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Admiral Jahleel Brenton's Cased Officer's Pistols
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70051
A Very Rare Pair of 30-Bore, Flintlock Officers Pistols by John Manton, Once Belonging to Vice Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton:
English. SN 2875 for 1797. 30 bore (13.75 mm) (0.535 cal.) Each pistol with a re-browned, twist octagonal barrel (19 cm) and each signed along the top flat in gold inlay: Manton - London. Silver pin fore-sights and blued back-sights set into a dovetail slot. Gold line at the breech and gold lined touch holes. Each barrel with serial no. 2875 (for 1797) stamped on the underside and again on the breech. Border engraved tangs each finely engraved with a martial trophy and foliage. Signed, case-hardened, detented, flat beveled locks, each with a safety catch also locking the steel. Gold lined semi-rainproof pans, and roller frizzens bearing on the top ramp of the steel spring. Figured half-stocks each serial numbered “2365” (for 1795) on the inside of the fore-end, the latter made without fore-end caps. Checkered, rounded butts apart from a plain strip along each side. Blued trigger guards each with large pineapple finial and engraved with a martial trophy and foliage on the bow. Silver wrist and barrel bolt escutcheons, the former each engraved with the owner’s crest and monogram. Original horn tipped ramrods, fitted into the fore-end, without any rear ramrod pipe. In original relined and refitted (?) mahogany case with key and accessories including brass mounted three-way powder flask covered in red leather, turn screw with pricker, fruitwood pan brush, ball mold, mainspring clamp, cleaning rod with jag, and rare flint wallet with flints. London proof marks.
The exterior of the case with brass reinforcing corner plates. The lid with circular brass escutcheon engraved with the owner’s coat of arms, monogram “JB” and motto: “Go Thorough.” Condition: Obviously, these pistols accompanied Admiral Brenton on many of his recorded military campaigns. Yet, the condition is very fine to excellent, noting some minor handling marks to the grips. The original lacquer finish is present. Excellent wood to metal fit. Strong mainspring pressure on both of the locks with the interiors retaining their original burnished finish on the working parts. Each barrel with a bright, shiny bore. Original brass bound Manton case with accessories, all in fine condition. Pistols built by the Mantons are considered to be the finest of the flintlock age. Discussion:
These previously unrecorded pistols (3) are highly unusual in having barrels only 19 cm long. They handle extremely well. For the only other known pair of similar pistols by the same maker (No. 2366; Also of 30 bore.) see Christie’s London, Lot: 323; 8 NOV 1995, “Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection.”
The coat of arms, motto and monogram are those of Jahleel Brenton who was born in Rhode Island, USA in 1770. His father, a Rear Admiral, served in the Royal Navy and, as a loyalist suffered the loss of his property in the War of Independence. He entered the Navy in 1781, serving as a midshipman on his father’s ship. He studied in England and passed his Lieutenant’s examination but was unable to gain a commission, so he served with the Swedish Navy against the Russians. On his return he was commissioned in 1790 and served as Lieutenant on the Barfleur at Cape St. Vincent. As commander of the brig Speedy he saw much action in the Straits of Gibraltar. He served as flag captain to Sir James Saumarez in the battle at Algeciras in 1801. In 1803 he was shipwrecked and taken prisoner by the French. Exchanged some years later he was appointed Captain of the Spartan in 1807 under Lord Collingwood in the Mediterranean. On the 3rd of May, 1810 in the Bay of Naples the Spartan engaged five French warships. A frigate, the Ceres, a large corvette, a brig and a cutter mounting in total 96 guns with about 1,108 men as opposed to the Spartan’s 38 guns and 258 men. After a fierce battle during which the French brig struck her colors and Brenton was wounded in the hip by grapeshot, the remaining French ships retreated to the batteries of Baia. It was for this action that he was awarded a sword by the Patriotic Fund, created a Baronet and presented with the Grand Cross of St. Ferdinand. After recovering from his wounds he was made Commissioner of the dockyard at Port Mahon and then at the Cape of Good Hope. He was created a baronet in 1812, appointed K.C.B. in 1815 and attained flag rank in 1830. He died in 1844.
