1911.15.1.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Flintlock pistol with inlaid silver ornamentation in the form of a face at the base of the stock. One of a pair, for the other see 1911.15.1 .2 [LKG 1/9/2008]

Long description

Flintlock pistol with inlaid silver ornamentation in the form of a face at the base of the stock. One of a pair, for the other see 1911.15.1 .2. The pistol is smooth bore but has a turn off cannon barrel. The pistol has a flint. The barrel is removed using the key 1911.15.1 .3 [LKG 1/9/2008]

Geographical reference

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

England Oxfordshire Oxford

Cultural groups

English

Person

Maker John Nicholes

Field collector James Woodforde

PRM source F.C. Woodforde

PRM source Francis Cardew Woodforde

Date / Period

Date made: 1758-1763?, uncertain Date made: 1773-1776?, uncertain

Date collected

By 1776?

Acquisition information

Donated: 1911

Materials and processes

Material Steel Metal, Material Wood Plant, Material Silver Metal, Material Flint Stone, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Inscribed, Process Incised, Process Inlaid

Dimensions

Length: max 292 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1911.15.1.1

Research and responses

Note that in http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/mayors/1714_1835/nicholes_john_2_1752.htm it mentions that Parson Woodforde visited John Nicholes in his gun shop: 'Parson Woodforde visited Nicholes’s gunshop when an undergraduate in Oxford, and wrote on 29 June 1763: “For a Pocket Pistol, alias a Dram Bottle, to carry in one’s Pocket, it being necessary on a Journey or so—at Nicholl’s, 0. 1. 0.” So this object might have been owned by James Woodforde, if he did own the pistols he must have purchased them during these periods when he was based in Oxford, 1758-1763 1773-1776. Martin Brayne, Chairman of the Parson Woodforde Society states: Francis Cardew Woodforde and James Woodforde the diarist are related - collaterally. Francis Cardew was descended from James's uncle Thomas Woodforde (1706-1800). Thomas's son Francis (1748-1836) became rector of Ansford, Somerset. Of his son Francis (1786-1867) we know little - other than that his wife Cornelia (nee Cardew) gave birth to Francis Henry Woodforde (1818-1890). Francis Henry married Mary Cotton in 1845 and she was the mother of your Francis Cardew. . According to the Woodforde 'Family Book' ( unpublished, compiled by Dr R.E.H. Woodforde ) - Francis Cardew Woodforde BA was b. 13 Nov. 1846 and subsequently entered Exeter Coll: Oxford. In 1874 he married his cousin Anna Woodforde. He became headmaster of the Grammar School, Market Drayton, Salop. This failed (wrote Dr W.) and he took up Natural History, publishing a number of books on the subject. He died at Headington, Oxford in his 82nd year on 18 June 1928. She died at Market Drayton in 1899.

As for the pocket pistol it looks as though it may well be the diarist's. He was a bachelor and left his estate to his neice Nancy and nephew William (1758-1844). We can well imagine that the gun went to William whose eldest son - also William (1791-1856) was an army doctor who eventually settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick! [AP 01/05/2007]

Made by John Nicholes? or his father also John Nicholes [the son is more likely]

Search terms: Firearm Weapon, Firearm