The circular box of good gauge silver, with slightly domed hinged cover
engraved with a coat of arms and motto :
'Stat fortuna domus virtute'
(The fortune of our house endured through virtue)
for the family of Molyneux, Baronets of Castle Dillon. They may be blazoned as follows :

Arms: Azure a cross moline or quarter pierced of the field in dexter chief a fleur-de-lis of the second
Crest: An heraldic tiger passant argent holding in the dexter paw a cross moline or
Motto: Stat fortuna domus virtute (The fortune of our house endures through virtue);

marked clearly to the cover side, and the base.

Given the date of hallmarking of this tobacco box it was undoubtedly acquired shortly after its manufacture
by Sir Capel Molyneux (born 1717 died August 1797), the 3rd Baronet of Castle Dillon in the County of Armagh.
For biographical information, see below.

Benjamin Beardsmore is shown as registering with the Birmingham Assay Office in 1800, Jackson's Revised, p. 366,
and " in Wednesbury Ancient and Modern, Hackwood as a "local manufacturer" in Birmingham in 1802.

Condition : Excellent; hinge in good order, good closure; crisp marks

3" Wide x 1" High / 3.5 oz.

SOLD

#7067

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Sir Capel Molyneux, the 3rd Baronet of Castle Dillon
in the County of Armagh (1717 - 1797)

Portrait by James Latham (1696-1747) 

Sir Capel Molyneux was the second son of Sir Thomas Molyneux, the 1st Baronet of Castle Dillon and Catherine Howard.
Sir Capel succeeded to the family's baronetcy on the death of his elder brother, Sir Daniel Molyneux, the 2nd Baronet in 1738.
Sir Capel was an Irish politician who sat in the Irish House of Commons,

firstly for the constituency of Clogher between the years 1761 to 1768
and thereafter for parliamentary sent of the University of Dublin until 1776.
Subsequently he represented once again Clogher until 1783.
He was appointed 2 a Member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1776.
Sir Capel at one time served as the High Sheriff of the County of Armagh.
 
He firstly married on the 22nd August 1747, Elizabeth East (died 1757), the second daughter of William East,
of the Middle Temple and of Hall Place,
Hurley in the County of Berkshire and of Kennington in the County of Surrey.
He married secondly on the 17th August 1766, Elizabeth Aldercron, daughter of Lieutenant General John Aldercron,
formerly the Commander in Chief in the East Indies.
Sir Capel had two sons and two daughters from his marriage to Elizabeth East and
two sons from his marriage to Elizabeth Aldercron.
 
The Baronetcy of Molyneux, of Castle Dillon which was created within the Baronetage of Ireland on the 4th July 1730
fell into extinction for want of a male heir upon the death of Sir Ernest Molyneux, the 10th Baronet in 1940.  

Heraldry Courtesy of John Tunesi of Liongam

Hertfordshire, United Kingdom