Help...Does anyone know anything about this bell?

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gritstoo

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My grandmother found this bell on the beach of Pawleys Island South Carolina after Hurrican Hazel in I think 1954. It was passed down to my mother, and then to me. I have searched for answers on this bell. The writing and pictures seem to suggest it was made to represent the English plague during the reign of Edward the III, and Thomas Earl of Warwick. The date on the bottom of the bell is 1369. In case you can't read the writing, It says F. Heron-Amet-exit-anno-1369. So knowing some latin, I have figured out that it is about something/or someone that died in the year 1369. I'm inserting a couple of pictures. Please if anyone knows anything about this bell, it would be extremely helpful. On a side note...taking where it was found into consideration, I was thinking maybe off of one of Blackbeard's Pirate ships, as Merrills Inlet and Pawleys Island South Carolina was a haven for pirates back in the day. But again....I've not been able to find much info about it.

I also posted this in shipwrecks too.....just in case....

:( Thanks
 

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Packerbacker and Angelo...I think you are on to something there. I read about Phillipa d'Avesnes and the Black Plague, and yes it was in that time period. I'm going to do some more research that period and see if some of those drawings that are depicted on the bell are in any paintings about that period.

PBK....thank you for the address...I will send off the pictures to him.

Diving Doc and Bigcypresshunter...thanks for the encouragement.

Again....thanks so much ....to everyone who posted...you guys just keep coming up with ideas. I hope I didn't seem like I was whining with my post about the "Shipwreck" section...well actually I guess I was. Sorry about that. Bad day yesterday. Just a little touchy this week...I had to bury my oldest dog Sadie, she was 15.

I know this will probably sound morbid.....but while were saying our goodbyes to her, I had to wonder if someday 50 years from now, someone would find her dog tag and collar we buried with her. Maybe it will be treasure to someone. Just a strange thought to run through my mind.
 

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Ok guys...here is what the gentleman at the Discovery Sea Museum said.

Unless this bell has been cleaned and conserved thoroughly, this bell is not from a shipwreck. I feel that this is a commemorative bell for the death of Heron that was probably washed from a house or cottage during the hurricane. It is not from the 1369 timeframe. I feel it has nothing to do with a pirate ship, as the condition of the bell shows that it was not submerged in the water for that long. Its small size and mount indicate that it was not used as a ships bell. I will however do some more research to see what we can come up with.


Dale Clifton



I emailed him back to let him know that "Yes" it has been cleaned and kept in an airtight container and that I would appreciate any more information he could give me.

Just thought you would like to know what he said. I'll keep you updated....

;D
 

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gritstoo,

welcome to the forum....


No worrys the guys at "shipwrecks" are just angry because they cant find those shipwrecks...lol....just kidding, they are a great group of people with lost of knowledge, but they are into their wrecks, this is the right place to post. This is your reseach team......
I only have one comment on your bell, besides its very nice, I don't think it was in the beach or water for to long, if its an original from 1369 and found in the beach after a hurricane it should have been in worst condition.

best,

Chagy........
 

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HeHeHe your post came in 5sec before mine

Chagy....
 

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Too funny Chagy....I thought that is what might have happened.... ;D
 

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gritstoo said:
Ok guys...here is what the gentleman at the Discovery Sea Museum said.

Unless this bell has been cleaned and conserved thoroughly, this bell is not from a shipwreck... I feel it has nothing to do with a pirate ship, as the condition of the bell shows that it was not submerged in the water for that long...

Dale Clifton



I emailed him back to let him know that "Yes" it has been cleaned and kept in an airtight container and that I would appreciate any more information he could give me.



;D
grits, I used to get the same response from an item I found on the beach, after I cleaned it, and brought to a museum for identification. That is probably why the shipwreck forum members didn't respond or responded the way they did. It used to make me so angry. >:((How to they know, it might have washed out of the dunes?
If your bell was cleaned, you are going to have to explain how it was done and by whom if you are going to get anyone to take you seriously about this find, I am afraid. :( Because now it does not look old and is in excellent condition. :-\ It is a beautiful piece.
 

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Michelle, Thank you for looking into it. In Italian - Anno means "Year". In Dutch and Swedish - Anno means "in the year of". So I'm pretty certain that 1369 is the year that whoever or whatever the pictures on this bell died a painful death. Exit - death or died... Amet Exit - who died a painful death ( rough translation )

Kinda like that filler text you see on web pages that aren't quite finished....[b]lorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet... This has been used for centurys and modern day typesetters and font creators use this to test fonts.

I use this web site to generate filler text when I am making/designing websites to see the layout. As well as for word counts when I'm writing. I am a freelance web designer/programmer and writer by trade. http://lipsum.com

Keep searching though...every little bit of info helps.
 

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I was refering to the type of bell for passengers to summon service from porters.

Check out Philippa of Hanault on WIKIPEDIA she died on August 15, 1369. No reference to Heron. I even thought that perhaps F. would be for Father Heron or Fryar Heron.

I checked 1369 HANGINGS and oddly enough a hit came back on google about the 3rd page. The reason for checking under hangins was due to the bell showing someone giving a blessing (fryar) and also someone on a horse with the hand behind his back. (the 1369 Hangings hit, for some oddity came up with the queen having had died on August 15, 1369)

Just trying all kinds of avenues.

Tony

P.S. On the wikipedia site there is an illustration of the queen. However, it bears not a single comparison to the head on your bell. On your bell the head borders on "hag" in my opinion.
 

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I believe that F. Heron Amet is a name since it has capital letters. "exit" I have no clue. anno is (year) in Italian and (in the year) in Swedich, i tis not latin, portuguese, dutch, french or spanish and I dont think is italian or swedich. the word exit does not match any of these.

I will keep trying.

Best,


Chagy..........
 

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This is in response ti bigcypresshntr's comment on "england" being engraved on the inside of the bell.Although I can't see it myself,it worries me.Why would the country of origin be put on it ,unless it was made for "export" ? Nice looking bell,hope it proves to be "old".
 

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diggummup said:
This is in response ti bigcypresshntr's comment on "england" being engraved on the inside of the bell.Although I can't see it myself,it worries me.Why would the country of origin be put on it ,unless it was made for "export" ? Nice looking bell,hope it proves to be "old".
I was so concentrated trying to find out the language of the writing on the outside, that I didn't think of the engraving inside. Why would it be made in one country with the writing in an other language.

Best,

Chagy..........
 

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Good point Diggumm.

The word ENGLAND is just to the left of the dingleberry. Country of origin is required for export.

Still hoping that it is old.

Tony
 

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William HESILRIGE - b. 1325; d. 1385. Party to the Plessey deeds of 1350. Of Fawdon, he served in the Scottish wars and was granted lands in Westslade South in 1360. Settled the manor of Fawdon and lands in South Gosforth, Kenton and Newcastle on his son Thomas in 1386. Knight of Shire for Northumberland in 1376 and 1377.

Joan -

William - Eldest son. Named in settlements of 1369 and 1385.
Thomas - d. Oct. 15, 1422.
Robert - Living in 1392.
Donald - Living in 1386. Married Joan HERON, daughter of Nicholas HERON.
John - Named in settlement of 1386. Probably founder of the HESILRIGE family of Swarland.

marriage bell?
 

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