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Details
A LATE 18TH CENTURY OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE FREE WATERMAN'S ARM BADGE,
Circular, chased in relief with the arms of the City of London & the arms of the Watermen's Company, the legend "FREE WATERMAN" and "AT COMMAND OF OUR SUPERIORS", numbered at centre "1132", with holes for it to be sewn to the sleeve, 4½ in. diameter (11.6 cm.).
Circular, chased in relief with the arms of the City of London & the arms of the Watermen's Company, the legend "FREE WATERMAN" and "AT COMMAND OF OUR SUPERIORS", numbered at centre "1132", with holes for it to be sewn to the sleeve, 4½ in. diameter (11.6 cm.).
Special notice
VAT rate of 17.5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.
Further details
The Watermen were initially employed by the insurance companies to act as firemen, not least because many of London's serious fires were near the docks which were packed with wooden ships & highly inflammable goods in the warehouses. In 1796 there were about 12,000 watermen plying their trade in London. From 1707 an Act of Parliament exempted those employed by the insurance companies from the naval press-gangs but only for 30 men per company & subject to other conditions. The badges helped to distinguish them to the press-gangs but the Watermen were also required to carry their certificates upon their person at all times as a back-up.