The Society of the Cincinnati Medal Presented to William Linn on July 2, 1802. Stunning 24K eagle insignia with its original ribbon, in an oval 7¼ x 5¾" frame. Gold. Height, 41mm; width, 30mm. Presented to Rev. William Linn (1752-1808), first Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, in 1802. Linn was made an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati for delivering a "Funeral Eulogy on Gen. Washington," Feb. 22, 1800, before the New York Society of the Cincinnati.
The eulogy was published and the hard-bound copy (quarter leather with marbled boards) which belonged to Catherine Moore, Rev. Linn's second wife, accompanies Linn's medal. Laid on the first end page are several pages of extracts from the sermon Rev. Lynn preached in the North Church on Feb. 2, 1786 when he was confirmed as a minister of the Reformed Dutch Church. The notes are inscribed to Catherine Moore, who could not attend the sermon because of illness, by Thos. Anthony. The book has a small bookplate of Dean Sage, grandson of William Linn. Linn's daughter Susan married businessman and philanthropist Henry W. Sage in 1840. Cornell University's Sage Chapel's web page notes that "Much of Cornell's religious tradition dates from 1872, when Henry W. and Susan Linn Sage gave the University its chapel, and Dean Sage, their oldest son, established the endowment which brings notable religious leaders to speak at the Sunday services." Dean Sage also owned his grandfather's Society of the Cincinnati medal and so notes on the back of the frame.
William Linn graduated from Princeton in 1752 and was ordained by Donegal presbytery in 1775. From Feb. 15, 1776 to Dec. 31, 1776, he served as chaplain in the 5th PA Battalion of the Continental Army. He was a minister and a teacher before serving as the second president of Queens College (now Rutgers) in a pro tempore capacity from 1791 to 1795. On May 1, 1789 he became the first Chaplain of the the U.S. House of Representatives.
Linn's medal is a Cook New York Eagle, 1802 (see
The Insignia of The Society of the Cincinnati by Minor Myers, jr., pp 24 and 56). John Cook, a New York silversmith, was paid $30 on July 7, 1802 for an eagle for William Linn. It was ordered by Lt. John Stagg, Jr., who was secretary of the New York Society from 1788 to 1790 and from 1800 until his death in 1803.
Meyers notes that only three examples of the Cook Eagle survive, all suspended from a squared gold bracket through which the ribbon can be threaded.
Description of the Medal:
Obv. Head to right, neck, tail and feet enameled white. Green leaves in wreath and branches. Head with small crest, neck stippled. Beak gold and eye red. Beneath crossed branches eight long tail feathers wit gold fringe at bottom. In medallion two senators present a sword to Cincinnatus, wife and two children behind. Branches in exergue. Blue enamel in sky. The hand-lettered motto in well-formed, serifed letters on white enamel from 6 o'clock OMNIA : RELINQUIT: SERVARE: REMPUBLICAM*
Rev. Head similar, reverse tail distinctly different from obverse. Eight long thin tail feathers with gold fringe at bottom. Area of gold abou e tail and beneath medallion. Medallion design is not as distinct as obverse, but Cincinnatus stands with plow, with Fame above. Motto reads SOCIETAS : CINCINNATORUM : INSTITUTA : AD : 1783 *.
Organized May 10, 1783, before the Treaty of Peace was signed and before the British evacuated New York, The Society of the Cincinnati was established with a charter stating three purposes: to preserve the rights and liberties for which its founders had fought, to promote the national honor and "dignity of the American Empire," and to reinforce the "cordial affection" among its members by providing aid and assistance to them and their families when in need. The first military beneficial society, The Cincinnati worked to influence Congress for pensions for surviving Revolutionary veterans. Original membership was limited to those officers who had served a minimum period with the regular (Line) American Army or Navy; or with the French forces under Rochambeau or deGrasse; those who had served to the end of the War as a Line Officer, resigned with honor after at least three years of service, and/or had been rendered supernumerary, or honorably discharged after three years of service (today, descendants of original members may also become members). George Washington served as The Cincinnati's President General from its inception until his death in 1799.
Provenance:
Linn and Sage Families
Bruce Gimelson
Claude Harkins.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 75,000.
The Claude Harkins Collection of Washingtonia
