The Ashfield Ring

The Ashfield Ring A fine 17th century lady’s gold seal ring, circa 1615-1620, the oval flat bezel inscribed with a lozenge-shaped coat of arms, quartered: the first quarter a central band (’fess’) engrailed between three fleurs-de-lis (for Ashfield); the second quarter a fess with a crescent between two chevrons (for Tendring): the third quarter a chevron between three covered cups (for Boteleler); the fourth quarter a trellis pattern (’fretty’,) with a lion passant guardant above (for Mapersall); to the centre of the coat of arms a cadency mark of a five pointed star (’molet’) representing the third son; the whole enclosed by a fine border of double crescents, to a plain hoop of D cross-section, band width 18.8mm. £14,000-£16,000 --- Provenance: This ring was found at Roydon in Suffolk by metal detecting on a stubble field on 4 October 2020. It has been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, ref.: NMS-71554C and disclaimed as Treasure ref. 2020-T841. The find spot is 5 miles from the manor house and old hall of Brockdish which in the 15th century was owned by John Tendring. One of his five daughters (and co-heirs), Cecily, became the second wife of Robert Ashfield (1409-1459) of Stowlangtoft Hall, about 15 miles away. Robert Ashfield’s son, from his first marriage, Robert Ashfield (1430-1482) married Florence Boteler, the daughter of John Boteler and Joan Mapersall (the daugher of John Mapersall of Mapersal or Meppersall, Bedfordshire). Their great, great, grandson, Robert Ashfield (1537-1613), had five sons and four daughters. Their third son Thomas Ashfield married Ellen Holditch and they had two daughters, Dorothy and Penelope Ashfield. This important ring most likely belonged to Dorothy Ashfield, born in 1594, the eldest daughter of Thomas Ashfield of Hopton in Suffolk, and his wife Ellen Holditch of Ranworth in Norfolk. The lozenge shape of the coat of arms was used as early as the 15th century to denote an unmarried woman. Condition Report The ring has very little wear and is likely to have been lost after recently acquired. The small size of the ring accords with the ring belonging to a woman. Length from top of bezel to back of hoop 16.2mm. Weight 8.2gm.