A George II silver serving plate, by George Hindmarsh, London 1742, circular form, grapevine and

A George II silver serving plate, by George Hindmarsh, London 1742, circular form, grapevine and reeded border, engraved with an armorial with foliate scroll mantling, scratch weight to underside `55:10`, diameter 37cm, approx. weight 54oz. The shield is that for John Bowes of Strearlam Castle, Co. Durham who was born before the marriage of his father John Bowes, 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, to Mary Milner who died the day after their marriage in 1820. As his parents had no Scottish domicile their marriage was not legitimised in Scottish Law and at the 10th earl`s death in 1860 his English titles became extinct and the earldom devolved upon their next surviving son, Thomas. John Bowes was granted this Bowles shield with a wavy border for illegitimacy in 1830, and died in 1885 leaving his Durham estates to his cousin, the 13th earl.