I have an old trunk that belonged to my great great grandmother, who lived in Canada between 1844 and 1943, and possibly also to her Mother, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to Canada and died in 1892, aged about 90. The trunk is a plain wooden box, really, lined with zinc, and with iron hinges and straps on the outside, the whole painted black, and with the following stencilled on the lid: "H.S. Ireland" I am not sure whether this may have been a transatlantic ship, or one that was used on the Great Lakes. I would be grateful for any information anyone might have about a ship called the Ireland. What does "H.S." stand for, anyone know? Thanks in advance Mary Anne Sharpe Ottawa, Canada

Hi Mary Anne, At 06:46 PM 2006-04-24 -0400, A. S. Mackenzie & M. A. Sharpe wrote: >I have an old trunk that belonged to my great great grandmother, who lived >in Canada between 1844 and 1943, and possibly also to her Mother, who was >born in Ireland, emigrated to Canada and died in 1892, aged about 90. The >trunk is a plain wooden box, really, lined with zinc, and with iron hinges >and straps on the outside, the whole painted black, and with the following >stencilled on the lid: > >"H.S. Ireland" > >I am not sure whether this may have been a transatlantic ship, or one that >was used on the Great Lakes. I would be grateful for any information >anyone might have about a ship called the Ireland. What does "H.S." stand >for, anyone know? I would be inclined to think it was someones initials ? I wonder if the trunk was a food-chest which emigrants used to have to carry for long transatlantic voyages ? This is a link to Norway Heritage site (in English) http://www.norwayheritage.com/articles/templates/voyages.asp?articleid=20&zoneid=6 The first picture shows emigrants below deck, with one sitting on an initialed chest. If you scroll down further to "Food and drink" you see a photograph of a beautiful "Rosemåled" Chest, which was used for that purpose. Just a guess. Sue -- TheShipsList Website http://www.theshipslist.com/

Sue Mmmmm....no, I think this one was very utilitarian, not a crafted keepsake, like that lovely Norwegian one. A basic wooden box, painted black all over, with black-painted iron straps. Zinc-lined, probably rather to keep out bugs from things like feather beds (I know my great grandmother used to travel with hers, but I am not sure if it was in this trunk or not....story goes she had a trunk just for the feather bed!), although I suppose it could have been used for food. Ireland was not a family name on this side of the family, that's why I was inclined to think it was a ship's name. Mary Anne Sue Swiggum wrote: > Hi Mary Anne, > > At 06:46 PM 2006-04-24 -0400, A. S. Mackenzie & M. A. Sharpe wrote: > >> I have an old trunk that belonged to my great great grandmother, who >> lived in Canada between 1844 and 1943, and possibly also to her >> Mother, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to Canada and died in >> 1892, aged about 90. The trunk is a plain wooden box, really, lined >> with zinc, and with iron hinges and straps on the outside, the whole >> painted black, and with the following stencilled on the lid: >> >> "H.S. Ireland" >> >> I am not sure whether this may have been a transatlantic ship, or one >> that was used on the Great Lakes. I would be grateful for any >> information anyone might have about a ship called the Ireland. What >> does "H.S." stand for, anyone know? > > > I would be inclined to think it was someones initials ? I wonder if > the trunk was a food-chest which emigrants used to have to carry for > long transatlantic voyages ? > > This is a link to Norway Heritage site (in English) > http://www.norwayheritage.com/articles/templates/voyages.asp?articleid=20&zoneid=6 > > > The first picture shows emigrants below deck, with one sitting on an > initialed chest. If you scroll down further to "Food and drink" you > see a photograph of a beautiful "Rosemåled" Chest, which was used for > that purpose. > > Just a guess. > > Sue