Heirloom.

[Tar]

This is the story handed down with the sword from my father;

At the turn of last century, My great grandfather was Lord mayor of Plymouth; Sir Joseph Arthur Bellamy. Being a sailing man, he was Fluent in 5 Languages, Russian and Japanese being 2 of them.

As Mayor of Plymouth he had occasion to host a dinner for The King of England and the Admirals of the Russian and Japanese Fleets which were in Plymouth Ho. As he was able to fluently translate for the three other gentlemen there The King Knighted him. The Russian Admiral gave him a medal which is lost. The Japanese Admiral gave him this sword. I presume these were Impromptu Gestures at the occasion. Now He was definitely lord mayor of Plymouth and a knight around 1901, more I can not say, the rest of the story is as I was told. [ correction, He was in fact Mayor rather than Lord Mayor]

 

[John A Stuart]

Could you post a larger picture of the tang where the inscription is? It pixillates too much for me to read it. John

[reinhard]

The signature on this sword reads from right to left:

 

Bizen TOMONARI 56 daimago (56th in succession of (the famous) TOMONARI)

 

Bingo Fukuyama (no) ju Yokoyama SUKENARI (Yokoyama SUKENARI = name of the smith, resident of Fukuyama in Bingo province)

 

KAEI 5 nen 8 gatsu hi (dated KAEI era, 5th year (1852 AD), a day in 8th month)

 

reinhard

[Tar]

Thankyou.

[John A Stuart]

Oh, I see, they are linked to larger images. Good one on me. John

[Joseph P.]

I was just about to tell you they do that, John. :D

 

You need to contact a polisher, Tar. I bet that blade would be gorgeous all polished up.

Don't try to do anything to the blade by yourself.

[John A Stuart]

It really is too bad that the blade has been neglected over the years. With some damage to the tip. That is very deep rust and pitting to be polished out, if you wish. With the family history of the sword, you may want to. The fittings look pretty good as well, maybe Mino work. John

[Tar]

Yes a shame, It must have been in storage for years and the tip! I dont how that happened .Still quite a history to it eh? 1850. Id love to find out more about exactly when and where that meeting took place.

[John A Stuart]

A little research and it would be quite a story. I am sure that the meetings would be documented somewhere. This was very close to the time the Russians and Japanese were coming to loggerheads. Czar Nicholas's expansionist plans leading to the 1904-1905 war. This could be a wonderful piece of history to research with a family connection. John

[Tar]

<> looks like his work as you say.

Im not sure that the dinner would have been made public you know, What with the people and times like you say.It could be anytime around then I feel maybe as late as 1904, Murky times perhaps?

[Guido]

From my friend Mr. Google :D :

Obituaries, The Times, Saturday, Mar 02, 1918, Page 8; Issue 41727; col E

SIR JOSEPH BELLAMY - The death occurred last evening at Plymouth of Sir Joseph Arthur Bellamy, J.P.

 

Born in 1845, he was the only son of Joseph Bellamy, of Plymouth, a captain in the merchant service. He joined the firm of Messrs. Luscombe and Co., shipbrokers of Plymouth, of which he became a partner in 1872. Later he succeeded to the business, which he developed considerably, and was also successful in the formation of several cargo-steamer companies, of which he was managing director. He was always actively associated with the interests of the port and town of Plymouth. From 1886 to 1890 he was honorary secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of which body he subsequently became chairman, and during those years, owing largely to his efforts, improvements were made in the mail services, and a large number of ocean steamers called at the port. He also took a leading part in the development of technical education in town. For a number of years he was chairman of the Sutton Harbour Improvement Company (Limited) and of the Plymouth and Stonehouse Gas Light and Coke Company (Limited). He held for a long time the positions of Consul for the Netherlands and Russia, and Vice-Consul for France and Spain.

 

Sir Joseph Bellamy was a prominent member of the Plymouth Corporation for many years. In August, 1901, on the death of the mayor, he took up the office which he retained in 1902. Mr. Bellamy received the honour of knighthood in 1904. He married, in 1868, Susan Mill, daughter of William Wills, of Plymouth, who died in 1908. He leaves a son, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Bellamy, R.G.A., who was formerly manager of the Globe, and two daughters.

[Tar]

Thank you.Here are 2 pics from a Shell engraved with my Great Grandfathers record.

So JAB was my great great grandfather.

 

 

 

 

<

DEATH OF LADY BELLAMY - The death took place at Plymouth, on Thursday, at the age of 63 years of LADY BELLAMY, wife of Sir Joseph A. Bellamy and daughter of the late Mr. William Saull Wills, of Plymouth. Lady Bellamy, who had been in failing health for some time, was highly esteemed in Plymouth, of which borough Sir Joseph was mayor in 1901-2, when the King visited the naval port.>>

 

 

<

MR. W.L. CARTER AND MISS D.A. BELLAMY

The engagement is announced of Mr. Wilfred Lawrence Carter, elder son of the late Walter T. Carter and of Mrs. Carter, of Chulsa, Sydenham, and Doreen Avis, younger daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. A. Bellamy of Yelverton, Chartfield-avenue, Putney, and granddaughter of the late Sir Joseph A. Bellamy, Ht. Bach. of Plymouth, and the late Sir William T. Madge, 1st Bt., of St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent.

