Proc SocAntiq Scot, 120 (1990), 189-200,

The 'Silver Jack' trophy of the Society of Bowlers George R Dalgleish*

'. . . doucer folk wysing a-jee The by as bowls on Tamson's green.' Allan Ramsay

ABSTRACT This paper presents descriptiona 18th-century ofan sporting trophy investigatesand historythe of the society to which it was presented.

INTRODUCTION In April 1986, the National Museums of Scotland bought, from a silver dealer in London, a unique 18th-century bowling trophy. Known as the 'Silver Jack', it was originally presented as an annual trophy to the Edinburgh Society of Bowlers in 1771 (NMS registration MEQ1594). The year before the Museums acquired it, it had appeared in an auction of Important English and Continental Silver hel Christie'y dYorb w kNe n (Christie'i s s 1985 t 1167),lo . Enquiries int histore os th it f yo previous ownership have, unfortunately, proved inconclusive, although it does seem it was in the possession of a London collector some time prior to its export to America. Despit e lac th f elateko r provenanc e extremel e 'Jackar th e r w ' fo e y fortunat o havet e considerable contemporary evidenc originas it r efo l presentatio e Societth r whico fo yt d t nhan i relates. This article will presen detailea t d descriptio trophe th thed f no y an n investigat historys eit , settin t withigi contexna histore spore th th f Edinburgto n f i tyo Scotlandd han .

DESCRIPTION (illus 1) trophe Th y comprise silvesa r bowl morr ,o e accurately 'jack',a flattenef ,o d spherical form9 ,7 mm in diameter by 67 mm in width. Each side is engraved with two sets of concentric double rings, imitatin turnee gth d ring hardwooa n so d bowl. Withi centre nth thesf eo e ring engraveds i e th ) (r : Cite arm th f Edinburgh yo f so , consistin three-toweree th f go d castle wit supporterss hit e th d an , motto 'NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA' above mala ) (1 ;e figur 18th-centurn ei y dress abou plao t t ya Jac e frone bow th engrave s kf i Th o t. l (illu3) & ds2 wit legene hth d 'Ex dono Magistri/GULIELMI TOD/ad Societatem Sphaeristarum/EDENBURGENSIS/An. Dom. 1771' [Given by Mr William

* Royal Museu f Scotlandmo , Queen Street, Edinburgh 190 SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 1990

'Silvee ILLUTh rS1 Jack ' trophy, showin Jacke gstanth e winnersd th , dan ' medals

Tod to the Edinburgh Society of Bowlers, 1771]. Soldered to the top of the Jack is a simple hook which fits int looe oth p termina suspensioe stande th th f f o lo . m nar The stand, 245 mm high, is of turned rosewood and is made up of a circular stepped base supporting a spool and baluster stem. The top of this stem is encased with a silver 'sleeve', 100 mm in length, terminating in an acanthus knop finial. A double-scroll, 'C'-shaped suspension arm is DALGLEISH: THE 'SILVER JACK' TROPHY OF THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY OF BOWLERS I 191

Jacke ILLUTh , detaiS2 l showin Citarme e gth th y f so of Edinburgh soldered to the upper section of the sleeve. This ends with an acanthus terminal with the loop for suspendin Jacke gth . (Th facslightle a ef th t o d shapthas i yan t ti thidifferen f em o sar t style froe mth rest of work on the trophy, suggests that it might originally have been a standard casting for a handle for a cup, reused for its present purpose.) The sleeve also has soldered to it 14 complete simple hooks and the remains of four others which have been broken off. From these hooks hang the 12 remaining winners' medals of the trophy. These

Jacke ILLUTh , detaiS3 l showing 18th-century bowler | SOCIET 2 19 ANTIQUARIEF YO SCOTLANDF SO , 1990

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are more fully described in the appendix (p 000) and are discussed below (p 000), but the following list present simplsa e winners e tablth f eo ' name theid san r date sequence: 1st [Missing] 1771 2nd Willia d mTo 1772 3rd Joseph Williamson 1773 h 4t Maitland Bannatyne 1774 5th William Beg 1775 6th Charles Sibbald 1776 7th [Missing] 1777 8th John McKnight [he also won the trophy in 1785 and 1778 (& 1785) inscribed this on this medal] 9th John Thomson 1779 10th [Missing] 1780 llth George Stewart 1781 12th Orlando Hart 1782 13th Thomas Armstrong 1783 14th 1784 John McKnight [see 8th] 1785 15th [Missing] 1786 16th John Thomson [also won in 1779] 1787 17th [Missing] 1788 18th [Missing] 1789. There is no evidence on any part of the trophy of either makers' marks or of hallmarks.

