I have in my possession a very battered old personal document box. It is made of tin metal and when new had been painted to represent a wooden box. It could be 200 years old.

On its top, just readable, is Mrs GROVER. This would be Harriet DICKINSON 1786 - 1865.

Who had it after Harriet’s death we don’t know? Possibly Emma EVANS 1828 - 1905. The box then obviously belonged for a while to Frances HUBBARD (Auntie Dick) 1862 - 1919. In it she stored her bits of lace as can be seen from a label once stuck to the inside of the lid of the box. The handwriting is hers.

1. Yellow cardboard box containing strips of lace, including piece given to Grandmama by her Godmother. (Grandmama - this would be Anne DICKINSON 1791 - 1883)

2. Blue " " containing lace

   4 yards, & 1 yard & quarter of Fine Broad British Lace

   6 packets of strips of lace in tissue paper.

   1" Blond wide lace.

   6 pieces Irish lace

   3 broad Strips Brussells (?) lace 2 sleeves

   6 pieces cardboard with striped lace

   Miscellaneous strips of lace -

3. Worked net fronts for bodices.

No sign of the lace now.

On Frances HUBBARD’s death, the box was passed onto her niece Frances Ann HUBBARD 1899 - 1985. Frances’ husband Arthur Cecil ROPER 1890 - 1978 used it to store personal documents. The box subsequently got passed onto me Judith Frances HUBBARD.

The box still has a Victorian lock and key which works.

Maybe it should be retired, but it is still useful for Family History papers.