Today’s deeper digging takes us to Belfast, Northern Ireland. In Season 31 (Episode 25) of Antiques Roadshow UK, a Norfolk man brought in an 18th-century box that had been in his family for a number of generations. A truly impressive piece, even if you don’t care for the Anglo-Indian style. Lovely rosewood box, inlaid with more ivory than you thought they could get onto a box and still leave some of the wood showing through. Massive silver hinges inside, silver handles on two small trick drawers in the front, and a hasp with original key that was a piece of art in and of itself.
The only thing inside was a note dated 01 Oct 1870, written on mourning paper, to the person who’d given it to the present owner’s grandfather. Complete with a signature that neither the man nor the specialist could decipher. A touching note, written in a moment of mixed grief and gratitude.
Alexander Finlay (A.F.) Herdman’s 24-year-old wife, Selina Frances, had died on May 4, nearly five months before the date on the letter. The box was a gift from Herdman to the family doctor who had cared for Selina during her final days.
“Belfast
1 October 1870
My dear Dr McGee
Will you accept the accompanying casket as a memento of my dear wife, and it may be of my self?
It makes a small acknowledgment of your kindness to me all my life; but especially during the past six months, when your experience has been invaluable to me.
The casket at one time belonged to Horace Walpole of Strawberry Hill, which adds a little romance to it.
Believe me
Yours sincerely
A.F. Herdman”
Don’t we all wish that everything we bought or inherited had a bit of provenance like that attached to it? (This is a word of advice for all of us. I’m as guilty as anyone about owning a lot of family pieces which haven’t been documented.) Of course we do. But Belfast? Ooof. If you’ve ever tried to research someone in Ireland or Northern Ireland, then you know that “finding” anyone up there is often impossible. This time, however, there were a few pieces of the puzzle to be had.
Dublin Daily Express, 27 Jul 1864, page 1:
“MARRIAGES. HERDMAN and GOSSELLIN. July 26, at Cavan Church, by the Rev. Francis Crawford, Rector of Derryloran, Cookstown, uncle to the bride, assisted by the Rev. John Grainer, of Blackrock, Alexander F. Herdman, Esq., of Belfast, to Selina Frances, third daughter of Major Gossellin, late 46th Regt. No cards.”
Londonderry Standard, 12 May 1866, page 3:
A new Presbyterian Church in Belfast was “to be erected at the sole expense of Alexander F. Herdman, Esq., who has determined to erect a church in memory of his father, to be called ‘The Herdman Memorial Church’, and which will be erected somewhere in the neighbourhood of Millfield.” I can’t find any record of it having been built. As an aside, Alexander father, John Herdman, had been murdered in 1862 by his own cousin, William Herdman. It’s a very, very sad story.
The Belfast Newsletter, Northern Ireland, 05 May 1870:
“DEATHS. HERDMAN. May 4, at Malone House, Belfast, Selina Frances, wife of A.F. Herdman, aged 24 years.”
The Herdman Memorial at the Belfast City Cemetery on Falls Road was built when Selina died.
Belfast Telegraph, 15 Mar 1875, page 3:
“DEATH OF ALEX. F. HERDMAN, ESQ., J.P. It is with regret that we announce the death of our much-esteemed townsman, Alexander F. Herdman, Esq., which took place at his residence, College Square North, on Saturday last [13 May 1875]. Mr. Herdman was a member of the Smithfield [Flax] Spinning Company (Limited), which company was established by his father [John Herdman]. In all matters relating to the Church, he was most energetic, and gave sound and able advice. He strenuously opposed the passing of the Irish Church Act. By his employees he was much respected; and his connection with them gained him many friends, and no enemies. Owing to declining health, he had retired from business into private life. He visited France for a change of air, but a disease working on his system still increased, notwithstanding his efforts to resist it. He has been now a long time ill, and his decease on Saturday last was not unexpected.” A.F. Herdman was 34 when he died.
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Now we come to the Walpole connection. The water here is a little murkier, but let’s dig around in it for a minute or two.
A household inventory of 1737 for the property of the Dowager Countess Townshend (nee Audrey Harrison) states that in “Room No. 8 In the Closett”, a small private room adjoining her Ladyship’s bedroom, there was “a Rosewood box Inlaid with Ivory with silver handles [and] hinges.” Lady Townshend was manic about Anglo-Indian furniture, like her father before her. And she was particularly fond of the skill of the craftsmen in Vizagapatam, India. The inventory reads like the ultimate wishlist for antique collectors in every generation. But you really have to see the photos that Christies used when several pieces were auctioned off in 2011. Unbelievable! Some would say they were grotesquely “over the top”, but you have to admit that the skill of men who could produce pieces like that beggars belief in today’s world of Chinese junk. Until digging around for info on this box, I’d never even heard of Anglo-Indian furniture. (We don’t see a lot of this in the United States–smile.) Not my cup of tea, but . . . all I can say is WOW! We’re talking highly-developed attention spans here. Anyway, back to the box . . .
Horace Walpole was cousin to Lady Townshend’s husband, Charles (3rd Viscount Townshend). Perhaps Lady Townshend gave the box to Walpole. (Her will is devoid of legacies of personal items. Really just a settlement of her vast estate, so no clues there.) Of course, he could have gotten it from his father, Sir Robert Walpole, whose brother (Augustus) was an HEIC Ship’s Captain who must have spent much of his short life bringing “supercargo” back from China and India to relations in Britain. Sir Robert appears to have had the same mania for the stuff as Lady Townshend, so he could have had the box brought over from India and passed it on to his son.
In 1842, the contents of Horace Walpole’s estate at Strawberry Hill was auctioned off. While Alexander Herdman was an infant at the time of that auction, the box may have been acquired by his father or other relation and later passed down to him. Perhaps Walpole gave it to his father or mother. Perhaps we’ll never know.
I warned you that it was a murky water we were digging around in. Time to get out and dry off. It’s been fun!