HISTORY Sporting trophie thif so s type centraa e ,i l 'prize' whic competes hwa annuallr dfo thed d yan n ha medals appende recordint i o dt winnerse gth knowe varietar ,a r nfo sportf yo Scotlann si d froe mth early 17th centur presene th y o right tp dayu earlieste Th . t extant trophies relat horso et e racing, archery and golf. Numerous silver bells are recorded as burgh prizes for horse racing in the early 17th century, whil earliese eth t golfing trophies comprise silver clubs with inscribed silver balls appended yearle byth y winner. Silver arrows were similarly presente prizes da archeryr sfo . Bowling seems to have been an ancient pastime in Scotland, with some authorities claiming an ancestry 13t e bacth h o kt centur y (SNP t SportGCa in Scotland, 17). Certainl 16te 17td th han hy yb centuries there are numerous references to bowling greens existing in both the burghs and as part of pleasure th e ground manf so y country houses. Lady Grisell Baillie wen considerablo t e efford an t expense to lay out and maintain a green at Mellerstain. This cost some £7 3s Id sterling in the years 1710 and 1711, and there are notes of additional costs in subsequent years to maintain it (Scott- Moncrieff 1911, LXII, 251ff). Archbishop James Sharp also seem havo st e bee keena n bowler, purchasing numerous set f 'byaso s boullis' durin visits ghi Londono t s . Five pair f bowlsso r fo , example, bough Juln i t y 1666 Scot1 ,£2 coss m (Stirtohi t n 1929, 226). During the same period bowls played a part in a premonition of an impending death. Robert Woodrow recounts that when the marquis of Argyll was playing bowls with some gentlemen of his clan playerse 'onth f eo , whe Marquie nth s stooped dow bullee lifo nt th t t [bowl] fell pale said o dan ,t them about him, "Bles wha! sthame s ti seetI Lor y ?M d shoulderwits heas hi hl hi dal offd san ,ful f o l blood?'" (Woodrow's Analecta, quoted in Fittis 1891, 200). This prophecy, if such it was, proved accurate, as Archibald eighth earl and first marquis of Argyll was executed for his adherence to the Covenants after the of Charles II in 1660. | SOCIET 4 19 ANTIQUARIEF YO SCOTLANDF SO , 1990

In Edinburgh, bowling greens had been available from at least the mid-16th century. In October 1552 a tax was proposed to pay for the setting up of grounds for bowling and other 'necessaris and plessouris, betwi Gree xth y Frey Kirre Port Fieldth f ko d ean " (Edin Recs,t 1552)Oc 2 . Judicial attempt controo t s r prohibio l t various kind f publiso c sport amusementd an s oftee ar s n useful indicator theio t s sa r general popularity councif o t passe158s n ac .I attemp n ln wa a 1 a dn i preveno t t 'profanatio Sabbate th f no h . dischargin[by . . ] l kyngal gemmif do playid commonlsan w sno y usit the said bowlins daya c ,si yairdisgn i , dansing, playin ' (ibid, . g. Augus 4 t 1581). Thi obviouslt sac y had little effect as it was often repeated in later years. Similarly, the keepers of billiard tables, kyle alley bowlind san g greens wer scholare e th Town e commandef o th y f so san Collegt le o 169t dn i t e5no into their establishments during term tim 1695)y e (ibid,Ma .2 2 By the first half of the 18th century there were several greens in the burgh, including three near Heriot's Hospital, two in the Canongate and one behind Holyrood House (illus 4) (Chambers 1868, 247). The most famous, however, was that run by a man called Thomson, on the area of ground behin Excise dth e CowgateOffice th n i e . Allan Ramsay commemorate t thudi s 'Driving their ba's frae whin teer so , There' gouffee a seee b o sn o t r Nor doucer folk wysing a-jee byae Th s bowl Tamson'n so s green.'

