John Lee Awarded For Sheep by Judy
Blackman, ANS member, FONA, KStE
In Colonial Acres Coins January 22nd, 2017, special annual token
auction, I purchased this 1863 Leeds Smithfield Club 45mm 3-D
(very high relief on both sides) medal awarded to Mr John Lee for
sheep. When I went to take it out of the 2x2, I discovered the edge
of the medal was stuck on Scotch tape the owner must have used to fix a
tear in the cellophane of the holder. Unfortunately, there is
now a mark on the right-hand side of the obverse from the tape residue.
For numismatic interest, I’ve included the 1867 Leeds English
Wool Markets, I was unable to get the 1863 but this gives a good idea.
The Farmer’s Magazine includes a section dedicated to the Leeds
Smithfield Cattle Show. It references the Leeds Smithfield Club
(founded December 17th, 1798) as an permanent institution as leading
provincial winter exhibition for fourteen years, publicly-attended
with “about 10,000 persons visited the yard on each of the two first
days” (Tuesday and Wednesday) and “on Thursday the attendance
was still larger.” Prizes include cash prizes from Mayors and
agricultural societies, medals, award cups, and ribbons. Categories for
l
ivestock include Cattle-Ox (Shorthorns and Other Breeds), sheep,
pigs, Subcategories for sheep are Leicester or Long Wool and
Other
Breeds (South or other Down wethers, Cross-bred wethers, Horned Scotch,
Lonk or Mountain wethers). There are categories for
non-livestock agriculture such as Roots (wurzel, turnips, potatoes).
For the 1863 show, sheep medals were First and Silver.
In 1863, a special Divine Service was given to the club for the first
time by the Vicar of Islington for the men in charge of the live stock,
and this has been continued ever since. From 1862–1938 the club
shows were held at Agricultural Hall (Islington, London). The
club
show was in 1960 re-named Royal Smithfield Club (on the granting of
royal status by Queen Elizabeth II), and the shows discontinued
after 2004 after farm machinery manufacturers and suppliers declined to
take part, due to the high costs. After this, club festivals were
hosted by agricultural societies until 2011 when it established its own
show again.
In 1863, the club’s show was called The Greater Smithfield Club Show:
“The show of sheep was very superior, general excellence
distinguishing alike the long-wooled and short-wooled sheep. The
Leicesters and South-Downs fully sustained their reputation as the two
leading English breeds — the latter having been better represented, if
possible, than ever before. Mr. Rigden carries off the cup with the
handsomest pen of South-Down wethers he has ever yet exhibited.
For fine points and good frames, breed, mutton, and wool, these
uttlerly eclipse all his previous efforts, as they do the other sheep
entered against them.” I’ve included English Wool Markets as
thought
it may interest you, this is from The Farmer’s Magazine 1867 as I could
not locate the 1863 market information.
In “THE VETERINARIAN; MONTHLY JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE FOR 1863.
VOL. XXXVI-VOL. IX, FOURTH
SERIES EDITED BY PROFESSORS MORTON AND SIMONDS” on page 57 in a
Memorial To The Late Jonas Webb (of Babraham),
there is reference to his Leeds Smithfield Club friends,
and included in the list is John N. Lee
(no Esq., only Mr.). There are 25 names
listed followed by an “&e.” Included for special mention, are Hon.
Elliot Yorke, M.P. for Cambridgeshire, Mr. Cox, M.P., and Professor
Simonds.
Unfortunately, I exhausted numerous resources trying to find out more
about John Lee. He may have been one of the two John Lees
listed in the British Industrial-Agricultural Guide shown
here. Usually the medals read “Esq.” or “Esquire” - a title of
respect accorded
to men of higher social rank, above the rank of gentleman and below the
rank of knight. It later came to be used as a general courtesy
title
for any man in a formal setting, with no precise significance. It
remains an indication of a social status recognized in the formal Order
of
Precedence. Given this medal reads “Mr.”, and given having read several
Leeds Smithfield Club publications in The Farmers Magazine and
other, Esquire was used, therefore, I have to believe Mr. John Lee, was
not of significant social status. Because of that, he likely was not an
owner of either of these business, but that is only my opinion, so I
leave it to the reader to determine probability under their own
assumptions.
I really love these agricultural, horticultural, and hunting and
shooting medals of the 1800s, but as is most common, I rarely can raise
any
specific information about the award recipient.
