Commodore Perry's Captain of Marines Opening of Japan,China

[kanemono]

This Chinese made silver Tankard was presented to James Hemphill Jones by John B. Goodridge in Canton China during Commodore Matthew C. Perry's opening of China and Japan in 1853.

James Hemphill Jones was born in Wilmington, Delaware on May 6, 1821. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on March 2nd, 1847. Second Lieutenant Jones served in Company B of the Marine Battalion under Captain John G. Reynolds during the Mexican War in 1847 and 1848. Lieutenant Jones was next assigned to the East India Squadron as commander of the Marines aboard the side-wheel, steam frigate USS Powhatan. The Powhatan arrived on station via Cape of Good Hope June 15, 1853. The Powhatan’s arrival in Chinese waters coincided with an important phase of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's negotiations for commercial relations with the Japanese and the opening of two Japanese ports. The Powhatan was Perry's flagship during his November visit to China. The USS Powhatan dispatched an officer of Marines with a complement of Marines with one of her boat howitzers to remain at Canton during her stay at Whamopa to protect American citizens. The officer was a guest at the home of American merchant John B. Goodridge. The Powhatan entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay February 14^th 1854 with the rest of the East Indies Squadron. When Commodore Perry wished to make an impression upon the Japanese, he paraded the Powhatan’s Marines commanded by First Lieutenant James Hemphill Jones through the streets of Edo. The Convention of Kanagawa was signed on March 31, 1854. On March 19, 1855 Marines were landed in Canton to protect U.S. citizens from piracy. First Lieutenant James Hemphill Jones and 41 men from the USS Powhatan went ashore and remained there for two days. In July 1855, Chinese pirates in the Hong Kong area captured four British owned merchant ships. In response, on August 4^th 1855, armed boats from the East India Squadron’s frigate USS Powhatan, the seamen and Marines commanded by First Lieutenant James Hemphill Jones, and the Royal Navy sloop-of-war HMS Rattler attacked the pirates at Ty-ho Bay. HMS Eaglet towed the boats into position which then proceeded to destroy twenty of thirty-six junks. Seven merchant ships were also rescued. An estimated 500 pirates were killed or wounded and over 1,000 taken prisoner the allied loss was nine killed and twelve wounded. The USS Powhatan then assisted an Anglo and French attack by bombarding the Chinese Taku Forts. Captain James H. Jones commanded Co. B of United States Marines at the July 21^st 1861 Battle of Bull Run (First Battle of Manassas) where he was lightly wounded by a spent ball which had killed one of his lieutenants. Captain James H. Jones died, after a brief illness on April 17, 1880.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kanemono]

This tintype is of Jones during the Civil War.

[skypilot6670]

That is an amazing piece. Great research. Thank you very much for posting. Mike

[Kurt Barickman]

Good grief Dick, you just keep astounding me with all the items in your collection from such a broad swath of historical time periods which relate to US history.

 

Kudos again and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

 

Kurt

[Dirk]

In a class by itself! Truly a remarkable piece. Leaves the world of collectibles and enters the world of fine antiques-art

[kanemono]

Thank you all for your comments. When I bought this piece I had no idea who Jones was or the time period of the tankard. I thought it was early to mid 20th century. I was amazed when I researched James Hemphill Jones. All of his papers are in the Delaware Historical Society including his extensive journal of his visit to China and Japan. I had the entire journal photocopied. It seems that Jones was a naturalist and a anthropologist so the entire journal was about the plants, animals and people he saw, nothing about the Perry expedition or his encounters with pirates.

John Burgess Goodridge was born 27 July, 1826 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1845 he entered the office of his brother S.F. Goodridge in New York City. He remained there two years, and then went to Canton, China where he subsequently became a partner in the large American commercial house of Wetmore and Co. He came home early in 1856, and after his marriage to Ellen Burdick daughter to General Justus Burdick of Kalamazoo, Michigan, returned with his wife to China, and died in Macao 23 June, 1857. He had no children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kanemono]

Another interesting note is that the EGA on his cap in the photographs dated 1878 appears to be the two piece 1868 officers cap Corps Device.

 

 

[ludwigh1980]

Wonderful early Chinese Marine Silver. Thank you for sharing.

Regards,

 

Terry

[bobgee]

Great piece, Dick! Semper Fi!

[dskjl]

What an amazing find, the engraving is really beautiful, congrats!