Two Other Rank's flintlock pistols of 'Light Dragoon' type, dating from after c. 1813 and proba...
Two Other Rank's flintlock pistols of 'Light Dragoon' type, dating from after c. 1813 and probably originally the property of a British Yeomanry officer c. 1817-25.
Both pistols with rounded 9-inch barrels (retaining their original browning), flat, ring-necked cocks (one top jaw and screw missing) and brass furniture, with loose iron ramrods; the wood of the stocks crisp, with some slight worm; the locks struck with a crown and the barrels with Birmingham civilian proof-marks of post-1813 date; the near-sides of both butt-caps engraved Captn FENWICK.
General good to very good condition.
Pistols of this form relate to a known 'pattern' of British cavalry flintlock pistol that had been superseded by c.1810. These two pistols are thought to have been assembled by the Birmingham gun-trade towards the end of the wars with France (1813-1815), when that trade was overburdened with stock and the spare parts of the cavalry flintlock pistol that had been superseded. The lack of GR and TOWER markings on their locks indicates that they were not procured by the Board of Ordnance but the presence of the crown on the lock is thought to be typical of pistols procured by Yeomanry regiments. The lack of markings indicating a troop and the pistols' numbers with that troop suggests that these two pistols were originally the property of the officer whose name appears on their butt-caps.
The ending of the French wars rendered the Yeomanry regiments redundant as far as their Home Defence role was concerned but peace was accompanied by a marked down-turn in the economy, widespread unemployment and associated rural discontent, as well as the first stirrings of a movement for Parliamentary Reform. In the absence of any sort of rural Police Force, these factors combined to keep the Yeomanry regiments in being and many were augmented c.1817 and in subsequent years. Research has revealed two captains of Yeomanry named Fenwick in the appropriate period.
Ralph Fenwick (d. 1844) was a minor landowner in Co. Durham with a small property at Marley Hill and was Land Agent to the Earls of Strathmore and Steward of their Gibside estate. He became captain of the single-troop Derwent Yeomanry Cavalry in 1804, a troop that was subsequently absorbed into the Durham Yeomanry Cavalry, and was captain of the Gibside troop of Yeomanry in 1820, remaining in command of that troop when, by 1825, it had become part of the Durham, Gibside and Staindrop Yeomanry.
George Augustus Fenwick (1777-1842) began his military career as an ensign in the 11th (or the North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1796, being promoted lieutenant in the same year. In 1802 he became a cornet in the 14th (or the King's) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons and in 1803 transferred in the same rank to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards. He was promoted lieutenant in 1804 and captain in 1806, retiring by the sale of his commission in 1812. In June 1817, he became captain in the 1st (South) Buckinghamshire Yeomanry but had left the regiment by 1825.
One further Fenwick deserves mention, namely Joseph Fenwick of the 3rd (Buffs) Regiment of Foot who was wounded in action and died on 10 December 1810. Fenwick merited an obituary in The Gentleman's Magazine (Supplement 1810, p. 669) which stated:
'Lately...In Portugal, in attacking about 100 French with only 30 Portuguese chasseurs, Major (sic) Fenwick, of the Buffs. He beat the Enemy, and took from them a considerable convoy of cattle, but was mortally wounded, and seven men killed.' Fenwick's gallant little action even came to the attention of those at the highest levels, Lord Wellington himself noting in one despatch:
'I am concerned to forward the enclosed report from Marshal Sir William Beresford, of the death of Captain Fenwick, the late commandant of Obidos. During the last two months he had been engaged more than twenty times with the enemy's foraging parties, and I have had several opportunities in reporting his success. Upon this last occasion he had made an attack upon, and had driven in, a party, consisting of eighty grenadiers, in the neighbourhood of Evora, near Alcobaca, which had come there in search of provisions, having under his command a detachment of the same number of the militia of the Garrison of Obidos, and was pursuing them when he was mortally wounded, and he died on the 10th: we have thus sustained a great loss, and he is lamented by all who had any knowledge of his gallantry and exertions.' This note was in response to that of Sir William Carr Beresford, Marshal of the Portuguese Army:
'My Lord, it is with much regret that I communicate to you the loss of Captain Fenwick (Lieutenant in the Buffs) who died the following day of the wounds he received in the attack he made upon the enemy at Evora, on the 8th instant. Your Lordship will equally feel with me the loss of this enterprising gallant young officer who, since the enemy's being in their late and present position, has been of so much service, and who has in such various instances given proof of his talents and undaunted courage.' (London Gazette, 1 January 1811). Interestingly the collection of the National Army Museum further holds a note, written by Captain Joseph Fenwick, on his death-bed in which he asks for his Commanding Officer to have an English surgeon sent to him as he was 'shot thro the body and arms'.
