{"product_id":"georgian-9ct-gold-seal-with-the-earl-of-stafford-family-crest","title":"Georgian 9ct Gold Seal with the Earl of Stafford Family Crest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn amazing Georgian seal with the family crest of the Stafford family, dating 1750s. The crest is of a ducal crowned coronet with a swan rising its wings out and its beak open. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a script monogram for 'JS' below the crest. Very likely for \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJohn Paul Stafford-Howard, 4th Earl of Stafford \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e(1700-1762)\u003c\/span\u003e. His monument can be found in Westminster Abbey, London. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westminster-abbey.org\/abbey-commemorations\/commemorations\/john-howard-earl-of-stafford-family\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee here for the photograph of the monument\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/a\u003e You can see the crest at the top. The inscription reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"quote\"\u003eIn this chappel lies interr'd all that was mortal of the most illustrious and most benevolent JOHN PAUL HOWARD Earl of STAFFORD, who in 1738 married ELIZABETH daughter of A. EWENS of the county of Somerset, Esquire, by Eliz. his wife eldest daughter of JOHN ST ALBYN of Alfoxton in the same county, Esquire. His heart was as truly great and noble as his high descent: faithfull to his God, a lover of his countrey, a relation to relations, a detester of detraction, a friend to mankind: naturally generous and compassionate; his liberality and his charity to the poor were without bounds. We therefore piously hope that at the last day his body will be received in glory into the eternal tabernacles. Being snatch'd away suddenly by death, which he had long meditated and expected with constancy, he went to a better life the first of April 1762, having lived sixty one years nine months and six days. The Countess Dowager, in testimony of her great affection and respect to her lord's memory, has caused this monument to be placed here. The figures round the inscription are the ancient badges of honour belonging to the STAFFORD family, who descend by ten different marriages from the royal blood of ENGLAND and FRANCE\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe motto \"Garde le foi\" is french for Keep the Faith. The Stafford's family's motto today is \"\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGarde la foy\" - Keep the faith so you can see it is quite similar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat an amazing piece of history!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Parkin and Gerrish","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40306080940171,"sku":"272N","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0373\/3428\/6475\/products\/georgian-9ct-gold-seal-with-the-earl-of-stafford-family-crest-parkin-and-gerrish-antique-and-vintage-jewellery-355115.jpg?v=1751888297","url":"https:\/\/parkinandgerrish.com\/it\/products\/georgian-9ct-gold-seal-with-the-earl-of-stafford-family-crest","provider":"Parkin and Gerrish","version":"1.0","type":"link"}