Euro Antique Watches

Description

18 Kt Gold Full Hunter Pocket Watch – 1880

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This is an 18 Kt gold full hunter pocket watch made in Switzerland in 1880. This watch has a nice description on the back case (see below by case) and I spent time with an archivist to find out the history of this watch.

DIAL: The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals and outer minute divisions with chased hands. It has a subsidiary second’s dial at the six.

MOVEMENT: The anchor movement and 18 rubies. There is a glass over the movement to keep the dust out which is not a common feature in most pocket watches. The watch is currently working very well. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of an antique pocket watch.

CASE: The front and back cover of this 18kt gold watch close well. The inner case is signed ‘To George Cook, Master of the Smack, 18K, ‘Primrose’ of Hull from ‘Den Alm Danske Skibforerebrenin G AF 1874’ for brave conduct in saving the crew from the S.S ‘Kjobenhavn’ 6 Decbr.1886’.

The case is numbered 1797713 and is very clean. It has an engine-turned finish on both sides and is monogram free.

Diameter: 55 mm – Weight 118 grams

Made in Switzerland - Circa 1880

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George Emmanuel Cook:

George Emmanuel Cook was baptised in Hull in 1846, though most records would knock a few years off this age – which is difficult as he would lose his father in 1848 making it impossible for him to have been born! He was born to parents Michael and Docea (the various derivatives of the name make her difficult to track). I can only suspect that Docea passed in the 1850s, as George and his older siblings would branch away to start their own families in that and the following decade.

We know that George Emmanuel got married in Hull in 1867 (father given as the late Michael Cook). On his marriage certificate, where his address was given as Day Street in Hull, he was described as a ‘fisherman.’ It appears highly likely that he was the George Emmanuel Cook, apprentice fisherman, that was dragged before the Hull Magistrate in January 1866 (Hull Advertiser) charged with being a ‘disorderly apprentice’ for failing to go to sea. Cook claimed the ‘master’ had promised to release him from his apprenticeship, but had gone back on his word. The Magistrate cancelled his indenture, seemingly siding with Cook.

Cook’s marriage was with the delightfully named Aeggira Sanderson, surely a name of Scandinavian origin as she is named after the Old Norse god of the sea (spelling varies). She was a year older than he. She seems to have gone on succeeding censuses after, until her death and will, as Jane.

In 1871 the family are in Edgar Street, and George William appears to be their first child. George Emmanuel is registered as a fisherman. In 1881, George was at sea – with four crew – as the master of the John Harker. Jane is at home, 14 Tadman St, where George William has been joined by Annie, Lydia, Florence and Thomas. The family are affluent enough to afford a domestic servant. In 1882, Cook seems to take over the Concord, and his address on the was given as 2 Newton St on the Merchant Navy listing that year. By 1886, he is the master of the Primrose and the events that led to the bestowing of the gold watch and medal began to unfold.
On 6 December 1886 the Primrose was out at sea and spotted the Danish steamer Kjobenhavn in distress due to high winds. Cook headed out to the stricken vessel. He kept the smack under control while he sent his small lifeboat to the steamer. It rescued 14 crew, over two trips. On the third occasion, the weather worsening, the small craft was swamped and Cook lost two of his crew the mainsail on the Primrose also failed and it drifted away. After a repair was carried out, the Primrose searched for the steamer again the following day, but nothing was found.
In the following June (1887) the Primrose’s crew were awarded medals from the Danish king, with Cook’s being of gold and inscribed: For noble deed. The awards were presented by the Mayor of Hull (Yorkshire Post, 14 June).
The watch was a separate award made by the Shipmasters’ Association of Copenhagen, via Rev Ludwig Neilssen at the Danish Church of St Nicholas in Hull on Sunday 10 April 1887. The Hull Daily Mail states: ‘a costly gold double-cased chronometer watch, inscribed with the diploma of an honorary member of the [Association] for his services in saving the lives of 14 crew… Pastor Neilssen, in the course of an address [to the assembled] described the circumstances in which the steamer was lost… Mr Munby, owner of the Primrose, whom he was glad to see present, could rest assured that he had the grateful thanks of every Dane… a young Danish lad, one of the crew of the lost steamer… was present at the church.’ The Primrose’s crew received financial gifts, including those lost, with Cook receiving £100.
In 1891, still at Newton Street, the family have been joined by John and Minnie. By 1901, the family had moved to Hessel Rd George is described as a Master Mariner living own his own account. By 1911 the family were at South Boulevard, Hull, and the census shows the couple had had nine children during their marriage with three passing away. It was at this address that George Emmanuel passed on 31 May 1917, and Jane in October 1933.

As always, all my shipping items are sent out with Royal Mail signed for and registered Post, with tracking available.