A George III Oval Armorial Silver Tray for Calmady. Presentation Inscription from Vice Admiral George Gayton, Royal Navy, to Rear Admiral Charles Holmes Everitt Calmady, Royal Navy Red Squadron. Of Battle of Chesapeake Bay & American Revolutionary War Interest.
The inscription to the reverse of the tray:
'I give & bequeath the sum of £20 of lawful money of Great Brittain unto my Nephew Charles Holmes Everitt Calmady a Rear Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's FLEET to purchase a RING in remembrance of, & as an Acknowledgement for his generous Behaviour to me at NEW YORK in North America In offering to lend me his Fortune on my return Hither after hearing been taken A PRISONER in the late WAR- George Gayton Vice ADM, 2 August 1796'.
Charles Holmes Everitt was commissioned Lieutenant in 1772 and was appointed to the Boreas under Captain Charles Thompson, sailing to Jamaica in 1776. His uncle, Admiral Clark Gayton, commanded the station there. That officer's patronage allowed his elevation to the command of the schooner Racehorse. In 1781 he captured a number of American privateers, and was present at the Battle of Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 1781. A few days later he recaptured the sloop Savage which under Commander Charles Stirling had been taken by the Americans shortly before. He lost a ship, when the Solebay was wrecked after grounding off Nevis prior to the Battle of St. Kitts in 1782. In 1788 he took on his wife's family name of Calmady. He returned to England with Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood. In August 1794 Calmady recommissioned the Blenheim for service in the Channel, leaving her upon his promotion to rear-admiral later that year. He was advanced to vice-admiral in 1799 and Admiral 1804.
In 1777 Vice Admiral George Gayton commissioned the Romulus and sailed to the Mediterranean, before sailing for North America at the end of the year. He participated in the expedition that captured Charleston on 11 May 1780, and commanded a small squadron at Chesapeake that autumn. Whilst off the Chesapeake Capes on 19 February 1781 his command, HMS Romulus, was captured by a division of the French Fleet led by Captain Le Gardeur de Tilly and after some confusion an exchange was made for the American Commodore Abraham Whipple, who had been taken prisoner following the capture of Charleston. Gayton was accused of accidental loss and acquitted of any blame for the loss of the Romulus at his court-martial on 26 September. Gayton became a Vice Admiral in 1795 and died at Portsmouth on 23 September 1797. The inscription on this tray possibly relates to an offer made by Calmady to pay for the ship.
A professional heraldry report accompanies this item.
Of oval form with a beaded and raised border. The tray is raised on four beaded bracket feet. The armorial is for Calmady.
Hallmarked for London 1787 by Elizabeth Jones.
Approximate weight is 1.565 kilos or 50.3 troy ounces.
Approximate dimensions are 44 cm length, 33.8 cm width and 4 cm height.
In good condition with moderate surface wear commensurate with age and use. Some scratches to the main surface. Marks and wear to the underside. One area of the raised border a little bumpy, this is beneath the armorial.
