Description:

King George I of England
Court at St. James's, London, England, January 11, 171[5?]
George I Signed Military Commission In Horse Guard Troop Whose Commander Was Attainted By Association For The 1715 Jacobite Rising The Following Year!
MDS

A 1p manuscript document signed by King George I (1660-1727) as "George R" at upper left. The royal signature alone measures approximately 2.125" x .75." The date on the document reads January 11, 1714, but that is almost certainly a clerical error since George I ascended the throne eight months after that, in August 1714; perhaps it was meant to be January 11, 1715 instead. Issued from the Court at St. James's, London, England. Also countersigned by an official as "Townshend" at lower left, likely referring to Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend (1674-1738), who then served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department. Also countersigned by an official as "R. Arnold" at lower right, probably referring to Deputy Secretary of War Richard Arnold (1682-1742). Further docketed and signed above Arnold's signature. Secretarially inscribed on vellum. Bearing the remnants of a red wax and vellum strip seal at upper left, above a dark blue embossed revenue stamp for "II shillings VI pence," folded at the tip. Docketed near the bottom edge and verso. Expected wear including weathering, soiling, stains, and wrinkles. The seal is mostly gone except for the strip. Else very good. 13.375" x 9.75." Provenance: Ex-Paul Richards, 1969; accompanied by the original purchase order dated April 28, 1969.

The document promoted one "Joseph Neale Gent." to the rank of "Brigadier and Eldest Lieutenant of Our Third Troop of Our Horse Guards." The Third Troop of Horse Guards had been formed under a different name in 1658 in Holland by followers of the exiled Charles II; it was renamed the Third Troop of Horse Guards in 1670.

The document reads in part:

"George, By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &c. To Our Trust and Welbeloved Joseph Neale Gent. Greeting: We do by these Presents constitute and appoint you to be Brigadier and Eldest Lieutenant of Our Third Troop of Our Horse Guards, whereof Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Charles Earl of Arran is Captain and Colonel; You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Brigadier and Eldest Lieutenant by exorcising and wel disciplining as well the Inferior Officers as Soldiers of that Troop; And We hereby command them to obey you as their Brigadier and Eldest Lieutenant…"

The commander of the Third Troop of Horse Guards from 1703-1715 is mentioned explicitly in George I's military commission document as "Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Charles Earl of Arran." This referred to Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran (1671-1758). On June 15, 1715, the Earl of Arran was impeached for high treason in connection with the involvement of his older brother, James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde, in the 1715 Jacobite Rising. The Earl of Arran - through no fault of his own - was attainted by the "Attainder of Duke of Ormonde Act of 1714," which stripped him of his honors, wealth, and properties.

The irony here is that George I had assumed the British throne instead of the person whom the Earl of Arran's brother had supported: James Edward Stuart, called the Old Pretender. James Edward Stuart was the half-brother of Queen Anne I. Upon her death, the throne went to a distant German relative of Anne's, Sophia of Hanover, because she was Protestant instead of Catholic like Stuart. The Earl of Arran - once deemed trustworthy by George I - was thus guilty by association. This overreaction suggests that George I and his administration were acutely aware of the tenuousness of his claim to the throne.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 13.375" x 9.75"
  • Medium: MDS

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