 

Marriages, The Times, Tuesday, Jan 03, 1928; pg. 1; Issue 44780; col A

CARTER : BELLAMY - On Dec. 31st 1927, at Brompton Parish Church, S.W., by the Vicar, the Rev Prebendary Gough, WILFRED LAWRENCE, elder son of the late WALTER T. CARTER, of Calcutta and Sydenham, and Mrs W. T. Carter, of Chulsa, Crystal Palace Park-road, Sydenham, to DOREEN AVIS, younger daughter of LIEUT.-COL. and Mrs. A. BELLAMY, of Yelverton, Chartfield-avenue, Putney, S.W.>>

 

 

 

These were all cut from a genealogy site.Doreen was my grandmothers sister.

[Guido]

Thank you.Here are 2 pics from a Shell engraved with my Great Grandfathers record.

So JAB was my great great grandfather.

To me it seems more likely that it's the military record of his son, Lt. Col. Arthur Bellamy, on that shell.

[Mark Green]

Wow!

Now that is a sword with some heirloom history. You surely need to contact a polisher asap. This heirloom needs to be saved for your kids and their kids.

Am I the only one that thinks he needs to get some oil on this asap. It looks as though there is a bunch of red rust eating this wonderful artifact up. Plus, the saya/scabard is likely full of active rust, and is not helping one bit. If it were mine, I would get it out of that saya asap as well.

Great story all around! Please save this blade.

Mark G

[Tar]

I have here Ren wax for my bagpipes! and Bore doctor oil but its natural not mineral.suitable?

 

I recall my father saying that the meeting took place after the end of the Russian-Japanese war, But Im not sure how this would fit into the timeline. I note Togo Heihachiro was Knighted by the King In 1905. Could this truly be his sidearm?!

[kusunokimasahige]

Dont wax! dont oil unless with sewing machine oil for now...

 

Get a polisher asap please...

 

On this forum there are lots of people who can point you in the right direction, even help you get it to the polisher...

 

This sword is too important historically to let it suffer like it does now.....

 

KM

[Guido]

Tar (very unusual name - if it's just a nickname, use a real one please as per forum rules),

 

it really shouldn't be too difficult to gather more information on a family as distinguished as yours; you might want to take oral lore with a grain of salt since it's not always reliable. Having traced back my own family history to 1614 I know that genealogy can be both frustrating and rewarding, usually the latter. The same, of course, is true for researching Nihontō. Please view my following comments in that spirit.

 

Now He was definitely lord mayor of Plymouth and a knight around 1901, ...

He was knighted in 1904, and couldn't have been Lord Mayor. The first one was James Elliot Pillar when on May 6'th, 1935 King George V, in commemoration of his Silver Jubilee, granted this dignity to the City of Plymouth.

The Japanese Admiral gave him this sword. I presume these were Impromptu Gestures at the occasion.

This is highly unlikely. First of all' date=' the official sword for a flag rank officer at that time would be either a 1883 (first model) or a 1890 (second model) long sword (Katana) for admirals according to the naval uniform regulations, which looks nothing like the sword in your possession that is in typical "Samurai mounts". It's also not likely that it was the admiral's personal Wakizashi - no offense, but the quality of the mounts doesn't indicate that it was owned by a high ranking officer. Maybe a "gift sword" handed out on occasions like you described.

I have here Ren wax for my bagpipes! and Bore doctor oil but its natural not mineral.suitable?

You can use light mineral oil, like sewing machine oil, if you want to be on the safe side. A more in-depth article on sword maintenance can be found here.

[Jacques D.]

Hi

 

Here is the list of Mayors and Lords mayors of Plymouth from 1900 to 2000.

[Tar]

I thought that might be the case, a box of gift swords! .. Im not certain of these dates of Knighting, He was Mayor, Then, though I know there are other memorabilia somewhere in the Family, I think the chain of office and a silver Model of a historic Plymouth building/memorial... My mother has My late Fathers family records and genealogy stretching back to 1600. Mounds of books and photos which I intend to digitise.

[reinhard]

First of all, the official sword for a flag rank officer at that time would be either a 1883 (first model) or a 1890 (second model) long sword (Katana) for admirals according to the naval uniform regulations

 

I fully agree with Guido. For illustration a picture of Admiral Togo.

 

reinhard

[Tar]

Still, It nonetheless appears to me to have been given to my G G Grandfather by Admiral Togo! I wonder if the King knighted them both on the same occasion in 1904/5 or is that coincidence?

 

The damage to the tip looks around 1.5mm

 

 

 

Could do with some Japanese Historical Research for some of the details IMO. Russian perhaps as well?

[pcfarrar]

You should check in the royal archives to see if they have any information on the event. They may have photos etc.

[IanB]

TAR, Joseph A. Bellamy was Mayor of Plymouth in 1900 - 1901 and hence during the reign of Queen Victoria. In 1907 he is described as Sir Joseph at the opening of the new Plymouth library so must have received a Knighthood under Edward VII. Admiral Togo had studied in England between 1871-1878 and then returned to Japan. He took part in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894 - 95 and then took command of training colleges as well as being commander of the standing fleet. In 1906 he was given British Order of Merit by King Edward VII. This suggests that the meeting with Sir J. A. Bellamy may have been later than you think.