The green was later run by Thomson's widow, who failed to pay the half-yearly rent of £6 and becamExcise'e debtth d n ba o e a s books (Chambers 1868, 247). Ther therefors ewa lonea g historspore th Edinburg n r i t yfo h befor firse eth t referencn a o et organized society 'Edinburge Th . h Societ Bowlersf yo formalls wa ' y constitute 'a s Corporatioda n r Bodo y Corporate seaa f causy o lb ' e grante Towe theo dth t y mnb Counci f Edinburgo l 5 1 n ho November 1769. This was the result of a petition they had submitted to the council in the previous July. It is obvious, however, that some form of organized group existed prior to this, as in 1768 they had sought and were granted a 21-year lease from the Governors of Heriot's Hospital for a fairly substantial piec grounf e o Hospitasout e e th th f dho o t l (Minutes, Novembe5 1 r 1769). This comprised an area which had originally been laid out as a bowling green but which had evidently fallen into disrepair (ibid, Jul6 2 y 1768) Bowlere Th . s also lease aree dth a know 'Wildernesse th s na inner o ' r garden area immediatel greend Governorol e e eas.Th e th f th t o yo t Heriot' f so s gladly granted them this groun orden di r that'exercisn a . . . beneficiao es healte inhabitante th th f o ht lo s e mighb t no t totally lost for the want of Greens' (Steven 1872,124). The Society employed John Wood, the tenant o housfa Heriot'greensn ew i ne o . sWootw gardent gives ou dy wa n levela o spermissiot d lan e th y nb Town Council to cut turf from an area on the west side of Leith Walk for this purpose (Armet 1956, 185). His house was also conveniently situated to be used by the Society for convivial gatherings after their spor als d their oan tfo r annual general meetin firse th t n Fridago Aprin yi l (Minutes, Jul6 2 y 1769). The first documentary evidence for the presentation of the Jack as their annual trophy is provide Hugy db o Arnot whe statee nh s s thiswa compangifte. e 'Willia. r 1771th y M o dt y Ma ,b mn yi Tod, senior, merchant jace playes k.Th i r dfo annuall gainee June]n th y [i d r an ;append medalsa , witsubscriptioy han n agreeabl himo et e th , expens medae th f eo l being defraye companye th y db ' (Arnot 1788, 362).

This practice is similar to a variety of other contemporary sports, including archery, where the Royal Compan Archerf yo s numbeshoa r tfo trophief ro s includin Musselburge gth h Arrow Edinburge ,th h Arrow and the Silver Punchbowl (Balfour Paul 1875, 305ff). DALGLEISH 'SILVEE TH : R JACK' TROPHEDINBURGE TH F YO H SOCIET BOWLERF Y5 O 19 S

