IMPROVEMENTS IN SHROUDS OR WINDING SHEETS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
& Son, Patent Agents, 128, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHROUDS OR WINDING SHEETS."-A communication from
abroad by Monsieur Antoine Conche, Medical Practitioner, of No 1,
Rue Adelaide Perrin, Lyons, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 28th December 1860, and dated the 12th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th July 1860.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents,
128, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHROUDS OR WINDING SHEETS," a communication to me
from abroad by Monsieur Antoine Conche, Medical Practitioner, of No. 1, Rue
Adelaide Perrin, Lyons, in the Empire of France, to be as follows:—
This Invention consists of ornamenting the shroud or winding sheet with
religious emblems or symbols to represent the particular religion to which
the deceased person was attached whilst living, the color being also varied
to represent the state or station of life of the deceased; for instance a violet
colour is best suited to married or aged persons, whilst blue or white is most
applicable to young persons or children; a cross the emblem of Faith, and an
anchor the emblem of Hope, are well adapted to represent a Christian; but it
is evident these symbols may be varied to any extent.
°

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery
Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special license that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors administrators, and
assigns should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHROUDS OR WINDING SHEETS," a communi-
cation to mo from abroad by Monsieur Antoine Conche, Medical Practitioner,
of No. 1, Rue Adelaide Perrin, Lyons, in the Empire of France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of ornamenting the shroud or winding sheet with
religious emblems or symbols to represent the particular religion to which
the deceased person was attached whilst living, the color being also varied
to represent the state or station of life of the deceased; for instance, a violet
color is best suited to married or aged persons, whilst blue or white is most
applicable to young persons or children; a cross the emblem of Faith, and an

page_text: anchor the emblem of Hope, are well adapted to represent a Christian; but it
is evident these symbols may be varied to any extent.
This Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 repre-
sent two shrouds or winding sheets of different sizes, both being adorned with
symbols or emblems suited to the Christian.
In Fig. 1, a cross is placed on the left breast and also one on each wrist, in
connection with an anchor, the cross being the emblem of Faith, and the anchor
that of Hope.
In Fig. 2, representing the shroud for a child, is placed on the breast a cross
with a lamb reposing upon it as an emblem of the child's candour and innocence,
and a sign that the child has been made a Christian by baptism. On one sleeve
is the Virgin and on the other the guardian angel.
These emblems may be varied according to the religion the deceased has
practised whilst living and, as stated above, the color may be varied to show
the state or station of life the deceased has fulfilled.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I desire it to be understood, that I claim the making of shrouds
or winding sheets ornamented with religious emblems or symbols as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings or any
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES.
(L.S.)