Thank you — that's useful, and it cuts down the possibilities.

Good to have the Buffaloes ruled out; I hadn't known their regalia carried a buffalo. And thank you for the point about the pentagram and freemasonry — I had been leaning away from the family's Masonic attribution, so it is worth my testing properly rather than dismissing.

I have since found that the Royal Forest of Dean Lodge No. 1067 was warranted in May 1865 and consecrated in June 1866, meeting at the Town Hall in Coleford and at the Speech House — about a mile from where Samuel lived. It moved to Newnham-on-Severn from 1869, which would have been a long walk from Coalway Lane End. A search of the Grand Lodge membership registers returns three possible entries under Horobin and Harobin, though I cannot see the details without a subscription, so I have asked the Museum of Freemasonry whether any of them relate to a Gloucestershire lodge.

If they come back with an answer I will post it here, in case it is of use to anyone else.

Might I ask one thing: do you know whether the friendly societies in the Forest — the Oddfellows, the Foresters, or local benefit or burial clubs — used a five-pointed star in a circular badge? The one in the portrait hangs from a broad plain ribbon on the left breast, with no apron or collar.

With thanks,

Lottie Aston