Moncas (watchmakers) of Liverpool

[Mike Paice]

I thought that some of you might be interested in seeing a paper about my main Liverpool ancestors - the Moncas family. The paper is a short history of the watchmaking members of that family - which started with my 3xgreat grandfather John Moncas. I prepared the article for a learned society known as the Antiquarian Horological Society (of which I have been a member for many years) and as well as publishing it in their journal, the piece was chosen as a sample article for their website - so you can see the whole thing here: http://www.ahsoc.org/media/assets/file/ ... as-wm6.pdf

Liverpool was home to a great many watchmaking families in the 19th century, many of them extremely well known, including the: Harrison's, Hadwen's, Hornby's, Roskells' etc. The pocket watch movements are works of art in their own right, as I am sure you will agree from the illustrations.

Mike.

[MaryA]

What a well researched and illustrated article, thanks Mike, very informative and I suspect we may be seeing it in a journal in the near future?

[Blue70]

Thanks Mike that was an interesting read and good to see the images. My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather Edward Bellion born St Helens c1808 died Liverpool 1868 was a Clock & Watchmaker in Liverpool he is included on the World Museum's Horology Database:-

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/ ... abase.aspx


Blue

[Mike Paice]

What a well researched and illustrated article, thanks Mike, very informative and I suspect we may be seeing it in a journal in the near future?

I think I have warned our members that they might end up with an article or two in the journal about my Liverpool ancestors, if I run short of copy. They have clearly taken that warning to heart and are keeping me regularly supplied with excellent articles for inclusion

[Mike Paice]

My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather Edward Bellion born St Helens c1808 died Liverpool 1868 was a Clock & Watchmaker in Liverpool Blue

I hadn't come across Edward before but there is a picture of a rather nice William Bellion watch movement here:

http://www.horologist.co.uk/selected.htm

Is William one of your Bellion watchmakers?

[Blue70]

There were two William Bellions related to my ancestor Edward Bellion in the business. There's a William Bellion (born Liverpool c1819 died Manchester area 1870) who married Ellen Oakes in 1838. He later moved to the Manchester area and is recorded there as an optician. I think he was Edward's younger brother as they were the same occupation and they married Oakes sisters, Mary and Ellen, daughters of Samuel and Jane Oakes. Edward's son William Bellion (born Liverpool 1836 died Liverpool 1880) is the one in the link. He married Catherine Ellen Woods in 1856. I'm descended from Edward's daughter Sarah. Both these William Bellions are in the database.


Blue