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Lot Essay
The inscription on the underside of this salver reads in full,
From the Greenleaf family.
Mary Ann (Oxnard) Moseley,
1810.
Lucy Jones Moseley,
1840.
William Oxnard Moseley,
1891.
Oliver Hazard Perry.
The engraved provenance on the underside of this salver indicates that it that it had been with the Greenleaf family prior to its descent within the Moseley family. Mary Ann Oxnard (1787-1840), daughter of Edward Oxnard (1747-1803) and Mary Fox (1754-1835), married Ebenezer Moseley in June 1810 in Newburyport, MA. As the engraving indicates that Mary Ann came into ownership of the salver in 1810 is it likely that it was given to the couple as a wedding gift. Mary Ann’s step-aunt Lucy Jones (1741-1816) married thirdly the Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf (1732-1797/99), and thus it is likely that the salver was a gift from Lucy. The Hon. Greenleaf was born in Newbury, MA, the youngest son of John Greenleaf (1693-1725) and his wife Sarah Smith (1699-1774). He graduated from Harvard College in 1751 and served as a probate judge in Essex Co. for much of his career. Before his marriage to Lucy Jones, Judge Greenleaf was married to Elizabeth Chauncy, with whom he had six children. In January 1797 or 1799 he died suddenly at his home in Newburyport of a cardiac condition.
Following Judge Greenleaf’s death, Lucy, who had no children of her own, was taken into the home of her step-sister Mary Fox Oxnard, where Lucy lived the remainder of her life in great comfort. Mary Fox Oxnard’s father, Jabez Fox (b. 1705) was also a judge and graduate of Harvard College. He married Lucy’s mother, Anne Hodge (1713-1758), the wealthy widow of successful merchant Phineas Jones (1704-1743) while she was on her death bed. Fox then moved into the Anne’s home, which was considered to be one of the finest residences in Newburyport.
The last name engraved on the salver is that of Oliver Hazard Perry III, nephew of William Oxnard Moseley. Oliver was the son of Lt. Oliver Hazard Perry Jr. (1815-1878) and Mary Anne Mosely (1824-1891) and grandson of famed American naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819).
Though a number of salvers by Hurd are known, very few of them are in the collections of private individuals. Examples of salvers by Hurd in museums include four in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, including one owned in 1867 by E. C. Moseley (Acc. No. 13.382), and one of near identical form to the present lot engraved with the Colman coat-of-arms (Acc. No. 56.672). Further examples can be found in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts (Acc. No. 53.146), The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware (Obj. No. 1961.0520), and the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Acc. No. 41.17). Another salver by Jacob Hurd engraved with the arms of Henry Bromfield was sold at Christie's, New York, 17 June 1992, lot 69.
From the Greenleaf family.
Mary Ann (Oxnard) Moseley,
1810.
Lucy Jones Moseley,
1840.
William Oxnard Moseley,
1891.
Oliver Hazard Perry.
The engraved provenance on the underside of this salver indicates that it that it had been with the Greenleaf family prior to its descent within the Moseley family. Mary Ann Oxnard (1787-1840), daughter of Edward Oxnard (1747-1803) and Mary Fox (1754-1835), married Ebenezer Moseley in June 1810 in Newburyport, MA. As the engraving indicates that Mary Ann came into ownership of the salver in 1810 is it likely that it was given to the couple as a wedding gift. Mary Ann’s step-aunt Lucy Jones (1741-1816) married thirdly the Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf (1732-1797/99), and thus it is likely that the salver was a gift from Lucy. The Hon. Greenleaf was born in Newbury, MA, the youngest son of John Greenleaf (1693-1725) and his wife Sarah Smith (1699-1774). He graduated from Harvard College in 1751 and served as a probate judge in Essex Co. for much of his career. Before his marriage to Lucy Jones, Judge Greenleaf was married to Elizabeth Chauncy, with whom he had six children. In January 1797 or 1799 he died suddenly at his home in Newburyport of a cardiac condition.
Following Judge Greenleaf’s death, Lucy, who had no children of her own, was taken into the home of her step-sister Mary Fox Oxnard, where Lucy lived the remainder of her life in great comfort. Mary Fox Oxnard’s father, Jabez Fox (b. 1705) was also a judge and graduate of Harvard College. He married Lucy’s mother, Anne Hodge (1713-1758), the wealthy widow of successful merchant Phineas Jones (1704-1743) while she was on her death bed. Fox then moved into the Anne’s home, which was considered to be one of the finest residences in Newburyport.
The last name engraved on the salver is that of Oliver Hazard Perry III, nephew of William Oxnard Moseley. Oliver was the son of Lt. Oliver Hazard Perry Jr. (1815-1878) and Mary Anne Mosely (1824-1891) and grandson of famed American naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819).
Though a number of salvers by Hurd are known, very few of them are in the collections of private individuals. Examples of salvers by Hurd in museums include four in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, including one owned in 1867 by E. C. Moseley (Acc. No. 13.382), and one of near identical form to the present lot engraved with the Colman coat-of-arms (Acc. No. 56.672). Further examples can be found in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts (Acc. No. 53.146), The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware (Obj. No. 1961.0520), and the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Acc. No. 41.17). Another salver by Jacob Hurd engraved with the arms of Henry Bromfield was sold at Christie's, New York, 17 June 1992, lot 69.