Walter Ramsey Pocket Watch
Walter Ramsay Pocket Watch
Walter Ramsay was trained as a silversmith and watchmaker (likely performing repairs) by John Stedman who died in 1833. Ramsay worked in Raleigh, North Carolina about 1831 to 1840 and then moved to New Bern. Perhaps the partnership implied in the engraved name W.J. Ramsey & Co. was with Stedman. More research needs to be done.
Southern American Watchmakers
Few watch examples from southern states are known. Also shown on this website are Kentucky examples by Evans Beard of Louisville and George Nichols of Lexington; Virginia examples by Mordecai Miller of Alexandria and William Mitchell of Richmond that has its original American gold case; and Walter Ramsay of Raleigh North Carolina.
Full plate fusee lever escapement, serial number 10600, with five arm, uncut steel balance and signed dust cap "WH". Liverpool, England movement engraved W.J. Ramsay & Co Raleigh N.C. and "LEVER" and "PATENT" on the balance table. Silver consular case with Chester date mark for 1831-32 and case maker mark “JLS”. Some sources list this mark as belonging to Joseph Lewis Samuel of Liverpool but extensive research conducted by Allan Purcell points to Ralph Samuel (54 Wood Street and later 72 Wood Street, Liverpool) as the owner of this mark. See watches by L.B. Terry and E.C. Beard for other examples of the JLS mark.
JLS Case Maker's Mark
Dust Cap Maker Initials W.H.
