Gold mourning ring commemorating James Ward. The bezel of the ring contains a lock of hair, which is set under a crystal and is surrounded with faceted black semi-precious stones, which are probably garnets. The hoop is decorated with black enamel with a white enamel border. The ring is inscribed 'James Ward obt Sept 28th 1806 Aet 45' which identifies him as Lieutenant James Ward who was born in 1761/2, the son of Ralph Ward, a London lawyer with later Colchester connections. James was a midshipman under Captain Cook on his third Pacific voyage (1776-80). He was commissioned lieutenant in August 1782 and from then until 1786 served in the East Indies under (later Admiral) James Burney, another of Cook's men. Little else is known of Ward but in May 1793 he captured two French privateers while commanding the 'Sandwich', cutter, in the Isles of Scilly. He does not appear to have married and was 45 when he died in 1806 and was buried with his parents and other members of the family at St. Michael's and All Saints, Berechurch, Colchester. For his portrait when a midshipman, attributed to John Webber, see BHC3077: his sea chest and letters by him are also in the collection.