Case For A Frederick Barnes & Co Percussion Shotgun

Case For A Frederick Barnes & Co Percussion Shotgun.
A fine blue velvet compartmented walnut case with an original printed label for Barnes. The lid over one compartment has the number written on the underside, “No. 4942.” There is some roughness, from the shotgun being taken in and placing back, but interior overall is fine condition.
The case has dovetailed construction, and has two brass latches, one catch missing on one latch; The wood insert over the key hole is broken away mostly. The outer case has some wear, light dings, and on larger crack on front right corner of lid. The overall dimensions are 33 x 9 1/4 x 3 inches.

Frederick Barnes & Co. label is applied to the inner lid. It is original and has the same “No. 4842” written on the left side.

Frederick Barnes is listed as a “Sword Cutler, Wholesale Gunmaker, Percussion cap & Accoutrement Maker, 109 Fenchurch St. 1825-47; 3 Union Row, Tower Hill & 109 Fenchurch St.1847-50. Exhibited Great Exhibition 1851. Became Frederick & Co.; 2 Union Row, 1851–56. 109 Fenchurch St., 1851- 1904; 67 Minories, 1851-55. In 1856, the firm gave up the two other locations in London, and worked from Fenchurch St.

I have added a photo of another same period case gun made by W.J. King, London, displaying a rather similar compartment layout for gun and accessories. I believe there is little doubt that Barnes’ case held a double barrel shotgun.

On the left side of the case is a engraved name plate for “S.W. Stuart/ Richmond/ Maine.”

Stephen W. Stuart, and family were from Richmond, Maine. They were ship captains and ship owners in the 1840s-1860s. Marshall S. Hagar was an attorney in Richmond, Maine and apparently a partner with the Stuarts. One of the brothers was William H. Stuart and was associated with the Richmond National Bank. Information came from various holdings in a few Maine collection institutions.  Further research needs to be done.

I found two Seamen’s Account Books, belonging to Captain Stephen W. Stuart of Richmond, for ships   Borneo and Bazaar, 1855 – 1858, from the collection of the Maine Maritime Museum.   Two other ships owned by the family were the J.J.Hathorn, and Grotto.

The the above information on Stephen W. Stuart, and the periods mentioned above coincides nicely with the period of the Barnes shotgun. Obviously, Stephen Stuart was well heeled enough to order a fine case shotgun, and had the means to have it delivered.