Thomas and Ann Shakeshaft (Claiming the Flitch of Bacon)

This etching was produced for volume 4 of a book called 'Portraits, Memoirs and Characters of remarkable persons from the Revolution in 1688 to the end of the reign of George II' published in 1819. It was written by James Caulfield and contained a large number of illustrations.

George Cruikshank produced many illustrations for the book often derived from prints produced at the time that the 'remarkable person' lived. In this case the etching shows Thomas and Ann Shakeshaft of Weathersfield, Essex (originally) portrayed by William Ogborne at the moment they were awarded the flitch of bacon, a prize for being the most devoted married couple in the area. The prize was awarded by the Lord of the Manor in a tradition which had existed since the Middle Ages (and is ongoing).