Helen Armet, in one of her illuminating and entertaining dips into the city archives published in Booke th of Edinburghd theOl Club, quotes extensive extracts fro Society'e mth s initial petitiod nan their eventual Seal of Cause. These include a set of 'Regulations relative to the Exercise of Bowling' and a complete list of the 41 founder members of the Society (Armet 1956, 185). A preliminary analysi thif so s list along wit lis e winnerf htth o trophe th f so y allowmako t e eson some fairly general observations abou compositioe th t naturSociete e sporte th th th f d f no eo .y an As with most other organized sports of this period it was enjoyed and indulged in by a fairly privilege df maso minority e s ag participatio e Th . n e majorit lona offspory s e Th .g wa th wa t f yo Bowlers seem to have been burgesses of the city and most were from the merchant or professional classes, including several lawyer accountantsd san wereo tw r . craftsmeno Onl e yon , includine gth exotically named Orlando Hart shoemaker,a gaineo Jac,wh e d th 178 kn i 2 (see appendix 196,p d )an George Stewart, a printer, who won it the previous year. All of the medal winners considered themselve havo st e sufficient statu havo st e armorials, crest r mottoso s engrave thein do r medals. Some took their right to arms seriously, describing themselves as 'armiger' on their medals (Joseph Williamson 177 Georgd 3an e Stewart 1781 appendixe ,se 196)p , , whil least eothea e on t r seemo st have approached it in a more lighthearted manner. The charming engraving of a rather sly fox with a stolen chicken in its mouth on William Tod's medal (1772) is a canting reference to the old Scots name for a fox - tod. sociae BowlerTh e lth makf o p se u parallel certaia o st n degre eRoyae thath f o tl Companf yo Archers, and indeed several of the Bowlers were also members of the Archers (eg Joseph William- son, admitte Archere th o dt Jul 0 s2 y 1776; Charles Sibbald, admitte Jun2 d2 e 1776 same ,th e date eh won the Jack; John Hepburn, admitted 4 December 1784, again the same year he won the Jack; possibly George Stewart, admitted 6 July 1776 (Balfour Paul 1876, Appendix II, 370). Unlike the Archers, however Bowlere th , s see aristocratio n mhav o t d eha c member therd definita s an s ei e feeling that they were groupa s a , , slightly further dow sociae nth l scale. Societe Th y continue tenur s Herioe dit th f eo t green abour sfo year0 2 t s unti affairs it l s were radically altereadvancine th y db g tid f citeo y improvements .cit d Wheol y e wallnth , whicd hha previously enclosed the grounds to the south of Heriot's Hospital, was demolished about 1786, the Bowlers soon deserted their original greens, apparently because consequene th f o t lac privacf ko y (Steven 1872, 132). This alsserioud oha s consequence Johr sfo nbecomd Woodha o effecn ei wh , t their clubmaste greenkeeperd an r e applie Governore H . th o dt f Heriot'so smala r sfo l financial compensation "... in consequence of the privacy of the ground being thus broken in upon, and the desertion of his bowling-green, by which he lost the advantage of the bowling parties that assembled at his house after the amusement was over.' (ibid) After losing their green t Heriot'ssa Bowlere ,th sexistine werth f o e gofferee greeus e t dnth a reae Archer'f th ro s Hall, further evidenc strone th f ego links betwee institutionso tw e nth Hale Th .l itself had been built in 1776/7 on ground originally feued by the Archers from the Hope Park in 1726. James Balfour History s Pauhi n i l Royal e oth f Company of Archers (1876, 265) comments that 'In 1791 (sic), the bowling green at Heriot's Hospital being abolished, the one in the grounds repaiattachen i t Halorderee s rpu th "fo le wa accommodatio o de b t rth o d t gentlemef no n only"t I . public e opee wath b o no st t , archers havin speciao gn l preference probabld ha t I .t bee yno n much patronized sinc constructios eit 1770.n i ' This green is still in use today by the Edinburgh Bowling Club as tenants of the Royal Company. This is now the senior bowling club in the city, having been founded on 5 June, 1848 (Hay 1951,75-8). althougd an yeao p s r rga hDespit o ther0 5 e documentareo e n th seem e b o st y evidence mors i t i , e 196 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 1990

than likely tha presene tth t Edinburgh Bowling Clu facdirecn e i th bs t i t descendan Edinburge th f to h Society of Bowlers after they moved to Archers Hall. undoubtedls i t I y significant tha winnerse tth ' medal Jace th kn comslaso e hala th t yearo n et i s e 1780soth f . With thei rgreens w mov ne Societe o e t th ,hav y yma e felt they should discontinue Jackd possibls i ol playin t e I . th r eg fo tha t they institute prizw ne e d a troph their groundsyw fo rne f I . casee th this , howeverswa , suc trophha y doe seet s no mhav o t e survived, makin existence gth e th f eo more Jacth l ek al significant . available Th e evidence make genuinelw difficult ho s i y sa yo t tpopula r bowlin amons gwa l gal sections of society. Certainly the large number of greens in Edinburgh, for example, would argue for a fairly widespread access. Dr Thomas Somerville of Jedburgh in his My Own Life and Times suggested tha 174n i t 1 'bowls wer commoea n amusement. Every country towprovides nwa d wit hpublia c bowling green . . . All classes were represented among the players, and it is usual for players of different ranks to take part in the same game' (Fittis 1891, 200). Analysis of the membership of the Edinburgh Society of Bowlers however, suggests that, as with other organized sporting clubs, participation was confined to the middle and higher ranks of burgh society. Robert Chambers may have been alluding to this when he commented 'in those days 1730c ( ) bowlin muca s ghwa more prevalent amusement than now, being chiefl favouritya e wite hth graver citizense ordeth f o r ' (Chambers 1868, 247-8) desertioe Th .Heriot'e th f no s e greeth y nb Edinburgh Society because of lack of privacy would also suggest that participation in the sport was somewhat exclusive, certainl membere th Societyr e yfo th f so .

