BURWELL / RANDOLPH FAMILY, CLARKE CO., VIRGINIA OWNED, ENGLISH GEORGIAN 18K YELLOW GOLD PAIR CASED POCKET WATCH, key-wind, chain fusee movement with plain three-arm steel balance and a rose-cut diamond end cap, chased and engraved cock inscribed "PATENT" and "DETACH'D", having a 46.5 mm white enamel dial with Roman chapter ring, a 15-seconds subsidiary, and gold-toned spade hands, includes a key, housed in a 18K yellow gold inner open-face case with bull's eye crystal and a matching 18K yellow gold outer case with plain design, which has been fitted with two old handwritten paper labels; the older label reads "Philip Burwell died at Chapel Hill Feby 11th 1849 in his 73 year / Susan R Burwell died at New Market Decr 27th 1869 / in the 79th year of her age / This watch was imported about 1824."; and the other label reads "Used by Dr Robert Carter Randolph Sr from 1869 to 1887". The back of the movement plate with engraved marks of "M I TOBIAS & Co." and "LIVERPOOL / 3685" for Michael Isaac Tobias & Co. (active 1805-1829), interior dust cover and inner watch case also marked "T&Co. 3685", interiors of both cases impressed with "T.H / J.H" maker's marks probably for Thomas and John Helsby of Liverpool and five hallmarks of a crown above an "18" mark for 18K gold fineness, a Chester city mark, a "U" date mark probably for 1816 (though 1838 has same hallmarks), and a leopard's head. Total weight of only outer case including a few non-gold components but excluding labels: 34.6 grams; total weight of inner case with crystal, movement, and other non-gold components but excluding dust cover: 111.9 grams. Circa 1816. Outer case 56.0 mm D.
Catalogue Note: Philip Burwell (1776-1849) was born to parents Nathaniel Burwell (1750-1814) and Susanna Grymes (1752-1788). He resided mainly in Frederick and Clarke Counties in Virginia. In 1797, Philip first married Elizabeth Page (1776-1821) and appears they had no children, or surviving children. Some time later, he then married Susan Randolph Chiswell Nelson (1790-1869), who was the daughter of William Nelson (1746-1807) and Lucy Chiswell (1752-1811). She first married William Wellford (unknown life dates) of Fredericksburg, VA, and the couple had one daughter, Lucy Nelson Wellford (1810-1882), whom Philip adopted.
As mentioned on one of the paper labels, "Chapel Hill" was the estate of Philip in Clarke Co., where he and Susan resided. In the Philip's will, he names Susan as the main beneficiary to his estate and notes, "I also give her [Susan] my Gold Watch, [T?] Watch to be hers absolutely." Susan continued to live at the estate, but seems to eventually move into her son-in-law, Dr. Robert Carter Randolph (1808-1887), and daughter's nearby estate named "New Market", where she passed away.
Dr. Robert C. Randolph was the son of Archibald Cary Randolph (1769-1813) and Lucy Burwell (1777-1810), who was the sister of Philip Burwell. After their mother died, he and his sister, Mary "Polly" Cary (1806-1855), were adopted by their uncle Philip. In 1828, Robert earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in Philadelphia, quickly moving back to Clarke Co., VA and marrying Lucy Nelson Wellford in 1830. The couple resided at "New Market" estate near Millwood, and they had at least 11 children with only nine surviving childhood. All four, Philip and Susan Burwell as well as Dr. Robert and Lucy Randolph, are buried at the Old Chapel Cemetery in Millwood, VA.
Condition
Very good overall condition with minor wear, surface scratches, and nicks, cases each with a few minute/small dents, inner case with a later drilled or punctured hole to back; dial with few minute flakes to edge and a few hairlines having one that nearly goes edge to edge, seconds hand bent, bow with a short hairline near the center, paper labels with discoloration, older label with several tears and losses along edge, the other label with wrinkled edges. Currently runs for short periods before stopping (see Catalogue Guarantee).
