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Memorial and Mortuary Rings: Nelson

A very interesting memorial ring in connection with the death of Nelson is mentioned in a communication to 'Notes and Queries' (vol. vii. Ist series, p. 305). Mr. Nicholls, of Pelsall, Staffordshire, writes: 'I am in possession of a ring which in place of a stone has a metal basso-relievo representation of Nelson (half-bust). The inscription inside the ring is as follows: "A gift to T. Moon from G. L. Stoppleberg, 1815." The late Mr. Thomas Moon was an eminent merchant of Leeds, and the writer has always understood that the ring referred to, is one of three or half a dozen which were made subsequently to Nelson's death. metal (blackish in appearance) forming the basso-relievo, set in them, being in reality portions of the ball which gave the late lamented and immortal admiral his fatal wound at Trafalgar.' The Another memorial ring of the greatest of our naval commanders is described in 'Notes and Queries' (4th series, vol. x. p. 292) as belonging to a lady whose husband's father's aunt married Earl Nelson (a clergyman), and whose husband inherited the ring. It is of gold; on the bezel, a broad oblong with rounded corners, is a black enamelled field, surrounded by a white border. In coloured enamel on the field appear two coronets, one that of a viscount, with the velvet cap, but showing, however, only seven pearls, the letter "N," in Old English character, appearing underneath. The second coronet is a British ducal one, without the cap, and has under it the letter "B" in old English. Beneath the above runs in Roman capitals the word "Trafalgar." Round the broad hoop of the ring is incised, in Roman capitals, "Palmam qui meruit ferat," the hero's motto, and inside the bezel, in English cursive characters, “ Lost to his country 21 Oct. 1805. Aged 47."" Of course, the coronets and letters 'N' and 'B' refer to the titles Nelson and Bronté, but the heraldic insignia were evidently not executed by an adept. The case in which this ring is lodged appears to be the original one, and has on a printed oval label 'Sa' (the rest wanting, probably 'ms'), 'Jew' (rest, of course, 'eller'), 'Silversmith, and Cutleer, 35, Strand.' On the subject of Nelson memorial rings, the Rev. Dr. Gatty, in 'Notes and Queries' (4th series, vol. x. p. 356), says: 'I do not think these rings can be very uncommon, and I have no doubt that Sir Thomas Hardy and other officers serving under Lord Nelson received one. My wife, who is a daughter of the Rev. A. J. Scott, D.D., Nelson's chaplain and foreign secretary on the "Victory," has one in her possession, which was sent to her father, and to whom Lord Nelson left a legacy of 200%. Our friend Mrs. Mirehouse, a daughter of the late Bishop Fisher of Salisbury, has also a similar ring. We have always thought they were given, after the old fashion of "mourning" rings. The pattern is certainly handsome and tasteful.' Mr. H. S. Williams, F.R.H.S., writing to the editor of 'Notes and Queries' (4th series, vol. x. p. 441), remarks that rings (with the Viscount's coronet with 'N' beneath it for the title Viscount Nelson, the ducal coronet, that of Sicily, for the Bronté estate and dukedom) of this description were made in 1806 by Lord Nelson's private friend Salter, jeweller in the Strand, and by the order of Dr. William Nelson, who was then Earl Nelson. There were fully a hundred of these rings originally made, as every admiral and post captain, then living, who was present at the Battle of Trafalgar had one, as well as every member of the Nelson, Bolton, and Matcham families.