Benton's cased, Loyd’s Patriotic Fund Sword and belt of £ 100 value (the last of this value presented) awarded for the gallant action described above and presented in 1810 was sold at Bonhams Knightsbridge Lot 409; 26 NOV 2008: £84,000 including premium. Comments on then Captain Brenton by Senior British Naval Command: 1. Admiral Lord Nelson praised Brenton's conduct in the Straits of Gibraltar. He wrote of his abilities: "uncommon skill and gallantry." Reference 2, p. 96. Reference 8, p. 264
2. Admiral Lord Collingwood critiqued Brenton's triumphs in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea with enthusiasm and in a letter to Lord Mulgrave, First Lord of the Admiralty, he wrote: "I cannot say too much to your Lordship of the zeal and talent of Captain Brenton: of these he gives proof whenever he is employed; and he seems to be everywhere." Reference 2, p. 365.
3. Admiral James Saumarez praised Brenton at the Battle of Algeciras. In his dispatches to the Admiralty in the aftermath of the battle, he wrote of him: "I feel it incumbent on me to state to their Lordships the great merits of Captain Brenton of the Caesar, whose cool judgement and intrepid conduct, I will venture to pronounce were never surpassed." Reference 2, p. 109.
Curator's Footnote: • The serial numbers of the stocks of these pistols are 2365, indicating a manufacture date of 1795. The barrels are each numbered 2875 for 1797. A plausable explanation is that the stocks were manufactured first, in fact, at the same time as SN's 2366, and held by Manton in inventory (For slightly over 1 year.) until a suitable customer was found. In this case, Brenton, who examined them to his liking, then requested Manton produce pistols from them with barrels of 19 cm length and of 30 bore in 1797. The resulting pistols are not unlike those with SN 2366, from the William Keith Neal Collection, which have matching stock and barrel numbering, and are also of 30 bore. These are the only two known pairs of Manton pistols with these dimensions. Bibliography:
1. The painting on ivory portrait miniature of Captain Brenton (Attributed to Smith of Barbadoes. 71 X 58 mm) is presently held in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London; rmg.co.uk: Object ID: MNT0128. He wears the 1795-1812 full dress uniform of a captain of under 3 years seniority indicated by a single epaulette on the right shoulder only. His uniform and biography suggests the painting was done in England in 1802. (Perhaps 1805-7.). It is apparently the only known surviving picture of him. 2. Rev. Henry Raikes (1846) Memoirs of Vice Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton; Call No. 9184281; London, Hatchard and Son. p. 676. On line version: [https://archive.org/details/memoiroflifeserv00raik]. 3. Neal, W. Keith, Back, D.H.L. (1978) The Manton Supplement, Compton Press, p. 37. 4. Neal, W. Keith, Back, D.H.L. (1980) British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment ; ISBN [0 900193 58 1]. 5. Blackmore, Howard (1986) A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 137. 6. Brown, Nigel (1998) London Gunmakers, p. 124. Indicates the John Manton serial numbers produced as follows:
a. 1795: 2,201-b. 1796: 2,402-c. 1797: 2,601- Please see also: Neal, W. Keith; Back, D.H.L. (1966) The Mantons: Gunmakers. p. 73. Herbert Jenkins Ltd.
7. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel; Vol 2, p. 752. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH; Schwabisch Hall. 8. Marshall, John (1824) Royal Naval Biography; Vol 2, Part 1 London. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. OCLC 719995583 9. Online resourses: a.) [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahleel_Brenton] b.) [http://www.commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/catagory:Jahleel_Brenton]
English. SN 2875 for 1797. 30 bore (13.75 mm) (0.535 cal.) Each pistol with a re-browned, twist octagonal barrel (19 cm) and each signed along the top flat in gold inlay: Manton - London. Silver pin fore-sights and blued back-sights set into a dovetail slot. Gold line at the breech and gold lined touch holes. Each barrel with serial no. 2875 (for 1797) stamped on the underside and again on the breech. Border engraved tangs each finely engraved with a martial trophy and foliage. Signed, case-hardened, detented, flat beveled locks, each with a safety catch also locking the steel. Gold lined semi-rainproof pans, and roller frizzens bearing on the top ramp of the steel spring. Figured half-stocks each serial numbered “2365” (for 1795) on the inside of the fore-end, the latter made without fore-end caps. Checkered, rounded butts apart from a plain strip along each side. Blued trigger guards each with large pineapple finial and engraved with a martial trophy and foliage on the bow. Silver wrist and barrel bolt escutcheons, the former each engraved with the owner’s crest and monogram. Original horn tipped ramrods, fitted into the fore-end, without any rear ramrod pipe. In original relined and refitted (?) mahogany case with key and accessories including brass mounted three-way powder flask covered in red leather, turn screw with pricker, fruitwood pan brush, ball mold, mainspring clamp, cleaning rod with jag, and rare flint wallet with flints. London proof marks.
The exterior of the case with brass reinforcing corner plates. The lid with circular brass escutcheon engraved with the owner’s coat of arms, monogram “JB” and motto: “Go Thorough.” Condition: Obviously, these pistols accompanied Admiral Brenton on many of his recorded military campaigns. Yet, the condition is very fine to excellent, noting some minor handling marks to the grips. The original lacquer finish is present. Excellent wood to metal fit. Strong mainspring pressure on both of the locks with the interiors retaining their original burnished finish on the working parts. Each barrel with a bright, shiny bore. Original brass bound Manton case with accessories, all in fine condition. Pistols built by the Mantons are considered to be the finest of the flintlock age. Discussion:
These previously unrecorded pistols (3) are highly unusual in having barrels only 19 cm long. They handle extremely well. For the only other known pair of similar pistols by the same maker (No. 2366; Also of 30 bore.) see Christie’s London, Lot: 323; 8 NOV 1995, “Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection.”
The coat of arms, motto and monogram are those of Jahleel Brenton who was born in Rhode Island, USA in 1770. His father, a Rear Admiral, served in the Royal Navy and, as a loyalist suffered the loss of his property in the War of Independence. He entered the Navy in 1781, serving as a midshipman on his father’s ship. He studied in England and passed his Lieutenant’s examination but was unable to gain a commission, so he served with the Swedish Navy against the Russians. On his return he was commissioned in 1790 and served as Lieutenant on the Barfleur at Cape St. Vincent. As commander of the brig Speedy he saw much action in the Straits of Gibraltar. He served as flag captain to Sir James Saumarez in the battle at Algeciras in 1801. In 1803 he was shipwrecked and taken prisoner by the French. Exchanged some years later he was appointed Captain of the Spartan in 1807 under Lord Collingwood in the Mediterranean. On the 3rd of May, 1810 in the Bay of Naples the Spartan engaged five French warships. A frigate, the Ceres, a large corvette, a brig and a cutter mounting in total 96 guns with about 1,108 men as opposed to the Spartan’s 38 guns and 258 men. After a fierce battle during which the French brig struck her colors and Brenton was wounded in the hip by grapeshot, the remaining French ships retreated to the batteries of Baia. It was for this action that he was awarded a sword by the Patriotic Fund, created a Baronet and presented with the Grand Cross of St. Ferdinand. After recovering from his wounds he was made Commissioner of the dockyard at Port Mahon and then at the Cape of Good Hope. He was created a baronet in 1812, appointed K.C.B. in 1815 and attained flag rank in 1830. He died in 1844.