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Two Other Rank's flintlock pistols of 'Light Dragoon' type, dating from after c. 1813 and probably originally the property of a British Yeomanry officer c. 1817-25.
Both pistols with rounded 9-inch barrels (retaining their original browning), flat, ring-necked cocks (one top jaw and screw missing) and brass furniture, with loose iron ramrods; the wood of the stocks crisp, with some slight worm; the locks struck with a crown and the barrels with Birmingham civilian proof-marks of post-1813 date; the near-sides of both butt-caps engraved Captn FENWICK.
General good to very good condition.
Pistols of this form relate to a known 'pattern' of British cavalry flintlock pistol that had been superseded by c.1810. These two pistols are thought to have been assembled by the Birmingham gun-trade towards the end of the wars with France (1813-1815), when that trade was overburdened with stock and the spare parts of the cavalry flintlock pistol that had been superseded. The lack of GR and TOWER markings on their locks indicates that they were not procured by the Board of Ordnance but the presence of the crown on the lock is thought to be typical of pistols procured by Yeomanry regiments. The lack of markings indicating a troop and the pistols' numbers with that troop suggests that these two pistols were originally the property of the officer whose name appears on their butt-caps.
The ending of the French wars rendered the Yeomanry regiments redundant as far as their Home Defence role was concerned but peace was accompanied by a marked down-turn in the economy, widespread unemployment and associated rural discontent, as well as the first stirrings of a movement for Parliamentary Reform. In the absence of any sort of rural Police Force, these factors combined to keep the Yeomanry regiments in being and many were augmented c.1817 and in subsequent years. Research has revealed two captains of Yeomanry named Fenwick in the appropriate period.
Ralph Fenwick (d. 1844) was a minor landowner in Co. Durham with a small property at Marley Hill and was Land Agent to the Earls of Strathmore and Steward of their Gibside estate. He became captain of the single-troop Derwent Yeomanry Cavalry in 1804, a troop that was subsequently absorbed into the Durham Yeomanry Cavalry, and was captain of the Gibside troop of Yeomanry in 1820, remaining in command of that troop when, by 1825, it had become part of the Durham, Gibside and Staindrop Yeomanry.
George Augustus Fenwick (1777-1842) began his military career as an ensign in the 11th (or the North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1796, being promoted lieutenant in the same year. In 1802 he became a cornet in the 14th (or the King's) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons and in 1803 transferred in the same rank to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards. He was promoted lieutenant in 1804 and captain in 1806, retiring by the sale of his commission in 1812. In June 1817, he became captain in the 1st (South) Buckinghamshire Yeomanry but had left the regiment by 1825.
One further Fenwick deserves mention, namely Joseph Fenwick of the 3rd (Buffs) Regiment of Foot who was wounded in action and died on 10 December 1810. Fenwick merited an obituary in The Gentleman's Magazine (Supplement 1810, p. 669) which stated:
'Lately...In Portugal, in attacking about 100 French with only 30 Portuguese chasseurs, Major (sic) Fenwick, of the Buffs. He beat the Enemy, and took from them a considerable convoy of cattle, but was mortally wounded, and seven men killed.' Fenwick's gallant little action even came to the attention of those at the highest levels, Lord Wellington himself noting in one despatch:
'I am concerned to forward the enclosed report from Marshal Sir William Beresford, of the death of Captain Fenwick, the late commandant of Obidos. During the last two months he had been engaged more than twenty times with the enemy's foraging parties, and I have had several opportunities in reporting his success. Upon this last occasion he had made an attack upon, and had driven in, a party, consisting of eighty grenadiers, in the neighbourhood of Evora, near Alcobaca, which had come there in search of provisions, having under his command a detachment of the same number of the militia of the Garrison of Obidos, and was pursuing them when he was mortally wounded, and he died on the 10th: we have thus sustained a great loss, and he is lamented by all who had any knowledge of his gallantry and exertions.' This note was in response to that of Sir William Carr Beresford, Marshal of the Portuguese Army:
'My Lord, it is with much regret that I communicate to you the loss of Captain Fenwick (Lieutenant in the Buffs) who died the following day of the wounds he received in the attack he made upon the enemy at Evora, on the 8th instant. Your Lordship will equally feel with me the loss of this enterprising gallant young officer who, since the enemy's being in their late and present position, has been of so much service, and who has in such various instances given proof of his talents and undaunted courage.' (London Gazette, 1 January 1811). Interestingly the collection of the National Army Museum further holds a note, written by Captain Joseph Fenwick, on his death-bed in which he asks for his Commanding Officer to have an English surgeon sent to him as he was 'shot thro the body and arms'.
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