The Arms of Gleane, Baronets of Hardwick in the County of Norfolk
The arms as engraved upon this George III Etched Glass Three Ring Neck Decanter
dating to circa 1780's
are those of the family of
Gleane, Baronets of Hardwick in the County of Norfolk.
They may be blazoned as follows:
Arms: Ermine on a chief sable three lions rampant argent
The baronet's augmentation also is depicted at 'fess point' upon the arms.
Crest: A Saracen's head affronty proper wreathed about the temples argent and sable
Found below the engraving of the arms and crest is found the inscription
'Perfect' followed by the numerals '23346'.
The Baronetcy of Gleane, of Hardwick was created within the Baronetage of England on the 6th March 1666
for Peter Gleane, of Hardwick aforesaid (born circa 1619 died 7th February 1696).
During the War of the Three Kingdoms,1 he served as an officer in the Royalist army. He later sat in the House of
Commons
as one of the two Members of Parliament for the County of Norfolk between 1679 and 1685.
Given the presumed date of this decanter, it appears to have been manufactured some
forty years after the death of Sir Peter Gleane,
the 4th and last Baronet of Hardwick
who died 1745 at which time the baronetcy fell into extinction for the want of a male heir.
I believe that the inscription 'Perfect' and the numerals '23346' in themselves can
have
no direct connection to the family given the decanter's presumed date.
Presently, I
think the inscriptions could very well refer to either a 'lost' 17th/18th Century masonic
lodge
or gentleman's drinking club operating within the County of Norfolk or in the
City of Norwich, Norfolk's County town.
The hypothesis being that such a lodge or
club could have had at one-time the patronage of the Gleane Baronets
or they were at
least leading lights in such a lodge or club at some period during its supposed existence.
1 Commonly and erroneously known as the 'English Civil War'.
John Tunesi of Liongam
MSc, FSA Scot, Hon FHS, QG
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Coincidentally, Frances Gleane (1684- 1755), daughter of Thomas Gleane,
2nd baronet and Frances Gleane,
married William Perfect, having 5 children, Rev William Perfect, Rev.; Peter Gleane Perfect;
Jane Perfect; Chamberlain Perfect; John Perfect Gleane, John Perfect Gleane; Henry Perfect |