APPENDIX

LIS REMAININF TO G MEDALS ATTACHE TROPHE TH O DYT followine Th g list give briesa f descriptio eacf no h inscriptionsmedas it d lan followem sizs m ,it n ei d by some biographical notes on its winner. Where heraldic tinctures are given the medals are engraved with Petre th a Sancta system. medae Th r 177fo l missins 1i g l circulaal e Medalar r 7 wits1- h simple reeded rimcirculad san r suspension loops supporte piercey db d acanthus leaves. 1 Obv Plain, engraved with 'Victor Secundus/idem et donor/DOMINUS/GULIELMUS TOD/Edin: die Junii lme/Anno Domini/MDCCLXXII' [Mr William Tod, second winner and donor, Edin- burgh, 1 June 1772]. Rev Plain, engraved with a fox with a hen in its mouth and in a ribbon above the motto 'OPORTERT VIVERE'. Dia. m44 foundee th Williaf o e rseniord membermon To s Bowlere ,wa th f so s Societ presented yan d them with the silver Jack as their annual trophy (see above p 190; Arnot 1788,362). He was admitted guildbrother Augus4 n o t 1742 (Edin medas hi cantina n s Burg).i o l engravine x gfo Th referenc e th s f go hi o et surname. v PlainOb 2 , engraved with 'Victor Tertius/ne adhun no c c Praeses/JOSEPHUS WILLIAMSON/ Armiger,/Edinr: Juni 12/Anne di j o Dom./1773' [Joseph Williamson, esquire, third winned ran also hitherto President, Edinburgh, 12 June 1773]. Rev Plain, engraved with a closed book and the motto 'CORPUS JURIS' in a ribbon above and 'QUID LEGES SINE MORIBUS ribboa n i ' n below. Diam 44. Joseph Williamson was probably the son of an advocate who was admitted burgess and guildbrother gratis by act of Council for good services to the town on 9 March 1763 (Eden Burg). A writer, he became DALGLEISH: THE SILVER JACK TROPHY OF THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY OF BOWLERS 197

