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Georgian sterling tureen of Southern interest

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Georgian sterling covered tureen of Southern interest London, dated 1806 snake and leaf finial on ovoid domed cover supported on classical reeded urn on pedestal form flanked by acanthus bound reed handles, engraved with initials TG (Thomas Gibbons); complete hallmarks and marker's mark of T. Robins. H8" L9 1/2" W5 1/4", and 31.9oz

Provenance : Thomas Gibbons, Savannah, GA (1757-1826), descended through Mr. Gibbons' family.Thomas Gibbons was most famous for his victory in the U.S. Supreme Court steamboat case, Gibbons vs. Ogden, under Chief Justice John Marshall in 1824. Gibbons was born in Savannah, GA on December 15, 1757. His father, Joseph Gibbons, moved to the Georgia colony from the Bahamas (via SC) in 1752. In 1780, Thomas Gibbons married Ann Heyward (niece of the signer of the Declaration of Independence from SC). He became a practicing lawyer and successful planter and remained a loyalist during the American Revolution unlike his brother, Joseph, and his uncle, William. Gibbons recovered his properties and his practice as a lawyer and planter in Savannah after being arrested shortly and having his property taken over by the new government following the war. He also became involved in politics and served as mayor of Savannah for three terms. During his first term as mayor, he delivered a welcome speech to George Washington on his visit in 1791. He improved upon his properties, including part of his confiscated estate given to General Nathaniel Greene and a 1,000 acre Crown Grant from his father's estate, the latter of which became the foundation of the famous Whitehall Plantation. These profitable properties along with an annual income of $75,000 motivated Gibbons to spread his wings. In 1801, Gibbons moved to New York City and Elizabethtown, NJ. In Elizabethtown, he bought half of the steam ferry operations that were then co-owned by Senator Aaron Ogden, Jonathan Dayton and others. Gibbons ran the ferry from Elizabeth Point to New Brunswick, which connected to the line run by Ogden from Elizabethtown to New York City. In 1810, before the lease was due for renewal, Gibbons and Governor Ogden were already in disagreement regarding political, business and personal affairs. In 1818, Gibbons set up a ferry in direct competition with Ogden's and Ogden sued. They proceeded to battle one another in well-documented verbal matches, correspondence, and courtroom trials. Eventually, a ruling in favor of Gibbons was decided in the U.S. Supreme Court declaring all monopolies on interstate waters illegal. Chief Justice Marshall's biographer said the decision has "done more to knit the American people into an indivisible nation than has any force in history except war." This ruling still stands regarding interstate commerce and patent rights.Gibbons continued building and maintaining his holdings including working farms, taverns, and hotels located at his ferry and stage line posts. He also continued dealing in cotton, rice and lumber from his Southern plantations. He died in 1826 leaving a handsome estate to his son, William Gibbons. Thomas Gibbons' papers from 1801-1826 exist and include correspondence with many esteemed characters of the day including James Madison, James Jackson, Thomas Addis Emmet, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jacob H. Vanderbilt, Cadwallader D. Colden, Aaron Burr, John Stevens, James P. Allaire, Shepard Kollock, Robert, Edward, Walter and Brockholst Livingston, DeWitt Clinton, Daniel D. Tompkins and George Walton.

Good overall condition. Minor scratches and scuffs consistent with age.

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