Oval mourning ring displaying the hair of Patrick Henry under glass in a setting of yellow gold. The oval face is surrounded by beaded gold work. The beaded gold work is missing on one complete side and a small portion on the opposite side. Engraved in script on back of ring, "Pat.k Henry."
Collection
Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection
Made/Created
Date made
circa 1799
Dimensions
Width
3/4 in
Depth
3/4 in
Length
1/2 in
Diameter
5/8 in
Material
Gold, Glass, Hair
Provenance
Notes
This mourning ring, commissioned from an unspecified jeweler by the Henry family to commemorate Patrick Henry's death, contains a lock of his hair under glass and has his name engraved on the back side of the ring. It came into the possession of Susan Hill Dabney (1892–1986), a descendant of Patrick Henry. Further written provenance is not extant; however, it is likely the ring passed to Dabney from her mother, Florence Miller Dabney (1853–1923), who may have received it from her mother, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), a granddaughter of Patrick Henry through his youngest son, John (1796–1868).
Ms. Dabney donated the ring to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation on May 29, 1974.
