Today, the Lafayette Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin remembers the joint approval of Congress on June 22, 1874 to purchase and return the “found” stolen watch to family of Marquis de la Fayette.
From the Recollections of a Minister to France 1869-1877, Volume 2, by Elihu Benjamin Washburne published in 1887:
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Quite an interesting incident took place in Paris in December, 1874, namely, the restoration of a watch to the family of General de La Fayette.
I am certain it will interest all Americans.
The history of this watch may perhaps be better understood by some remarks I made on presenting it to M. Oscar de La Fayette. I said:
“Perhaps it is known to you that during the voyage which your illustrious ancestor, General de La Fayette, made to the United States in 1825, he was robbed of a gold watch which had been presented to him by General Washington.
“All the efforts which were made at the time to find it had proved futile, but, by an extraordinary chance, it fell some years ago into the hands of Mr. John R. Ward, of Austin, Texas, who, having seen it in a pawnbroker’s shop at Louisville, Kentucky, bought it on account of the inscription which was on the case, and without suspecting its historic value.
“A short time afterward the Louisville Courier-Journal stated the facts then known relative to this watch.
“That account having fallen under the eyes of General John B. Rogers, of South Rock Island, Tennessee, he declared to Mr. Ward that he commanded the escort of honor which was given to La Fayette when on his journey to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1825, and that this watch, as well as the saddle known under the name of ‘Saddle Martha Washington,’ had been stolen at that epoch from General de La Fayette; and they had never been able to discover any trace of them, although the Governor of Tennessee had offered a reward to whomsoever might find those objects.
“The existence of this curious and interesting souvenir being brought to the knowledge of my government, which has not forgotten the great services rendered by General de La Fayette to the sacred cause of our national independence (which has made his memory to be forever cherished by the American people) — Congress passed a joint resolution June 22, 1874, ordering that the watch should be purchased, and that its formal restitution should be made to the family of the Marquis de La Fayette.
“In the execution of that decision of Congress, the Secretary of State has sent to me that precious souvenir, and has charged me to offer it in the name of the Government of the United States to the oldest of the male descendants of General de La Fayette, as representative of the family.
“In that capacity, it is you, monsieur, who should receive the relic, and in placing it in your hands I fulfill a duty which is very agreeable to me.
“The history of this relic is contained in the inscription, which is engraved on the case, in touching simplicity. ‘General Washington to Gilbert Motier de La Fayette. Lord Cornwallis, Capitulation, Yorktown, October 17, 1781.’
“These words recall to remembrance that grand fact which will never be forgotten in the history of the United States, by which the War of the Revolution was closed and which assured to my country with independence the inestimable benefits of a free government and constitutional liberty.
“In fulfilling to-day, this agreeable task which has been confided to me, I am certain that I am the interpreter of the sentiments of the government and the people of the United States, in presenting to you, and to all the descendants of General de La Fayette, our most ardent wishes that happiness and prosperity will always accompany those who bear your venerated name; and we associate with these wishes, France, which was the ally of the United States, and who is its traditional friend, and whose glory is so dear to us.”
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The Lafayette Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin shows with an artist’s image of the watch General Washington presented to the Marquis.
Lafayette coin images courtesy of the US Mint.
