Samuel Pierson

On the south wall of St Margaret's church Westminster is a decorative cartouche to Samuel Pierson. The coat of arms shown at the top is "argent, two swords hilted or, bendy dexter and sinister, piercing a heart gules, in chief a mullet for distinction, sable".

He was Churchwarden 1756-1762. In 1764 he presented a richly chased loving cup, stand and cover of silver gilt to the Overseers of the Poor of the city for use on special occasions as a memorial of the successful outcome of a suit brought against him and fellow wardens regarding the erection of the east window in the church. This has a figure of St Margaret of Antioch with the dragon and is said to have been made by Mr Pyne of London in 1710.

The inscription on the memorial reads:

In the Great Vault in this church is interr'd the body of Samuel Pierson Esq. He was a faithfull magistrate, a sincere friend, a chearfull companion, an honest man, as such his death was lamented. He departed this life on the 5th day of September 1768 aged 67 years

The cup is on display in the new Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at the Abbey.