one of the principal clerks in the Commission of Teinds. He was one of the founder members of the Society (Armet 1956,185; Minutes, 15 November 1769) and was admitted as a member of the Royal Company of Archers on 20 July 1776 (Balfour Paul 1875,370). He married a Miss Jacky Neilson of the West Kirk parish on 5 May, 1778 (Edin Mars) and lived at Leven Lodge (Directory 1780-81). 3 Obv Plain, engraved with 'Victor quartus/Maitd. Bannantine (sic)/Edin: Junii die 11/Anno Dom./M.DCCLXXIV [Maitland Bannatyne, fourth winner, Edinburgh, 11 June 1774]. Rev Plain, engraved wit cresha griffia t- n holdin mott ge sworda th d o 'NE,an C CITO NEC TARDE' iribbona n above. Dia. m42 Maitland Bannatyn anothes foundee wa th f ro r member Societe th f so y (Armet 1956,185; Minutes,5 1 November 1769). A merchant, he became a burgess and guildbrother on 20 November 1751 (Edin nexe Burg)th td yearecordes an rwa livins da Rae'gn i s lan Bull'n di s Close East (Gilhooley 1988,6)y .B 1774 he was described as a grocer at the head of Dickson's close (Directory 1774-5) and on 9 November 1777 he married Margaret, daughter of the deceased James Kirkland, surgeon at Gogar (Edin Mars). 4 Obv Plain, engraved with 'Victor Quintus/William Beg/EDINBURGH/Junii Die 10/Anno Dom:/1775' [William Beg, fifth winner, Edinburgh, 10 June, 1775]. Rev Plain, engraved with arms ovan a : l shield with foliate swags beneat chevroa h- n betweeo ntw cinqfoil boara chien i d s san f hea basen di ; cres spria - tleavesf go ; wit motte hth o 'DETUR DIGNISIMO' in a ribbon above. Diam 47. WilliaA m Beg, merchan officeExcised e th tan f o r , becam burgesea wif s righy hi sb e f Isobeto l (whe oh had married on 9 June 1754 (Edin Mars)), daughter of Robert McGill, barber and wigmaker on 6 November 1754 (Edin Burg). Two years before this he was recorded as a gauger with the Excise living at Hallyburton' sCowgate lanth n di e (Gilhooley 1988,6,81) became .H guildbrotheea yearw fe sra later Julo0 n2 y 176 3agais whewa ne ndescribeh merchanta s dsecon a s tim e hi th f eo y dB . marriag Miso et s Marrion TraiJun3 n becomed o l 178ha e 0 h superviso ea Excisf o r t Leitea h (Edin Mars; Directory 1774-5 & 1780-81). 5 Obv Plain, engraved with 'MR. CHAS. SIBBALD/writer in/EDINBURGH./gain'd the Silver Jack- /June 1776.' Rev Plain, engraved with arms: oval shield wit crosha s moline withi bordurna e chequy; cres hana t- d holding a scimitar; with the motto 'SAE BAULD' in a ribbon above and 'VENIVEDIVICI' in a ribbon below. Diam 42. Charles Sibbal , unfortunatelyis d a rathe, r shadowe th t mentionef yo no s figurey i an e H n i d. appropriate Apprentice, Burges Marriagf so e registers wase H . , however, recorde beins da gwritea r livin Byre'gn i s Clos 177n ei 4 (Directory admitte1774-5s Royawa e d th )an do t l Compan Archerf yo n so 22 June 1776 (Balfour Paul 1886, Appendi , 370)xII . The medal for 1777 is missing 6 Obv Plain, engraved with 'MR JOHN Mc.KNIGHT/Writer in/EDINBURGH/Gained the Silver Jack/June 1778 & in/June 1785'. Rev Plain, engraved with an embattled tower, with the motto*T HOPE IN GOD' in a ribbon above. Diam 50. Although unrecorde burgese th n di s registers Joha , n McKnight, writer recordes wa , livins da n gi Currie's Clos 178n ei 0 (Directory 1780-81) yearo Tw .s September0 later1 n o , marriee h , d Sarah daughte deceasee th f ro d William Downie, watchmake Nortw Ne h e paristh n ri h (Edin Mars). v PlainOb , 1 engraved with 'MR. JOHN THOMSON/Teacher/of/MATHEMATICS/Gained this jack/19th. of June/1779.' Rev Plain, engraved with a crest: a stags head; with the motto 'FACTO PRUDENNTIA MAJOR' in a ribbon above. Diam 52. John Thomson, mathematician, live Skinner'n di s Clos 1780n ei , having married Decembe1 n ,o r 1778, Elizabeth, daughte deceasee th f ro d Major Hamilto Olivf no e Stab (Directory 1780-81; Edin Mars).e H also won the jack in 1787, see no 12 below. 198 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 1990 medae Th r 178fo l 0missins i g 8 Oval medal with plain moulded rim circulaa , r suspension ring supporte piercey db d acanthus leaves. Obv Plain, engraved with 'VICTOR/UNDECIMUS/GEORGIUS STEWART/ARMIGER/ TYPOGRAPHIAE REGIAE/IN SCOTIA/CONDUCTOR/XVI die Junij/MDCCLXXXI' [George Stewart, esquire King'e th , s Printe Scotlandn ri , eleventh winner Jun6 1 , e 1781]. Rev Plain, engraved with1 arms circulaa n i : r shiel fesa d- s chequy, surmounte bena y db d engrailed charged with three buckles betweed ,an nbuckla sinisten ei escallorn a chie d an fdexte pn i r base: crest - a demi lion rampant holding a star; the motto 'SUFFIBULATUS MAJORES SEQUOR' in a ribbon above. Height 55; Width 42. Stewar anothes foundee twa th f ro r member Societye th f so . Although therbeinrecoro m n hi s e i g f do admitted as a burgess or guildbrother, he is noted as being a printer in Old Greyfriars parish when he married Hannah daughter of the Rev Mr Cunningham at East Barns on 19 September 1780 (Edin Mars). He may or may not be the George Stewart who became a member of the Royal Company of Archer Jul6 n yso 1776 (Balfour Pau l, 370) 1875II p . ,Ap 9 Oval medal, simple moulded rim, with shaped oval suspension ring supporte piercey db d acanthus leaves. Obv Plain, engraved with 'DUODECIMUS/VICTOR/ORLANDO/HART/EDINBURGENSIS/14 JUNII/MDCLXXXII' [Orlando Hart, twelfth winner, Edinburgh, 14 June 1782]. Rev Plain, engraved with arms: on a heart shaped shield surrounded by a wreath - Gules, on a chief argent, three hearts; crest - a hand holding a lance; motto above 'FORTITUDE FIDEQUE'. Heigh Widt; 57 t. h40 Although he is not mentioned in the Apprentice Registers, Orlando Hart became a burgess as a shoemake Januar9 1 n ro y 1763 (Edin Burg). Twelve years befor recordes e thiwa e journeymasa h s da n shoemaker whe marriee nh d Elizabeth Henderson, daughte tailoa f o rWaten i r f Leith3 o r1 n o , October 1751 (Edin Mars). 10 Oval medal, reeded rim and beaded edge, with shaped oval suspension ring supported by pierced acanthus leaves. Obv Plain, engraved with 'Lieu'../Thos. Armstrong/80th. Reg'./Gained this Jack/June/1783'. Rev Plain, engraved with arms: Azure fesbetwee, ,a sOr armo armournn tw s i holdinm ; ar cres n ga t- a club; with the motto 'INVICTA LAHORE' in a ribbon above. Height 60; Width 40. Armstron appointes gwa Lieutenana s da 80te th hn ti Regimen Januar Foo7 f 2 to n to y 1778 (Army List 1779) this A .s regimen raises twa Edinburg n di Americae figho h th t Independencf n o i t r nWa d ean was sent to New York in August 1779, he would have seen service there. He last appears on the Regimental role in 1783 and his regiment was disbanded a year later (ibid, 1783). Armstrong put his military year experiencw fe sa latere us Jun n ,i o e t e 1795, whe became nh Captaie e Easth e d th tf Ol n o Town Compan newle th f yo formed Royal Edinburgh Volunteers recordes wa e s beinH .da ga coppersmit Niddrin hi e Street (Ano Corpse , Listh nf nd to , 24)membershis Hi . Volunteere th f po s si confirme Kay'f o e son Portrait n di originae th f so l officer corpe th f so s (Kay 1837,1, 237). 1 Ova1 l medal ,beade d reedean m ddri edge, with shaped oval suspension loop supporte piercey db d acanthus leaves. Obv Plain, engraved with 'June 1784/this Jack/& Prize Bowls/were gained/by/M Hepburn'o rJ . . v PlainRe , engraved wit hcresta tre:a e wit saddleha d horse below; wit motte hth o 'KEEP TRAIST' iribbona n above. Heigh ; Widt58 t. h40 John Hepbur anothes Society'e nwa th f o r s founder theimembern wo r o annuaswh l competition. Unfortunately, however, the records are not clear about him. A John Hepburn, son of a tenant farmer in Bearford parish was apprenticed to George Pitcairn, a merchant, on 5 February 1752 (Edin Apprents). No one of that name is recorded as a burgess at this period and the next time the name is mentione whes di n John Hepburn surgeo,a Collegn i e Kirk parish, marrie dMisa s Mary Smit5 1 n ho June 1766 (Edin Mars). They were livinFleshmarkee th gn i t Canongatclose th n ei 177y eb 5 (Directory 1774-5). Another John Hepburn, an accountant with the Excise Office, was admitted to the Royal Company of Archers on 4 December 1784 (Balfour Paul 1875, App II, 371) and his address had earlier DALGLEISH: THE 'SILVER JACK' TROPHY OF THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY OF BOWLERS | 199

