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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 1

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The 'Glorious First of June' Naval General Service Medal and original archive of the Reverend W. R. Holden M.A., who served aboard a frigate on that famous occasion before ill-health led him to quit the Service; he later went on to take Holy Orders, becoming a prosperous and successful member of the Clergy in later life

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, 1 June 1794 (Wm. Rose Holden.), on original riband backed with silk, as worn, nearly extremely fine

William Rose Holden was born in 1775 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, son of John Rose and Mary. Baptised in August of that year, by 1781 he is noted as a Grocers' Apprentice to one Thomas Carless of Birmingham. Joining the Royal Navy at some stage thereafter, he was aboard the 32-gun frigate H.M.S. Niger during Admiral Lord Howe's impressive defeat of a larger fleet under the command Admiral Louis-Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse which deprived the French of seven ships of the line and over 7,000 men killed, wounded and captured for the loss of no British ships and 1,200 killed and wounded. Though the Niger, being a frigate, played no part in the general engagement (a single broadside from a battleship would have sunk her) she would have been responsible for relaying signals up and down the line of battle for her larger consorts and performing other tasks as necessary. Interestingly, whilst Holden (confirmed on the Roll with this Medal and clasp) is noted as an Able Seaman, supporting original documentation accompanying his Medal would suggest otherwise, as can be observed from an excerpt from a letter written after the battle by his father:

Saturday 26th Sept 1795
Dear Sir

Agreeable to your desire I inform you that my Son has received a regular discharge from his Majesty's Service as Midshipman in consequence of the Infirmity which has again return'd upon him & thereby as specified in the Instrument render'd him unable to continue the Employment. However, my opinion is that he might have continued as Midshipman had he been industriously disposed & I am much afraid that he will not continue any thing [sic] long when there is any thing to do. The Marine Service, at present the object of his desire, is so far as I can learn a very low Employment & mean. The common Men are very indolent & drunken & the Officers are said to partake of the general Infirmity. But Wm. thinks that it will make him a man of great power & therefore wants a Marine Commission. I myself will have nothing to do with it"...

Clearly the young Holden lacked the physical constitution for an active career as an officer in the Royal Navy, though he obviously wanted to return to sea with the Royal Marines instead - despite his father's grave misgivings about their personal habits! However, it was not to be. It appears that perhaps, with health issues, Holden failed in his endeavours to serve his country and went back into trade: by 1796 he is noted as being part-owner of 'Holden & Farmer', an Ironmongers in Birmingham - however this enterprise was dissolved 'by mutual consent' in October 1795 (London Gazette, 1796, p.73, refers). Sometime after this point, he took Holy Orders and relocated to Worcestershire - an association that was to last for the remainder of his life, including a period of study at Worcester College Oxford, from which he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1799 and advanced Master of Arts in 1802.
In 1808 he married Betty Eveleigh in Beaminster in Dorset, having issue of two children - a son and a daughter. The Reverend William Rose Holden M.A. died on 16 April 1854, aged 78, at his residence at Dorset Cottage near Worcester. His son, also William, followed his father into both the Church and to Worcester College, but sadly predeceased him.

Sold with a quantity of original archive material and other pieces including:

(i)
A wooden snuffbox, exterior lacquered, with a small copper plate attached flush to the lid, engraved: Royal George, Sunk 1782 and with a handwritten note inside stating: Medal Belonging to William Rose Holden, Midshipman engaged in Lord Howe's Victory, June 1st 1794, afterwards Clerk in Holy Orders, 30mm x 105mm x 50mm, the lid loose but otherwise in good condition

(ii)
Eight original and complete letters relating to the recipient (including one quoted in the text above) mostly dated between 1800 - 1815 and generally concerning a number of matters relating to religious, educational and clerical issues; contained in an old leather wallet, all in very readable condition.

(iii)
William Rose Holden's Grant-of-Arms on vellum, dated 1827 and signed by William Woods as Norfolk Herald, contained in its' original red leather-and-gilt box, the box somewhat distressed, the Grant in very good condition

(iv)
Portrait of William Rose Holden, the reverse with an old label attached stating: Wm. Rose Holden M.A. - served in the Navy, present at Lord Howe's victory, 1st June 1794 (Medal). Afterwards Fellow of Worcester College Oxford - B. 1775, d. 1854. Grandfather of Wm. Rose Holden of 13 Victoria Park Dover, 180mm x 223mm, painted on wood, one or two minor chips and scuffs but otherwise most attractive

(v)
Portrait of Betty Eveleigh, the reverse with an old label attached stating: Betty Eveleigh only daughter of Col. Eveleigh of Beaminster* Co. Dorset, married Revnd. Wm. Rose Holden M.A. of Worcester. Fellow of Worcester College Oxford - served in the Navy & was present at Lord Howe's victory- *by Grace his wife daughter of Thomas Napier. Great Grandmother of Mary Rose, wife of Donald Bremner, 195mm x 232mm, painted on wood, some minor scuffs and in need of sympathetic cleaning

(vi)
Portrait of William Holden, the reverse with an old label attached stating: William Holden M.A., Worcester College oxford, B.1813 - D.1845. Father of William Rose Holden of 13 Victoria Park Dover & son of Wm. Rose Holden; grandfather of M.R. Bremner, 148mm x 192mm, painted on wood, some minor chips and scuffs but otherwise most attractive

(vii)
Portrait of a young lady, the reverse with an old label stating: The Only Daughter of Revnd. William Rose Holden, 138mm x 171mm, painted on metal, with a much distressed gilt-wood frame and a label, originally attached to the reverse, much damaged through application of sellotape

(viii)
Portrait of William Holden, the reverse with an old label attached stating: William Holden, Patron of the Living of Upminster Co. Essex - born 3rd of Decr. 1717. Married 1748 Mary, daughter of John Rase of Daventry. Died April 9th 1806. Great great great Grandfather of Mary Rose, wife of Donald Bremner, 225mm x 285mm, painted on animal skin and backed on board, in good condition

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Sold for
£6,000

Starting price
£4200