Maritiem Digitaal
collectie zoeksyteem van de maritieme musea
geen titel
| titel | geen titel
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| inventarisnummer | WPN1248
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| collectie | Edged Weapons
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| museum | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
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| datum | 1737-1738
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| omschrijving | Small-sword- thought to have belonged to Don Juan Francisco de Garganta (active 1739) and Commodore Charles Brown (active 1739). The hilt of the small-sword consists of a silver guard- with a spiral fluted silver grip- a round silver pommel and a rudimentary silver pas d'ane. The hilt bears the mark of the Paris assay office for the year 1737-1738 and an unidentified silversmith's mark which may be a 'D'. The steel blade is double edged. The obverse of the blade is engraved with a four-line inscription of which only the letters 'H' and 'GI' remain- and an eight pointed star motif. There are also various marks along the spine that are now almost obliterated. The reverse of the blade is engraved with a three or four-line inscription of which only the letter 'F' is decipherable- and an eight pointed star motif. Again there are also various marks along the spine of which the most obvious is a circle with a spot in the centre with a line below. The black leather scabbard has a silver chape and two lockets with rings. The hilt of the small-sword was made in Paris in 1737 or 1738- but the blade appears to be Spanish- or possibly German in origin.
The small-sword was reputedly surrendered in 1739 by the Governor of Porto Bello- Don Francisco Javier Martines de la Vega y Retes to Commodore Charles Brown (active 1739)- second in command to Admiral Vernon (1684-1757). The Governor allegedly refused to surrender the sword to Vernon saying that without Brown the capture could never have been achieved. Edward Hawke Locker wrote in 'The Naval Gallery of Greenwich Hospital'- (1831) page 20; 'The Spanish Governor came off to his ship and presented his sword in token of submission. Brown very properly declined to receive it- saying- 'he was but second in command'- and accordingly took him in his boat to Admiral Vernon- to whom this surrender was due. But the Spaniard was obstinate- and declared that had it not been for the insupportable fire of the Commodore he never would have yielded- upon which Mr Vernon very handsomely turning to Brown presented the sword to him- which is now in the possession of the author of this memoir.'
In 'The Angry Admiral'- by Cyril Hughes (Hartmann 1953) page 27 it is stated that the sword was not surrendered by the Governor of Porto Bello- Don Francisco Javier Martines de la Vega y Retes- but by the officer directing the defence of the Iron Castle- Don Juan Francisco de Garganta (active 1739).
Commodore Charles Brown's daughter Lucy married Admiral William Parry (1705-1799)- their daughter in turn married Captain William Locker (1731-1800)- and the small-sword then passed into that family. Captain William Locker's son Edward Hawke Locker (1777-1849) and Captain William Locker's grandson Frederick (1821-1895) took the name of Locker-Lampson in 1885.
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| afmetingen | Overall: 749 x 22 mm
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