The Flude Medal a gift to the United States in 1785

My brother Stephen Flude, has a file on the subject John Flude of Gracechurch Street and the Dartmouth College medalgiven by him to the College in 1785.

John Flude gave the medal to Dartmouth college as a memento of his regard for America - his friend Mr Grout conveyed it to the USA. This happened on 5th April 1785, only 9 years after the declaration of independence, so the USA was still a very political matter. The medal has a scene on it from Aesop's fables about a father not being reconciled with his son which I imagine was chosen as a metaphor of GB and the USA.

There is a picture of the shop of Mr Flude at 3 Gracechurch St, (a trade card?) and John Flude was a silversmith come pawnbroker.

John Flude was a subscriber to the American Subscriber. A Freeholder in the Innholders Company -1764 a liveryman.

He is buried I think in St Mary-at-Lambeth, his widow was Hanna Flude, buried in Deptford 30/08/1823

There is a picture of the medal being worn by the principle of the college photographed with FDR.

The information comes, I believe, from research done at the US end published in a newspaper article which dad has a copy of. Dad has not been able to prove we are descended from John Flude but there is a good chance we are related as the name is quite rare and our ancestors lived in the City of London.

For further information see:  http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/Library_Bulletin/Nov1991/LB-N91-Hoefnagel.html?mswitch-redir=classic