Fish Platter, Cecil County

From the USS Maryland Silver Service

Maker: Samuel Kirk & Sons (1815-1979)
Object: Fish Platter, Cecil County
Date: 1906
Medium: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Overall length (eagle to eagle) 26 1/2"; Overall width, 13"
Accession number: MSA SC 1545-0971

Cecil County is represented by a fish platter, the largest serving dish in the service. Cecil County was formed in 1674 from Baltimore and Kent counties and was named for Cecilius Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore.

The designs on the fish platter relate to the nautical boundaries of the county, which are formed by the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. The Great Seal is flanked by fish nets against a background of swamp grass and cattails, while the Cruiser is surrounded by sprays of native foliage. As in the other serving platters, the “USSM” monogram is engraved in the center, two eagles are applied to the sides, and the rope border surrounds the perimeter.

The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are known for their abundance of fish and maritime creatures, which have been sustaining life in Maryland for thousands of years.

Representing that relationship, the scene depicted on the fish platter shows a 14 oar barge hauling a drag net on the Susquehanna River near Havre de Grace, Maryland.

The Susquehanna River is the longest river on the east coast of the United States beginning in Cooperstown, New York and ending at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge and the city of Havre de Grace are shown on the fish platter.

Captain John Smith's goal for his second voyage up the Chesapeake from July - September 1608 was to follow it as far as it would go to see if he could reach the Pacific. He and a crew of 12 men headed north and reached the mouth of the Susquehanna River, near modern day Havre de Grace.

Smith’s first hand accounts describe his view of the Susquehanna River and the various Native American groups he interacted with. This scene shows an imagined meeting between Smith and the Sasquesahanock and Tochwogh, Algonquian speaking Native American tribes, that Smith traded with during his journey.

There are numerous scenes depicted on the USS Maryland Silver Service related to events, places and individuals from the War of 1812. This image depicts a home (still standing today) in Georgetown that was saved by Cathereine “Kitty” Knight, on May 5, 1813, from being burned to the ground by British forces.

“Kitty” Knight bravely confronted the advancing British troops who were about to burn more houses in her town and pleaded for them not to burn two homes that were still standing. It is reported that she even stomped out the flames twice. Admiral Cockburn was so impressed with her heroism that he ordered the troops to return to their ships, leaving several homes and a church unharmed.

© Copyright  August 07, 2024  Maryland State Archives