Benton's cased, Loyd’s Patriotic Fund Sword and belt of £ 100 value (the last of this value presented) awarded for the gallant action described above and presented in 1810 was sold at Bonhams Knightsbridge Lot 409; 26 NOV 2008: £84,000 including premium. Comments on then Captain Brenton by Senior British Naval Command: 1. Admiral Lord Nelson praised Brenton's conduct in the Straits of Gibraltar. He wrote of his abilities: "uncommon skill and gallantry." Reference 2, p. 96. Reference 8, p. 264
2. Admiral Lord Collingwood critiqued Brenton's triumphs in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea with enthusiasm and in a letter to Lord Mulgrave, First Lord of the Admiralty, he wrote: "I cannot say too much to your Lordship of the zeal and talent of Captain Brenton: of these he gives proof whenever he is employed; and he seems to be everywhere." Reference 2, p. 365.
3. Admiral James Saumarez praised Brenton at the Battle of Algeciras. In his dispatches to the Admiralty in the aftermath of the battle, he wrote of him: "I feel it incumbent on me to state to their Lordships the great merits of Captain Brenton of the Caesar, whose cool judgement and intrepid conduct, I will venture to pronounce were never surpassed." Reference 2, p. 109.
Curator's Footnote: • The serial numbers of the stocks of these pistols are 2365, indicating a manufacture date of 1795. The barrels are each numbered 2875 for 1797. A plausable explanation is that the stocks were manufactured first, in fact, at the same time as SN's 2366, and held by Manton in inventory (For slightly over 1 year.) until a suitable customer was found. In this case, Brenton, who examined them to his liking, then requested Manton produce pistols from them with barrels of 19 cm length and of 30 bore in 1797. The resulting pistols are not unlike those with SN 2366, from the William Keith Neal Collection, which have matching stock and barrel numbering, and are also of 30 bore. These are the only two known pairs of Manton pistols with these dimensions. Bibliography:
1. The painting on ivory portrait miniature of Captain Brenton (Attributed to Smith of Barbadoes. 71 X 58 mm) is presently held in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London; rmg.co.uk: Object ID: MNT0128. He wears the 1795-1812 full dress uniform of a captain of under 3 years seniority indicated by a single epaulette on the right shoulder only. His uniform and biography suggests the painting was done in England in 1802. (Perhaps 1805-7.). It is apparently the only known surviving picture of him. 2. Rev. Henry Raikes (1846) Memoirs of Vice Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton; Call No. 9184281; London, Hatchard and Son. p. 676. On line version: [https://archive.org/details/memoiroflifeserv00raik]. 3. Neal, W. Keith, Back, D.H.L. (1978) The Manton Supplement, Compton Press, p. 37. 4. Neal, W. Keith, Back, D.H.L. (1980) British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment ; ISBN [0 900193 58 1]. 5. Blackmore, Howard (1986) A Dictionary of London Gunmakers, 1350-1850, Phaidon, Christie's, Oxford. ISBN [0-7148-8021-3] p. 137. 6. Brown, Nigel (1998) London Gunmakers, p. 124. Indicates the John Manton serial numbers produced as follows:
a. 1795: 2,201-b. 1796: 2,402-c. 1797: 2,601- Please see also: Neal, W. Keith; Back, D.H.L. (1966) The Mantons: Gunmakers. p. 73. Herbert Jenkins Ltd.
7. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel; Vol 2, p. 752. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH; Schwabisch Hall. 8. Marshall, John (1824) Royal Naval Biography; Vol 2, Part 1 London. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. OCLC 719995583 9. Online resourses: a.) [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahleel_Brenton] b.) [http://www.commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/catagory:Jahleel_Brenton]
Captain Jahleel Brenton (1802)
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Pistol case escutcheon showing Admiral Brenton's coat of arms, his monogram "JB" and motto "Go Thorough"
Capt. Brenton with the Spartan in the Bay of Naples 1810
Capt. Brenton's Victory over the French 1810
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Admiral Lord Nelson
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Admiral Lord Saumarez
Admiral Lord Collingwood
Lloyd's Patriotic Fund
Brenton's Patriotic Fund Sword Inscription
Brenton's Patriotic Fund Sword & Belt
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