Provenance: The family crest of the Crewe Dod family was a serpent vert, issuing from and piercing a garb. The family motto was in copia cautus (the amount secured). This waistcoat came from the family of Thomas Crewe Dod Esq (1754-1827) of Edge Hall, Malpas, Cheshire and would have been worn by Thomas. Thomas commenced his military career in the 16th (Queen’s) Light Dragoons as Cornet in August 1775 when he was 21. He went to America with his regiment in August 1776, under Lieutenant George John Burgoyne. Promoted to Lieutenant in 21st regiment of (Light) Dragoons. He was gazetted captain in the 23rd regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1781. His regiment were the first to land in India in 1782 and on 27 July 1785 Dod was promoted to major. He eventually resigned from the Army in 1788 to return to his Cheshire estates. He took part in the formation of the Cheshire Provincial Cavalry in 1798 and was commanding officer of the Western Cheshire Yeomanry raised in 1803. He married Anne, daughter of Ralf Sneyd of Keele, Staffs on 20 September 1786 when he was 32. They had six daughters and two sons. The sons also interest us because some of the waistcoats and breeches bought would have been worn by them. Thomas (1794 – 1810) who died unmarried age 16 and John Anthony (1821-1798) who died in India aged 23.
The high stand up collar above small revers, double breasted, ten sets of buttons, straight pockets, of white horizontally striped cotton, the front, and lower section, as well as the pockets embroidered with old yellow and ivory serpents reaching to eat the apples hanging from the leafy meander, embroidered in dense green silks and silver wrapped silk thread, the buttons embroidered with a green and silver central and outlined in yellow and silver. lined and backed with linen with two linen ties.
Underam 41 in; 1.05 m
2 ft 2 in; 65 cm shoulder to hem
The waistcoat is very clean but there is a very slight green colour run. A small old patch sits above the fourth set of buttons.
archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk - Journal of Thomas Crewe Dod.
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