The General's Cup and Company

DISCLAIMER: Louis XVI is not arising from the cup!

The cup has survived two wars. There was a note on a card in the cup which stated "Presented to Mrs. W. E. Ralph (my grandmother) by Mr. M. H. Ganun - found by him during the Civil War in a Masonic Hall in the South -(either Georgia or Alabama) with an inscription that the cup came from England in 16- was used as a drinking cup all thro' the Revolutionary War by General Merrion (Marion?) - was then used by Mr. Ganun to drink his coffee from for two years in the Civil War."Without going into a source history I showed the cup to a Dallas dealer of antiques who was conducting a class at SMU. His quote was: "You have a real find - it is English Lusterware 16th-17th century."

Michael H. Ganun was a corporal in the 2d Regiment Veteran Cavalry. He served in the Southern Campaign from February 1864 to November 8, 1865. Census records show him as a 'Bridle Maker'.

The Cup is a token memory of my Patriot Ancestor Joseph Beard, a Minute Man in the Lexington Alarm, April 20, 1775. Fortunately Patriot Beard was a day late in arriving at what was the scene of battle.