Gold mourning jewelry brooch for an officer of the British East India Company.
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Description
This is a wonderful gold mourning brooch for an officer in the Bengal Army under the control of the British East India Company. Being late 18th Century, the style is common to the period in its oval form. A well dress woman, a mourner stands weeping at the grave stone of the lost soul with the words written around the upper half, “In Death Lamented, As In Life, Beloved.” Below the urn, the grave stone is marked, “Captn. E.R. Died Nov. 30, 1792, Aged 32.” One the reverse it reads, “In Memory of Captn.Edwd. Robinson Who Died AT Calcutta In The East Indies On The 30 Novr. 1782 (mistake) Aged 32, A Gentleman Universally Loved.” The records that we have been able to attain to date show he did either in 1791 or 1792 depending on what document you look at. Obviously, more research is needed, however, we feel that Captain Edward Robinson is pinned down at this point. The brooch is one and 1/2 inches long, and 3/4 inches wide. Besides the “T” bar pin, there is a ring for attaching a chain to wear as a necklace.
We have found that the East India Company maintained their own army in India when in the years of monopoly in that region.
Captain Edward Robinson is listed as an engineer. He was a cadet-1771; Ensign-Mar 1773; First Lt.- Dec. 1775; Captain- Jan. 1781; Died- Nov. 30, 1792, or Dec.-1781 depending on the document viewed. We calculate that Robinson was 11 years of age when he became a Cadet. If the East India Company’s Bengal Army took on officers the same way the Royal Navy took on their Midshipman, then the age would be fine. The research should prove to be interesting, as we spent just several hours.
