Tankards by Marmaduke Best, York, 1671
The money to pay for these tankards was left to Hull by William Dobson in 1666. His family arms are engraved on their sides, alongside Hullâs town arms. Both tankards are inscribed:
âThe gift of William Dobson Alderman twice Mayor of this Towne Anno 1666.â
A silver tankard like this would mostly have been for show rather than for practical use. Before there were banks, many people stored their wealth and money by buying pieces of silver like this.
Flagons were originally made for ritual use in church. They were later adapted for more general use, especially for holding beer, and were then called a âtankardâ. Beer was often drunk instead of water as it was far safer.
These two tankards were made for show and it is unlikely they were ever used. They would have been extremely expensive to make. It was a notable gesture by Alderman Dobson when he left the money for the tankards to the city.
These tankards were bought as the result of a specific bequest to the Corporation of Hull in the will of William Dobson in 1666. They have been in uninterrupted possession of the Corporation since.
William Dobson (died 22nd October 1666) was an Alderman and a Merchant Adventurer of Kingston upon Hull. He was Chamberlain in 1633, Sheriff in 1638 and Mayor of Hull in 1647 and 1658. He was also a Royalist.
