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Lot Essay
William Dobyns' will written in 1736 and proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 6 March 1738 reads, 'To his Grace the Duke of Chandos, the greatest and best of men whom I have never sufficently thank[ed] and acknowledge[ed] for the many surprising favours and goodness and friendship he has always been pleased to shew (sic) me, humbley begg (sic) his acceptance of a small peice (sic) of plate such as he shall chuse (sic) with this motto or devise on it:- Pignus amoris exgigum in gentis'.
James, Duke of Chandos (1673-1744) was a politician and noted patron of the arts. The son of James, 8th Baron Chandos (1642-1714) he came from an already wealthy family. However his father's advantageous marriage to Elizabeth Barnard (1643-1719) brought money and city connections which were to serve him well. Educated at Westminster, New College, Oxford and Wolfenüttel Academy, Germany, the young James Brydges built many connections with politicians, merchants and members of the court. He also frequented the Royal Society, collected art and enjoyed musical performances. A great deal of his wealth was made through his post as a commissioner to the Admiralty and also through property speculation and building in the expanding London of the early 18th century. He employed the fashionable architects of the day in these ventures and also at Cannons, the estate he had acquired through his first marriage in 1696. He was to marry three times. Contemporary commentators note his civil nature and extreme generosity to his family and friends. Although described at the time as 'princely' his simple funeral arrangements belie this. He did much for the local community around his various estates, including the rebuilding of St. Lawrence's Church, at Little Stanmore and it is perhaps through this act that a connection was made with William Dobyns, descibed of Stanmore in his will proved in 1738. The Duke died after a short illness on 9 August 1744 and was buried in a Grinling Gibbons tomb in St. Lawrence's Church, Little Stanmore.
James, Duke of Chandos (1673-1744) was a politician and noted patron of the arts. The son of James, 8th Baron Chandos (1642-1714) he came from an already wealthy family. However his father's advantageous marriage to Elizabeth Barnard (1643-1719) brought money and city connections which were to serve him well. Educated at Westminster, New College, Oxford and Wolfenüttel Academy, Germany, the young James Brydges built many connections with politicians, merchants and members of the court. He also frequented the Royal Society, collected art and enjoyed musical performances. A great deal of his wealth was made through his post as a commissioner to the Admiralty and also through property speculation and building in the expanding London of the early 18th century. He employed the fashionable architects of the day in these ventures and also at Cannons, the estate he had acquired through his first marriage in 1696. He was to marry three times. Contemporary commentators note his civil nature and extreme generosity to his family and friends. Although described at the time as 'princely' his simple funeral arrangements belie this. He did much for the local community around his various estates, including the rebuilding of St. Lawrence's Church, at Little Stanmore and it is perhaps through this act that a connection was made with William Dobyns, descibed of Stanmore in his will proved in 1738. The Duke died after a short illness on 9 August 1744 and was buried in a Grinling Gibbons tomb in St. Lawrence's Church, Little Stanmore.