Inventory

Inventory
24 July 1905

2 beds & bedding comprising of:-
4 Quilts
3 Blankets
7 Twill Sheets
2 pair of Pillow Cases
1 pair of Irish Linen
3 Down Ticks
1 Feather Tick
3 Bolsters &
4 Pillows

Furniture
1 Sitting Room Suite
2 Bedsteads
1 Spring Mattress
1 De-st? Bed
1 pair of Drawers
1 Mantle Mirror
1 Dinner set of Ware
1 Breakfast set of China
6 New Beech Wood Chairs
4 Older ones
2 Carving knives & forks & steel
1 Doz of knives & forks
1 Wringing Machine
1 Tub
The gold watch & chain to be left for Hugh till the child is 21 years old.

There is no real indication as to whom the items listed in this inventory belonged to, it was written on a piece of writing paper similar to another letter written by 'Maggie & Jack' from York at the time of Ellen Spence's death in 1908 and was dated 24.7.05 so what follows is guesswork at best!

It is just possible that the adjacent list refers to the contents of James Gartlands home following his death which occured in 1904 but I think it is perhaps more likely to refer to my other Great Grandfather, Hugh McNeill.(1844-

At some time in my mid-teens my father, (Hugh McNeill 1904-1985) gave me a Silver Pocket Watch which he referred to as 'Grandfathers,' from which I understood to be 'his father'.

If the watch mentioned at the foot of the adjacent list, is that same watch, then an investigation of the Hallmark shows that it is not Gold, (which was patently obvious) but Sterling Silver and dated 1872 by the London Assay Office.

Inside the watch is the manufacturers name together with, what is presumably the makers initials and serial number:-

L Smith
Middlesboro
J W 50331.
It seems that these 'time pieces' were quite common and would probably have been purchased soon after manufacture so perhaps we can picture Hughie spending some of his new found wealth, as a result of being in work following his emigration from Ireland and purchasing the watch to celebrate the birth of his son, my Grandfather, Hugh McNeill 1872-1927!

Or what do you think?

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