Found some books for researching silversmiths & goldsmiths, etc. 1. "English Goldsmiths and Their Marks," Charles Jackson, (747 pgs), with info. on silversmiths including those in Ireland - very, very comprehensive, even includes the names of parents and their masters for whom they worked! 2. "Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks," F. Jordan Thorn. 3. "Early American Silver for the Cautious Collector," Martha Gandy Fales. 4. "Identifying Antique Silver," Lydia Darbyshire. 5. "Old English Plate," Wilfred J. Cripps. 6. "Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Silver," ed. Charles Truman. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Rice" <jeanrice@cet.com> > Last summer I posted a little note from an article about silversmiths to the list and I did receive a few replies from list members. I don't have any additional information for this researcher (Lee Gillis) but thought someone else might. I don't believe he/she is a subscriber, may have been browsing list archives. I guess I would suggest a "Google search," but I wanted to see if anyone else had any other particular knowledge on this subject or suggestions. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: GillisHL@aol.com > To: jeanrice@cet.com > Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 8:08 AM > Subject: Silversmiths in Belfast Ireland 1780 - 1790s > > > Dear Ms Rice > > I read your email article "[Ireland] Was your ancestor a silversmith" dated 9 Aug 2002. I am hoping that you may help me or point me into the right direction. > > My 4th great grandfather, William Holliday (Silversmith and Class cutter) owned and operated a silversmiths shop in Belfast, Ireland in the 1760-1790s time frame. > > Also his son-in-law (my 3rd great grandfather) William Gillis was a silversmith > employed in William Holliday's shop. > > William Holliday and family immigrated to the Philadelphia, Pa area in the 1780s and his son-in-law William Gillis and family immigrated to the USA in about 1793 or 1794, > settling in the Winchester, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland areas and finally in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Va) in 1798. > > My question is how do I go about locating these families in Belfast? Would they have registered Silversmith's makers marks? William was allegedly trained as a silversmith in England (he was born in Scotland). > > Thank you, > > Lee Gillis >