Please could you help I.D. this button

[150aceboy]

Hi Pete, i found this button recently, and wonder if you could help to ID please, the coin in the picture is a sixpence
thanks
Paul 

[The Doc]

That's a very nice livery button Paul and very interesting.

The motto is "Quae sursum volo videre", which means something like, "I long to see what is beyond". This is the motto of the Quinns or O'Quinns, Earls of Dunraven.

This does fit with the button, the crown at the top being an Earl's crown. All the other elements of the coat of arms are described as belonging to this family. The shield  has winged horses in two quarters and in the others are chevrons between three lions' heads. The supporters of the arms are ravens with wings elevated, collared and chained.

I haven't seen this exact coat of arms, but I guess it must be a branch of this family.

Is there anything on the back? - a maker's mark might date it fairly accurately.


If it is Victorian then it could relate to the 5th Earl:

Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl was born on 7 February 1857. He was the son of Captain Hon. Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin and Caroline Tyler. He married Lady Eva Constance Aline Bourke, daughter of Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo and Hon. Blanche Julia Wyndham, on 7 July 1885. He died on 23 October 1952 at age 95.

 Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl fought in the First Boer War in 1881. He was Aide-de-Camp and Military Secretary to the Governor of Madras between 1886 and 1889. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for South Glamorgan between 1895 and 1906. He fought in the Boer War between 1899 and 1901, where he was mentioned in despatches. He was decorated with the award of Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1900. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Glamorgan. He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (C.B.) in 1903. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the 16th Lancers. He held the office of High Sheriff of County Kilkenny in 1914. He was Commandant of the Line of Communications in 1915. He was Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel of the Glamorgan Yeomanry. He gained the rank of Honorary Major in the service of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. He succeeded to the title of 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl [I., 1822] on 14 June 1926. He succeeded to the title of 5th Baron Adare, of Adare [I., 1800] on 14 June 1926. He succeeded to the title of 5th Viscount Adare [I., 1822] on 14 June 1926. He succeeded to the title of 5th Baronet Quin, of Adare, co. Limerick [I., 1781] on 14 June 1926. He succeeded to the title of 5th Viscount Mount-Earl [I., 1816] on 14 June 1926.

[The Doc]

Did you find it near Southerndown? One of the Earl's homes was Dunraven Castle.

[150aceboy]

Hi Pete thats great info fella, yes the button was found on pasture land on a farm in Wick, not too far from Southern Down, here is a picture of the back, and also a picture of a token my son found on the same farm.

[The Doc]

The backmark reads Doughty and Co, 103 St Martin's Lane London. Doughty were known as livery button makers in the 19th century. See here on UKDFD for a list of button makers:

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/pages/button-makers.html#anchora

[The Doc]

The token is nice as well.

You've got me on to a sidetrack of Southerndown history. An interesting summary here:

http://www.stbridesmajor.co.uk/Shared_pages/history/pages_history/history_sdn.htm

[150aceboy]

Very interesting read on Southerndown Pete, thanks for all your help, much appreciated.
Paul