Original British Wood Grog Serving Keg Marked- H.M.S. AJAX 1799 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Item Available. This is very engaging, from a private collection in England We first saw this in the 1990s and have coveted it ever since. Only this recently has the collector decided to part with it.

This is basically a pitcher; the bottom is marked with a broad arrow and “B.O.” for Board of Ordnance. The keg is 14-inches tall and about 10-inches across at the widest point. It is constructed of wood staves with three iron hoops to hold them together. On one side is a substantial brass handles which runs to the bottom of the keg under the iron hoops. In place of the fourth (top) iron hoop there is a broad brass stepped hoop that fans out like in a large lip. On the upper surface of this brass fitting is an engraving the reads-

GOD BLESS KING GEORGE, ENGLAND and THE AJAX amen

For years we could not understand the significance of the brass lip but recently learned that it was to prevent rodents from climbing up the sides of the keg to get at the grog. Offered in lovely condition this has been in an UK private collection for more than 40 years.

History of the H.M.S. Ajax-

A 74 Gun Third Rate Man-of-War, 183 foot in length, Launched at Rotherhithe March 3rd, 1798 and burnt, by accident February 11th , 1807 off Tenedos. H.M.S. Ajax served in the Admiral Lord Nelson’s weather column at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 under the command of acting Captain, Lt. John Pilfold. Of her compliment of 702 souls only two were killed and a further ten wounded.

An impressive Napoleonic Wars Era grog serving keg with a good provenance, offered in fine condition.