Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/120

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NOTES AND QUEltlES. [izs.vi A L 3, 1920:

apparently died early in 1857. As there is no record either of his having been wounded, or of his being made a captain, I rule his name out and suggest that in " Capt. B. Grant " a clerical error has been made, and that the man who fulfils both conditions was Capt. Charles Grant, for Hart, 1865, says of him that he was granted (with several other Q.M.s) the " Honorary rank of Captain, July 1, 1859," having gone on half -pay of Q.M. 23rd R.W.F., Mar. 17, 1854. As his name does not appear in Hart, 1866, it is presumed he died in 1865. Dalton very likely only included such names as he had come across.

Although at the present day, as in 1853, quarter-masters are usually promoted from X.C.O.s of long service and merit, and granted the honorary rank of lieutenant or captain, this was by no means the case during the eighteenth century, when about half the appointments of adjutants and quarter- masters were conferred upon young ensigns or lieutenants, who frequently held the post until promoted to the rank of captain, and in some cases eventually became general officers. The most notable instances are those of General Sir Thomas Picton, who fell at Waterloo, who when an ensign in the 12th Foot at Gibraltar was also made quarter-master thereof, May 6, 1776 ; the same position, curiously enough, having been held by his uncle, Lieut. -General William Picton, who, while a lieutenant in the same regiment, became its quarter-master, Dec. 9, 1752, as appears from the Army List, 1754. W. R. WILLIAMS.

GEORGE SHEPHERD (12 S. v. 295,332; vi. 25). I am obliged for the replies to my query but they do not help me appreciably. I had consulted the British Museum Catalogue of English Drawings and Bryan's ' Dic- tionary,' which chiefly repeats Redgrave, but these books are not infallible. Dropping the alternative spelling of the name with an a, which I merely gave because Bryan and Redgrave's " George Shepheard " seems to be my " George Shepherd," I will now amplify my statement, with slight variations, the result of further research. It has been my lot to examine most of the portfolios in the Grace Collection and I have the catalogue. I have also looked through a considerable part of the vast collection of London views now belonging to Sir Edward Coates, and have the catalogue of the collection formed by the late Mr. J. H. Wilson, which was dispersed by auction in 1898. In all these one finds a large numer of examples, chiefly

water-colours, by that most industrious? artist Thomas Hosmer Shepherd, who is not mentioned by Bryan or Redgrave. To- judge from the Grace catalogue, wherein his name occurs probably more than a hundred times, his working life extended from 1814 or earlier to 1859. George Shepherd's name appears first in the designer of a view of Cheapside published by Ackerman as a. coloured print in 1792. He was especially busy in 1809-12, and continued certainly until 1830, perhaps longer. His works are common enough. So far, among the collec- tions referred to, I have only found two London subjects by artists named Shepherd which are catalogued with other initials than- those of George and Thomas Hosmer ; these are L. G. and G. H., both in the Grace- collection, and they are perhaps clerical- errors.

After sending my original query I met my good friend Mr. I. D. Grace, F.S.A., now, alas ! no more, who was keenly interested in London and whose father made the collection known by his name. I asked him if he knew whether T. H. Shepherd was son of George and he replied : " My father told me that he was." This is rather strong evidence, but I am still doubtful. Perhaps- some one would be good enough to- com- municate with me direct. There- may be descendants or relations who will read this.. PHILIP NORMAN.

45 Evelyn Gardens, S.W.7.

CAPT. J. C. GRANT DUFF (12 S. vi, 13, 47). Particulars as to Capt. Grant Duffs eareer are to be found in the ' D.N.B.' and in the ' Book of the Duffs,' by A. and H. Tayler, vol. ii., p. 495. I shall be glad to- make arrangements for furnishing a photograph of- a portrait of Capt. Grant Duff.

A. C. GRANT DUFF.

High Elms Cottage, Orpington, Kent.

ROMELAND, ST. ALBANS (12 S. v. 294; vi. 48). As a confirmation of the derivation of a place-name in towns from rum, not Rome,, may I say that the whole space about Blackball in Oxford, at the opening of the Banbury Road, was once colloquially called Rome ? The situation is precisely like that, at Waltham, as cited by the Rev. G. H. Johnson, and at other town-ends known to* MR. N. W. HILL. The Oxford rum lies beyond what was in mediaeval days the northern end of the town, and neighbours- St. Giles's Church. It was a most con- venient waste land in old days for carters and waggoners, and is still the spot where,.