Irish Militia Button Makers Confirmation?

[Roy]

Hello again Chaps,

Okay so here is another recent addition and what a nightmare to photograph this little beauty is turning out to be.

Anyway I have no reference as yet on Irish Militia buttons (but have purchased a few of late). This one is to the 1st Monaghan Militia and I believe is a Georgian Coatee button. Small at just 17.3mm and I'm not sure of the finish.

The back mark is difficult for me to read so if someone could confirm that would be grand. I think it says: 'W. Jones Cork Hill Dublin The King’s Button Maker'.?

Of course any other details would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Roy.

[Cribyn]

Hello Roy

Irish Militia is something of a specialist subject within button collecting and tends to be a very expensive one too!

You do indeed have a very early Georgian Militia button to the Monaghan Militia. This is the first pattern button they wore and the "1" on the button is their precedence number and clearly dates this button to between about 1793 and 1833 when the precedence system was re-organised and the Monaghan Militia were given a new precedence number of "121". I believe they held this title until they became the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1881. No doubt one of our Irish experts will put me right if I have sent you down the wrong path in terms of precedence!

That's a wonderful backmark you have on that button, Roy. I would suggest it reads "The King's Button Maker" (I guess you just mistyped!). It is not a backmark I have seen before. There was a button maker W Jones but he was London based and I do not know of any Dublin connection. I will do a little digging.

By the way, if you intend going for Irish Militia buttons in a big way look out for "Buttons of the Irish Militia 1793-1881" by J McDonnell - long out of print but copies do turn up in the usual places from time to time.

Roger

[Roy]

Hi Roger,

Wonderful information as always and very much appreciated.

The back marks on these buttons can be one of the most interesting areas to study and enjoy (thanks for the typo heads up - now corrected).

Another book to look out for then and I will surely take your advice. Although I don't specifically intend to focus on Irish Militia buttons per-se, I am open to any militia button, so will attempt to grab those that peek my interest. A little diversity it not a bad thing. As of writing I have one more Irish example and two more on the way, so keep your eyes peeled as I will be happy to share them in due course.

Nice to find out this one is potentially very early.

Cheers, Roy.

[John Mulcahy]

The button maker is almost certainly Edward Jones, 2 Cork Hill, Dublin.

Active at least between 1815 and 1832

Search the "The Gentleman and Citizen's Almanack" on Google free e-books and you will see them listed as button manufacturers

Roger has the lineage right and this button can be said to be dated to pre mid 1830's.

5 R.I.F. was disbanded 31st July 1908.


John

[Roy]

Thanks John,

As this button states 'W' Jones, I wonder if the 'E' (Jones) you mention was the son and carried on the business later? Pure speculation on my part.

Cheers, Roy.

[John Mulcahy]

Originally Posted by Roy

Thanks John,

As this button states 'W' Jones, I wonder if the 'E' (Jones) you mention was the son and carried on the business later? Pure speculation on my part.

Cheers, Roy.

Roy

you may well be right , which if true, would allow you to refine the dates even more to something like 1793 - pre-1815 (if E Jones had taken over the business, it should be possible to see if both co-existed).

I had a quick look and by the 1830's Hugh Foley (a not uncommon Irish early button back mark) seems to have taken the premises at 2 Cork Hill

John