"Several years ago I purchased a silver cup with the following inscription:
Jo.s de la Montagnie Mead
From his Uncle Joe
1864
I recently, out of a sense of curiosity, did some research as to the history of the cup and the person it belonged to. My research has led me to the following information:
Joseph de la Montagnie Mead, born about 1863, New York City
Mother - Sarah E. De La Montagnie or Montagne, born about 1832, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. . . Sarah had a brother Joseph E. De La Montagne, born abt 1823 in Brooklyn, New York. There is a Joseph Edward De La Montaguie, born abt 1825, New York, registered to vote in San Francisco, California
Father - Marcus Mead, born abt 1827, New York
The cup has a mark from the W.K. Vanderslice & Co., Gold and Silversmiths, San Francisco, California. The reason I originally bought the cup is that my first husband's, as well as my son's last name, is - Montague. After doing the research and finding out about the Society of the Descendants of Johannes De La Montagne, it occurred to me that the society or one of its members may be interested in the cup and appreciate it as a family article. I am researching my own ancestry and would love to have a tangible historic item. If you know of someone who might be interested in the cup, please let me know. I would be very happy to keep the cup, but believe that perhaps there is someone who would treasure it more. If there is no one interested that will be fine - knowing that I pursued the family connection will allow me to be satisfied in keeping it." Nancy Elliston
Joseph Mead |
Household 110/510. Wm De la Montagnie, age 82, retired merchant; Marcus Mead, age 43, dry goods clerk; Sarah Mead, age 38, keeping house; Joseph Mead, age 6; Sarah Mead, age 4, Chas. Mead, age 1; Corinne Whitmore, age 18; Graham Whitmore, age 16; Cassy Timony, domestic servant, age 17, born Ireland.