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The Damascus barrel has a bead front sight, “John Manton & Son DOVER STREET” signed on top of the breech section, London proof marks on the lower left and lower right, and “7738” and “WF” (William Fullerd) on the bottom. The breech plug has a platinum vent liner, dual platinum bands, classical engraving, and the serial number on the hook. The casehardened standing breech incorporates a grooved rear sight and has coordinating engraving. The flintlock is signed “John Manton & Son/PATENT” on the flat plate and “JNo MANTON & SON/PATENT” on the frizzen and has a guttered pan, large frizzen spring roller, and foliate, scroll, and classical engraving. A spare frizzen without the markings is included within the case. The
lock converted for tube primers has similar engraving and is signed “John Manton & Son.” Both locks are numbered “7738” on the upper edges above the sear springs. The mounts are silver and includes a stylized pineapple trigger plate finial, classical hunting trophies on the trigger guard bow,
also previously served as a congressman and as a lieutenant colonel of the 9th Regiment of Maryland Militia. His forefathers had also been active in politics through the colonial era, including Edward Lloyd II who was the Royal Governor of Maryland a century prior in 1709-1714. In the early 19th century, Lloyd operated the largest wheat farm in Maryland and lived in the family’s historic home Wye House. His plantation was worked by hundreds of enslaved people. The highly influential abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1817/18-1895) as a young child was held in bondage by Lloyd’s clerk and plantation superintendent Captain Aaron Anthony and wrote extensively about Lloyd and life on his plantation in the early chapters of “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” as well as his subsequent works, including of Lloyd’s harsh treatment. Douglass, wrote “The home plantation of Colonel Lloyd wore the appearance of a country village. All the mechanical operations for all the farms were performed here. The shoemaking and mending, the blacksmithing, cartwrighting, coopering,
opportunities for the indulgence of which was afforded by the Wye and Chester rivers and the Eastern Bay, then more frequented by flocks of wild ducks, geese and swan than at present.” Douglass wrote, “The most of
my leisure time I spent in helping Master Daniel Lloyd in finding his birds after he had shot them.” Given this, one wonders whether Douglass may have even seen this fine shotgun in action in his youth before he left for Baltimore and ultimately gained his freedom.
CONDITION: Fine overall. The barrel retains 95% plus of the period rebrowned finish and has distinct Damascus twist patterns and minimal wear. The breech plug, standing breech, and locks mostly display a deep gray patina with traces of original case colors and some patches mild pitting. The flintlock appears to have been a tube-lock conversion from flintlock or to have had modifications to frizzen and priming pan, and the stirrup for the tumbler has a small chip and faint crack. The silver mounts display attractive age darkened patina. The engraving and
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Senator Edward Lloyd
“M-B” silversmith mark and London hallmarks inside the bow (no date code), and scroll and classical hunting themed engraving on the buttplate. The “M-B” silversmith mark is associated with Moses Brent who is credited with crafting the mounts on many fine English firearms. The half-length stock has a horn forend tip, checkered wrist, and oval cheekpiece. The gun comes in a fitted mahogany case designed to hold two locks with a John Manton & Son trade label, green baize lining, and a variety of accessories, including a leather covered powder flask and a small pocket flask.
Edward Lloyd V (1779-1834) was the 13th Governor of Maryland in 1809- 1811 and was serving in the U.S. Senate representing Maryland when this impressive sporting gun was made, serving as a senator from 1819 to 1826 and subsequently as a Maryland state senator until 1831. He had
weaving, and grain-grinding, were all performed by slaves on the home plantation. The whole place wore a business-like aspect, very unlike the neighboring farms.”
That Edward Lloyd V would own such a fine shotgun is not surprising. He was a very wealthy man and a well-known hunter and sportsman with a particular interest in hunting fowl. His dog Sailor, either a Newfoundland or St. John’s Water Dog, was talented in retrieving ducks and is considered the father of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed which was developed in the 19th century by breeding Sailor and another Newfoundland/St. John’s Water Dog with other breeds already established in the region. It is noted in Oswald Tilghman’s “History of Talbot County Maryland, 1661-1861,” that, “One of his favorite pastimes, when at home in winter, was fowling,
markings remain crisp. The stock is also fine and has attractive figure,
crisp checkering, some discreet repairs. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are also generally fine with mild age and storage related wear. Overall, this is a very impressive and distinctive cased set with interesting historic ownership by Senator Edward Lloyd V of Wye Plantation in Maryland.
Provenance: U.S. Minister to England Richard Rush; Governor and Senator Edward Lloyd V of Maryland; The Lloyd Family; The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000