William Hudson's Pocket Watch
Service Records for William Hudson's Pocket Watch
William Hudson's pocket watch was made in 1842-1843, and was serviced regularly in Kendal during the period 1848-1861. Many of the original service records have been retained within the watch case. The records are written on the back of printed discs of coloured paper advertising the services provided by James Scott, "Watch and Clock Maker, Goldsmith and Jeweller", Kendal. Three styles of paper disc are shown, together with a typical record of service from the back of one such disc. That service, from 12 December 1861, was undertaken immediately prior to William Hudson's departure for Australia from Liverpool on the "Star of India" on 23 December 1861.
(Photographs from left: Hud-fam-113, Hud-lon-803, 802, 801, and 804)
Most service records for William Hudson's watch consist of paper discs (in varying states of preservation) carrying the watchmaker's name, the date of service and an identifying number. Servicing was carried out by "James Scott, Watch and Clock Maker, Goldsmith and Jeweller, Opposite the Kings Arms Hotel, Kendal", and the services were carried out in September 1848, January 1850, October 1850, April 1853, September 1855, March 1858, and December 1861. The last record was for a service carried out on 12 December 1861, only eleven days before he set sail from Liverpool for Australia on 23 December 1861. Other records of service are simply recorded on discs cut from local newspapers, and some of these, judging by their text content, may relate to the period after his arrival in Australia.
The pocket watch was clearly a valued possession and was given by William Hudson to his son (my grandfather), Thomas Hudson, who in turn passed it on to his son (my father), William Hudson. It is probable that Thomas Hudson was given the watch in 1899, together with a new chain (acquired in 1898-1899), on the occasion of his departure from Clunes for Western Australia. At the same time, his mother presented him with a prayer book, in which she had written her blessing.