 grams / 21.16 ozt

It unclear which ship the Betsy is, with several ships some of which spelled ‘Betsey’. A schooner built in 1773 called the Minerva, named the Betsy in 1776, later called the Post of Russia in 1782, last in the Lloyds Register in 1783, fate unknown.

180 tons

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Brig rigged, 1 deck with beams.

Owners:
1776-78: Gibbon & Co.
1778-82: H. Stranach.
1783: F. Bowen

Masters:
1776: Master P. Smith
1776-78: Master Charles Gibbon
1778-79: Master J. Corbett
1779-83: Master H. Stranach.

Voyage:
1776: London - Tobago (London Transport added in, meaning hired by the transport board to move troops for the American Revolutionary War)
1778-82: London - Petersburg.

Notes: re-rigged as a ship 1781