been given as the Castlehill (Directory 1774-5). It is more than likely that it was this last Hepburn who wo Jacke nth thers ,a certainles i yprecedena winnee th r joit o fo rArcher t e n th same th n esi year (see Charles Sibbald, No 5 above). This medal contains the only reference to another prize as well as the Jack. It is possible that the 'Prize Bowls' mentioned were retainee winnere th th f o y d b d ,returo en t wherea e d Jace th nha th t ke a sh year. winnee yeae th Th rr 178 rfo Johs 5wa n MacKnight engraveo wh , d this year's inscriptio thin no s previous meda labove) 6 (se o eN . The medal for 1786 is missing 12 Oval medal ,beade d reedean m ddri edge, with shaped oval suspension loop supporte piercey db d acanthus leaves. Obv Plain, engraved with 'JUNE 1787/this Jack/was gained by/Mr Jo". Thomson/EDINV Rev Plain, engraved wit hcresta stag':a s head; wit motte hth o 'FACTO PRUDENTIA MAJORa n 'i ribbon above. Height 61; Width 41. John Thomson also won the Jack in 1779 (see No 7 above). There is no mention of prize bowls having been won this year. There are broken hooks on the stand for two further medals, taking the sequence of medals up to 1789.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS woulI d lik recoreo t gratefuy dm l thank thosl provideo al o set wh d informatio thir nfo s article, including: Arnot Wilson, Edinburgh City Archivist; David Scarratt, Huntly House Museum, Edin- burgh; Mr J Bourdon-Smith; the staff of the Edinburgh Room of Edinburgh Central Library; and especially all the staff of the Library of the National Museums of Scotland who, as usual, have been unfailingly helpful and patient. I would also like to thank lan Larner of the NMS Photography section for his photographs of the Jack. Mr Charles Burnett, Ross Herald, endeavoured to keep me on the heraldic straigh narrowd an t .

