Description:
Gold finger mourning ring engraved "AARON LEVY" on the inside of the shank, which allegedly holds a lock of hair from George Washington (1732-1799). Its gold and black enamel band is inscribed "G WASHINGTON OB 14 DEC 1799 AE 68." Included with the ring is a daguerreotype said to be of Aaron Levy and three letters (in data file) describing the ring. One from 1903 states: "Chicago, Ill. Feby 20. 1903 - Dear Mary: The history of the Washington Memorial Ring, which I gave you last fall, so far as I know it, is as follows: When in 1864, the United States Sanitary Commission held its great Fair in Chicago, there were many contributions of valuables to be sold for the benefit of its treasury. They came from all over the loyal state. Among them came this Ring from some citizen of New York City. It was accompanied by certificate on parchment from the Mayor and other prominent reliable citizens as to its genuineness - placing that point beyond doubt. The ring and accompanying documents came ito the possession of Mr. John Wright dead, who for many years was the Principal Restauratour in Chicago and was, also, in charge of the Restaurant of the Fair. Mr. Wright's city restaurant, afterwards, was in the Crosby Opera House. All papers relating to the Ring were in his safe and were destroyed by the fire which destroyed that building. Some twenty years since Mr. Wright gave me the ring, stating by letter and verbally the facts as certified by the burned documents, briefly and substantially, that Mr. John Levy whose name is engraved on the ring was a manufacturing jeweller in New York City - That George Washington shortly before his death left a lock of his hair with Levy, with an order for six (6) memorial rings - designed as presents for friends - each ring to included some of the hair. The six were made and, some of the hair being left, Mr. Levy made a similar ring for himself - this is that ring. Your aff. father, John P. Reynolds." The second letter, dated Chicago, Sept 1, 1878 and written by John Wright who claims that the original documentary proof was destroyed in the Great Fire of October 1871, reads: "I Aaron Levy the owner of a certain gold ring my name being engraved therein. Said ring contains a lock of hair from the head of his imortal Washington which I wish to perpetuate as genuine and the manner by which it was obtained, I was in the Jewelry Store of Mr - Cor of Cliff & - Street when Mr Washington entered & Said Mr - a number of my friends wish some of my hair as a souvenir Make me up a few rings at the same time leaving a package of the hair. After Mr. Washington had left I said to the Jeweller you will have some hair left. Would you make me one from which you have left which he did and the said ring presented with this document being the one above described - Aaron Levy / State of New York / City of New York / Personally append before me Rob. H. Morris Mayor of New York Aaron Levy and ? Swears that the above statement is true..." Robert H. Morris (1808-1855) was mayor of New York from 1841-1843. On December 12, 1799, Washington was caught out in sleet and snow while riding over his farms at Mount Vernon, where he had retired in 1797, and contracted what was probably quinsy or acute laryngitis and pneumonia; he died on on December 14.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+65.212 |
