Lot 83: 34 pcs. coin silver, Alabama history, inc. LA, TN, VA

34 Southern coin silver flatware items including New Orleans, Memphis and Richmond pieces, from the Betts family of Madison, Alabama. Includes 3 fiddle thread pattern dinner forks, 8 salad/dessert forks, 6 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons, all with retailer marks of Henderson & Gaines (active New Orleans, 1841-1865), S monograms; 3 teaspoons with fiddle tipt handles marked MERRIMAN in rectangle attrib. James Merriman, (working Memphis, Tennessee c. 1841-1860); 1 fiddle handle teaspoon marked for Mitchell & Tyler (working Richmond, VA, 1845-1866); 2 tablespoons marked for Voegele & Weidemeyer (Richmond, VA, 1857-1859) and 1 tablespoon marked for Gill & Weidemeyer (Richmond, VA, 1856-57); 1 Perdriaux (Philadelphia) coin silver sugar spoon with twist handle; 3 salt ladles ( includes 2 with fiddle tipt handles marked for Heineman & Jenkins of Boston and 1 with plain fiddle handle with eagle pseudohallmark and illegible maker’s mark; 1 coin silver sugar spoon with fiddle handle marked for J. Hollister (1818-1905, Oswego, NY); 1 tablespoon marked HARLAND in banner (likely CT); 1 illegibly marked tablespoon; and 1 teaspoon marked for Gale, Wood and Hughes of New York (all with plain fiddle handles, dating mid 19th century). The majority of these silver flatware pieces descended in the family of Virginia Swope Betts (1836-1892) and her husband, Edward Chambers Betts (1821-1891). Edward Chambers Betts was born in 1820 on his family’s plantation, on land that now includes the Madison, Alabama Public Library. He studied law at the University of Virginia. Miss Swope was a descendant of the Early family that included General Jubal Early and Bishop John Early, descendants from Carbri Lifichar, a King of Ireland born 225 AD. During the Civil War Edward was arrested, along with Dr. Richard M. Fletcher and James Harvey Pride, by the occupying Union forces as a spy. They were suspected of facilitating the Confederate attack on Madison Station in May of 1864 and were threatened with hanging. A recently-transferred commander of the Union troops that had been stationed in the area came back to intervene and had the men released. After the war, Edward resumed his law career in Huntsville and went on to become judge of the county court, a trustee of the University of Alabama, and an Alabama legislator for several terms, plus Alabama’s first Commissioner of Agriculture. Sources:Owens’ HISTORY OF ALABAMA, Volume 4; Huntsville History Collection website.

PROVENANCE: Living Estate of Sally Johnson Harlan, by descent in her family. Note: Mrs. Johnson is also a descendant of the aforementioned alleged CSA spy James Harvey Pride, whose grandson married Edward and Virginia Betts’ granddaughter. Other items from this family are also for sale on both Day 1 and Day 2 of this auction. 

CONDITION: Various monograms. Mitchell & Tyler spoon, Weidemeyer spoons, and illegibly marked salt ladle all have significant denting to bowls. Some tablespoons with wear to tips. Henderson & Gaines pieces and the 3 Memphis spoons are all in very good condition.