REFERENCES viewA Ano Establishmentd e n oth nf Royale oth f Edinburgh Volunteers. Edinburgh. Armet, H 1956 'The Society of Bowlers', The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, 29 (1956), 185-7. Army List 1779, 1783. Arnot H , 178 Historye 8Th of Edinburgh. Edinburgh. Balfour Paul J , 187 Historye 5Th Royal e oth f Company of Archers. Edinburgh. Chambers, R 1868 Traditions of Edinburgh. Edinburgh. Christie's 198 Devinee 5Th Collection of Important English Continentald an Silver. [=Christie'w sNe York, Auction Cat, 15 October 1985.] Directory 1774- 1780-85& 1 Williamson P , Directory citye th or f fo Edinburgh, Canongate, Leithd an surburbs. Edinburgh. Edin Apprents Registers f Edinburgho Apprentices, 1701-1755 1755-1800,& Watson (edB B & ) ,C Wood (edM , ) [=ScotRec Soc, 192 1963]9& . Edin Burg Roll of Edinburgh burgesses guild-brethern,and 1701-1841. Watson (edB B ) [=ScotRec,C Soc, 1930, 1933]. Edin Mars Register f Marriageso city e f Edinburgh,o th f o 1751-1800. Grant (ed,F ) [=Scot Soc,c Re 1922]. Edin Recs Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1403-1701. Marwick, Sir J D et al (eds) [=Scot Burgh Soc,c Re 1896-1962]. Fittis, R S 1891 Sports and Pastimes in Scotland. Paisley. Gilhooley J , 198 8DirectoryA of Edinburgh 1752.n i Edinburgh. 200 SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 1990

Hay I , 195 Royale 1Th Company of Archers, 1676-1951. Edinburgh. Kay, J 1837 A series of Original Portraits. 2v. Edinburgh. Minutes Minute books of the Town Council of Edinburgh. Edinburgh City Archives. Scott-Moncrieff (edR , ) 191 householde 1Th book of Lady Grisell Baillie. [=Scot Hist Soc, 1911]. SNPG Cat 'Sport in Scotland'. [=Scot Nat Portrait Gallery, Exhib Cat]. Steven W ,187 2 History f Georgeo Heriot's Hospital. Edinburgh. Stirton, J 1929 Leaves from my Manuscript Portfolio - containing The household book of James Sharp, Lord Archbishop of , 1663-1666. Forfar. This paper is published with the aid of a grant from the National Museums Scotland.of