An early 19th century Old Sheffield plated Waterman's badge

An early 19th century Old Sheffield plated Waterman's badge,

unmarked,

circular form, with the arms of the City of London and the Watermans' Company, numbered '3773' and stamped 'FREE WATERMAN, AT COMMAND OF OUR SUPERIORS', mounted on a wooden plaque, the reverse of plaque inscribed 1803-1837, total length 18cm.

Provenance: purchased in these rooms, 20th July 2003, lot 424.

The Watermen were initially employed by the insurance companies to act as firemen, not least because many of London's serious fires were near the docks which were packed with wooden ships and highly flammable goods in the warehouses. In 1796 there were about 12,000 Watermen plying their trade in London. From 1707 an Act of Parliament exempted those employed by the insurance companies from the naval press-gangs but only for 30 men per company and subject to other conditions. The badges helped to distinguish them to the press-gangs but the Watermen were also required to carry their certificates upon their person at all times as a back-up.