George III Silver Sugar Basket 1790

The Marital Arms of the Families of Coke and Whitcombe  

 

 The armorial bearings as engraved upon this George III Silver Sugar Basket by William Vincent, hallmarked London 1790 are those of the family of Coke impaling those of the family of Whitcombe. These armorial bearings denote the marshalling of a marital coat showing on the dexter (the heraldic right on the left as you view the piece) the arms of the husband and on the sinister (the heraldic left on the right as you view it) the arms of the wife. They may be blazoned as follows:

 Arms:

 (on the dexter)            Gules three crescents and a canton or (for Coke)

 (on the sinister)          Paly of six or and sable three eagles displayed counterchanged (for Whitcombe)

 Crest:                          A sun in splendour or (for Coke)

 These armorial bearings undoubtedly commemorate the marriage of The Reverend Francis Coke, MA, JP, Rector of Gladestry in the County of Radnorshire, Vicar of Sellack and Caple in the County of Herefordshire and Prebendary of Hereford. He married Anne, daughter of Robert Whitcombe of Kington on the 3rd March 1791. Francis died on the 30th April 1831 and his wife, Anne predeceased him by five years dying on the 6th April 1826. They left issue.