A George IV sterling silver small salver, London 1827 by Benjamin Smith III (this mark registered 24th July 1822)

of lobed circular form with cavetto edge, the rim with three interlaced acanthus scroll junctions, inter-spaced with acanthus scrolls. All raised on three reeded scroll bracket feet. The plain field engraved with an impaled coat of arms with a helm above and foliate mantling, with motto below Semper Vigilans, all with crest above of in front of a staff raguly fessewise and thereon a lion couchant, holding between the paws an escallop, a tilting-spear erect. Fully marked to reverse.

Diameter – 23 cm / 9 inches

Weight – 540 grams / 17.36 ozt

The crest and motto are for Hughes

The arms are for Hughes impaling Field

For William Hughes Hughes (1792-1874) of Clapham Common, son of John Hewit and Sophia Hughes, who married Maria Field (b. 1797), daughter of Richard Field of Brixton Rise on the 23rd Aug 1813. Baptised as William Hughes Hewit, he took the additional surname of Hughes by Royal License in 1825 upon the death of his grandfather thereupon the principle beneficiary of his estate (his father had died intestate in 1821), including a financial sum of some £90,000 and various properties. He was called to the bar in 1827, practising for a short time, thereafter MP for Oxford 1830-37. Remembered as an unpopular man, he did vote against slavery and endorsed the London corporation petition for the abolition of slavery, 4th April 1832. In his will dated 15th Oct. 1872, he left small legacies to various relatives and to his ‘highly valued friend Mary Ann Kemp’. His effects were sworn under a derisory £300.

Andrew Milne Collection