The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer

Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (Mr James Coles restored Mary Kelly, Sept. 7. 1778) fitted with an ornate loop suspension, with an associated (damaged) buckle, slight edge bruising, some contact marks, very fine £220-260

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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A 1st type medal, the dies prepared by Lewis Pingo (1743-1830), the initials ‘L.P.’ embossed on reverse below wreath.

Extract from the Society’s Annual Report for the year 1778, p.72-73. Case CCLIV, Copy of a letter from Mr Cole, Surgeon, dated Bow, September 8, 1778.

‘I have the pleasure of acquainting you with a successful case. Yesterday afternoon, about two o’clock, at the launching of an Indianman at Blackwall, Jane Carey and Mary Kelly being in a boat with a waterman, were run down by the ship. Jane Carey (who is in the seventh month of her pregnancy) was taken up almost directly, by John Woodley, and recovered with very little assistance. Mary Kelly was taken up by John Averell ... in about ten minutes. The India ship had gone entirely over her, and bruised her in several places. Being near the spot, I hastened to their assistance. Mary Kelly was cold and senseless, I had them conveyed to John Woodley’s house, and put to bed between good blankets. After the use of frictions very briskly, and external applications for above half an hour, she grew warmer, and gradually recovered. Convulsive fits then seized her. I opened a vein, which bled but little; got some brandy and water down, after which she vomited, and was able to speak. I left her in the care of the women before four o’clock, and saw her again at six, when she was able to sit up in bed, complaining of great soreness all over. They were carried home today at noon. Mary Kelly’s fits returned twice in the night, and she had them again this afternoon; for which I ordered a blister, and a cordial nervous mixture. She had miscarried three weeks since, in her seventh month. ....’

In the Report for the year 1778, Mr Coles is shown as a Medical Assistant at Bow and as a Governor of the Royal Humane Society. Sold with some copied research.