½ Penny Token (D
& H 4 - Hertfordshire, Stortford) |
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| Obverse - |
A landscape showing the river Stort winding towards
the distant hills. A horse is towing a barge with part of another
barge in the foreground. |
| Legend: |
STORT NAVIGATION SOURCE OF TRADE with two ornamental
stops separating it from the date, 1795. |
|
| Reverse - |
Arms: Azure, a fess erminois between three sheldrakes
proper. On an inescutcheon argent, a sinister hand coupled at the
wrist gules, for JACKSON. In pretence Quarterly: First
and Fourth gules, on a fess [according to heraldic authorities
this should have been a chevron] between three saltires argent, an
annulet sable for GOLDSTONE. Second and Third
sable, a saltire argent for DUCKETT. |
| Crest: |
A sheldrake, as in the Arms. |
| Motto on a riband, beneath the shield: |
"Malo pati quam foedam." |
| Legend: |
SIR GEORGE JACKSON BAR: SOLE PROPRIETOR. |
|
| Edge:- PAYABLE AT BISHOPS STORTFORD struck in
a collar. |
| Diesinker. Kuchler; manufacturer, Boulton. This
is an exceedingly fine token, the perspective view of the Stort is remarkably
well rendered, an effect difficult to achieve on a coin and requiring considerable
skill. Common. |
| |
| Comments. The Stort Navigation was authorised by an Act of Parliament
6 George III c. 78, and extended from the river Lea near the village of
Rye to the Town Mill in Bishop's Stortford. It was formally opened on 21st
October, 1767, amid great rejoicings; some years before the issue of the
token. |
| |
| The proprietor, Sir George Jackson, was Judge Advocate
of the Fleet, and sat as a Member of Parliament in turn for Weymouth, Melcombe
Regis, and Colchester. He was a friend and patron of Captain Cook, who named
"Port Jackson" in New Zealand, and "Port Jackson" in New South Wales after
him. |
| |
| His second wife was Grace, daughter and co-heiress of
George Duckett, Esq., M.P., of Hartham House, Wiltshire; and in 1797 under
the will of Thomas Duckett, Sir George assumed, by Royal Licence, the name
and Arms of that family, becoming Sir George Duckett, Bart. He died
in 1822 at the age of 97. |
| Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 60-61 |