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Very Rare Documented Historic Cased Engraved and Silver Mounted John Manton & Son 7 Bore Shotgun with Both Flint and Tube Locks Made for U.S. Senator Edward Lloyd - Serial no. 7738, 7 Bore gauge, 44 5/7 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened/silver finish, walnut stock. This impressive gun from 1820 is recorded on page 98 of “The Mantons: Gunmakers” by W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back where it is described as a “Single Barrel 7 Bore Shotgun Cased” and as having a “Self-Priming Lock converted to Tube Lock” and noted as owned by “N. Blank, U.S.A.” It is further noted that: “This wildfowling gun and gun No. 7739 were made for Edward Lloyd, Governor of Maryland, U.S.A. The receipted bill which is dated 23 March 1820 lists the following items: Best gun with patent self-priming lock £25 4s. 0d. Extra best plain lock £6
6s. 0d. Silver Furniture £5 5s. 0d. It seems likely that this self-priming lock was one of the various patterns produced with a magazine of percussion powder. At the present time, the flintlock is fitted.” Norman R. Blank’s notes indicate Neal purchased the gun in “Eastern America possibly from the Lloyd family,” and a Mr. Henry Lloyd, Jr. calling card is included which is annotated by hand “Will sell/shot gun/no. 7/made by/John Manton & Son/of London for/50.00/60 day offer/from 3/20/39” signed by Henry Lloyd, Jr.
Copies of the receipt and ledger for this gun were sent to Mr. Blank by David Back who in an included note states: “I enclose photostat copies of the bill and receipt for your gun which I think you may like to have. These I obtained from the Maryland Historical Society some while ago, before I knew you had one of the guns. Please keep them as a small return for all that you have done to help me. Yours sincerely, David Back.” The March, 23, 1820, dated records for guns “Bought of John Manton & Son” indicates “His Excellency R. Rush Eq.” purchased “two Silver mounted Guns” for “Eighty two pounds, five shillings, and six pence.” Richard Rush (1780-1859), the son of founding father Dr. Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) was serving as U.S. Minister to England in 1820. He had been appointed to the position in 1817 and remained in England until 1825 when he became Secretary of the Treasury in the John Quincy Adams administration. His sister-in-law, Sally Scott Murray Lloyd, was Governor Lloyd’s wife. Rush may have purchased the shotgun directly for Governor Lloyd or have sold or given it to him after returning from England. Rush later ran with Adams as the candidate
for vice president on the National Republican ticket 1828, but they were defeated by Andrew Jackson. Among his various later endeavors was a successful return to the U.K. as a commissioner in 1836 to secure the large legacy left by James Smithson to the U.S. The legacy subsequently funded the world renowned Smithsonian Institution, and Rush was notably one of the Smithsonian’s first regents.