| Description | Gorget from the uniform of Thomas Pearson, who was an officer in the North York Militia 1808-c1815. Engraved with the initials of King George III on the front, the ends joined with a piece of black ribbon.
<p>On the reverse is a sticker erroneously explaining that this belonged to Karl Pearson's grandfather "William Pearson" and that it is a piece from the top of his sword. William was Karl Pearson's father, but in fact this did belong to his grandfather, Thomas. His gorget was a ceremonial piece worn around the neck, rather than from a sword. </p>
<p>In a letter dated 13 April 1891 from William Pearson to Maria Sharpe Pearson (transcribed in E S Pearson's family history notes, see ESPEARSON/1/5/1/3), William Pearson writes about his father, Thomas: "On his returning home from school in 1808 he was gazetted an Ensign in the North York Militia, which was then and until the end of the War a permanently embodied regiment. He continued in it first as Ensign then as Lieutenant and lastly as Captain until the peace came. - I have his sword, commissions, and gorget." |