Description:
Silver two-handled, ogee-shaped cup with rounded lower body, tapering neck and flared rim; a separate oversized disc soldered to the body with a centerpunch on the base, and two cast S-scroll handles with spurs and bud terminals. The cup is marked "W.P." in an oval struck twice next to upper end of handle and "W.P." struck twice on the base for William Pollard (1690-1740) of Boston, and engraved "H * Beaman" in script on the base. Hannah Barnard (c.1646-1739), the daughter of Francis Barnard of Hartford, Connecticut, married Simon Beaman (1656-1711/12) 1680 and moved to Deerfield from Hadley, Massachusetts, before 1687. The Beamans were among the 1704 Deerfield captives taken to Canada and later redeemed by the Boston government. This cup was either a gift or legacy of the estate of Hannah Beaman; like some other childless benefactors of the First Church in Deerfield, she chose a piece of silver as a way of being remembered in the community, although she also provided in her will that her lands be used for the support of schools in Deerfield. It is uncertain if it was a cup from her own household plate or something specifically made for church use; some Puritan communion vessels were used at home before being given to a church. Since the cup is not mentioned in either contemporary church records or in Hannah's probate record, it may have been given to the church prior to 1723 when Hannah wrote her will or prior to 1730 when she is cited in a probate record as "non compose and hath been for a considerable period." Two-handled cups such as this type are often identified as porringers, caudle cups, or posset pots - terms used interchangeably in the 17th century. A similar cup is owned by the Longmeadow Church. Formerly L85.16
Tags:
ceremonies Link to share this object record:
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