Ian Bottomley

[Tar]

<

News, The Times, Wednesday, Nov 09, 1904; pg. 10; Issue 37547; col A

His Majesty has further been pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon - J. A. Bellamy, Esq. >>

 

 

Admiral Togo was knighted but is that the same as the British Order of Merit ? or ...

 

Supposedly a Russian Admiral was present in the story, JAB was knighted because he was the only Mayor[ex mayor] who could have translated in that role. Presumably though admiral Togo was Fluent in English?

 

<>>

 

 

My grandmother owned the house 'Plymstock' In St Margaret's at Cliff/ St Margerate's bay Kent. The house was requisitioned during the IIWW and all goods were locked away for the duration.

 

A pic from The Togo Shrine.

[loui]

<

News, The Times, Wednesday, Nov 09, 1904; pg. 10; Issue 37547; col A

His Majesty has further been pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon - J. A. Bellamy, Esq. >>

 

 

Admiral Togo was knighted but is that the same as the British Order of Merit ? or ...

 

Supposedly a Russian Admiral was present in the story, JAB was knighted because he was the only Mayor[ex mayor] who could have translated in that role. Presumably though admiral Togo was Fluent in English?

 

<>>

 

 

My grandmother owned the house 'Plymstock' In St Margaret's at Cliff/ St Margerate's bay Kent. The house was requisitioned during the IIWW and all goods were locked away for the duration.

 

A pic from The Togo Shrine.

 

You are quite fortunate to have this blade and the history attached to it, not to mention your family history back so far.

 

Regards,

 

Louis

[reinhard]

TAR (?),

 

There is no way Admiral Togo parted from his own, personal side-arm just like that, not even on an important formal occasion. If he did present Mr.Bellamy with a sword, he would rather have chosen a newly made, high-quality koshirae for this important occasion, but a worn set of low quality fittings. Presenting people with old and worn objects on formal occasions was (and is) completely beyond Japanese customs. Since Japanese swords had been exported to the west by the dozens at that time, I strongly suspect your sword of not being connected to Admiral Togo (although the idea is tempting), but being part of a growing family-myth and wishful thinking. - BTW, maybe one of our Japanese friends can tell us something about the whereabouts of Admiral Togo's personal sword(s)? - The only link between your pic of Togo shrine and the fittings of your sword is "Kiku"(chrysanthemum)-crest. This is/was the crest of Imperial Japan for ages and isn't very helpful for identification.

 

reinhard

[Tar]

Thats interesting Reinhardt but there is no family myth, my father told me this story and gave me the sword just because i was interested. As far as I know he never told anyone else. There is little doubt in my mind that this sword was given to my GGGF by A Japanese Admiral. Whether that is Togo of course I wouldn't know. But the facts are clear. My GGGF was knighted by the King, he was Mayer of Plymouth and he held for a long time the positions of Consul for the Netherlands and Russia, and Vice-Consul for France and Spain. So the circumstantial evidence to support this quite Amazing story I heard is quite strong. I doubt very much it came into our family any other way. I have contacted my cousin on my mothers side as he lived and worked for many years in the British Embassy in Tokyo so with luck he might be able to point me in the right direction.

 

I know absolutely nothing about this field so thanks for all the help and advice. I'm embarrassed I uploaded the Hilt upside-down! Remember that the sword was presented 100+ years ago, Its sat around getting dusty and rusty through two world wars so I would assume it was in rather better condition when it was given to him!! I have little doubt that in time more proof can be gathered though there is little I can find on-line. It really needs Japanese and Russian readers to find the story from their records. It must be possible to identify when the 2 fleets were in Plymouth and the King too!! Those aspects of the story surely must be traceable?! Presumably even the Medal he received from The Russian Admiral would have been noted down in records?

 

As One gentleman pointed out, the personal sidearm worn by this Admiral would have been of a different type. So it wasnt that. But he 'was' the son of a Samurai...

 

I dont know, all I know is what I was told and the supporting evidence from the historical records. But I have no doubt the story is essentially true, considering he must have heard it from his Mother; Madge Bellamy, who got it from her Father; Lt Col Arthur Bellamy, who inherited that from Sir Bellamy.

Its great actually, I have encountered all sorts of new info from this posting. cheers.

 

WRF Hornsby.

[Kyūketsuki]

I have the Admirals sword here with me in TN........

 

 

 

Just kidding, my sword says Fujita on the tsuba.

 

 

I have no history to my sword other than it was found in the closet of a house that had sat empty for several years. On the reverse of the tsuba is scratched "USM". I assume it stands for United States Marines.

 

Im no sword expert but id have it restored if i was sure of the story. Id have mine restored is i wasnt broke.

Maybe ill take the polisher to it............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIDDING!

[Stephen]

maybe you should have keep this sword in its own thread, it looks to be more than just a machine made blade, it would be nice to see the nakago on it, if your up to it.