Cloth Seal, Company, Pearse, Image by StuE, Found by Doug Turner.
Found in Somerset, 25mm, 13.3g.
Plain seal with (PE)ARSE in raised letters across the middle of the riveted side. The other side has scratched markings, possibly 4.3 or 21.3.
Writing looks fairly modern for a cloth seal - probably late eighteenth or even early nineteenth century.
The following private communication was received from Paul Cannon, "I am wondering if the name it incorporates is actually 'PEARSE'. Other seals which I believe also contain the same name (or parts of) are (from the PAS Database) [SUR-CDF0E5], [SUSS-8C7E03], [IOW-9AA716].
A further example appears to be on Ged Dodd's Website.
As you can see all have close similarities in style despite the incomplete way some have been impressed. A late 18th/early 19th century date seems likely to me. Several appear to be from the same dies but there are varieties. Most/all of them have scratched numerals on the reverse.
My suggestion is that they relate to the firm J N & B Pearse who in the first part of the 19th century were suppliers of uniforms to virtually the whole of the British army. The following links to Glenn Steppler's article 'The Regimental Coat of the British Infantryman, c1808-15', and this contains "The Pearse family had a long association with the military clothing trade; and in the early 1800s as evidenced by their records book, supplied clothing at one time or another to over 70 different regiments of the Line. In addition they supplied Militia clothing and that of various of Britain's 'foreign corps'. Their importance is further indicated by the fact that in 1814 all of the standard patterns held by the army's Inspectors of Clothing, for infantry coats and jackets were supplied by Pearse".
The following link helps with information about the family and particularly John Pearse.
I cant prove that the seals relate to this firm but it was such a significant firm that it seems to me that they are at least a good candidate and are of the right date."
