Multi-Generational | Naval & Military Family Archive Strongbox of E.A. Thompson | 1840s to WWI
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: United States & United Kingdom — representing Royal Navy, American Civil War, and World War I family provenance
Material: Painted iron strongbox with brass name panel, original working lock and key, painted interior, and complete multi-artifact preserved family archive
Period: Circa 1840s through Early 20th Century (Multi-Generational Naval & Military Archive)
Description
This extraordinary named iron strongbox is a rare surviving multi-generation naval and military family archive, originally belonging to E. A. Thompson. It preserves an emotional lineage of service, remembrance, and identity spanning from the Royal Navy of the 1840s through the American Civil War and into World War I.
The strongbox itself retains original painted surfaces, a brass name inscription panel, chain-secured interior, full structural integrity, and its original functioning lock and period key. Most remarkably, the strongbox survives still filled with its original contents, preserved as a deeply personal family treasury exactly as last closed.
Contained within are two original U.S. World War I Victory Medals (one with campaign bars), a substantial pair of brass military epaulettes, a profoundly moving 1864 Civil War soldier’s pocket Bible containing preserved locks of human hair, mid-19th-century daguerreotype and Civil War tintype photographs, a naval-style glass ink bottle, and a rare handwritten Royal Navy death document from 1844 referencing William Thompson, Paymaster & Purser of H.M.S. Illustrious.
Together, these items form a complete and compelling human narrative of war, family, grief, duty, and remembrance — a true museum-grade archive.
Features
- Named 19th-century painted iron strongbox marked “E. A. Thompson”
- Working original lock and period key
- Complete preserved family archive including:
- Two original U.S. WWI Victory Medals
- One with campaign bars: MEUSE–ARGONNE & DEFENSIVE SECTOR
- Pair of heavy brass military epaulettes
- 1864 American Bible Society Civil War soldier’s pocket Bible containing approximately fourteen preserved hair relics
- Rare handwritten Royal Navy death document, dated 1844, referencing William Thompson of H.M.S. Illustrious
- Early sea-green glass ink bottle
- Mid-19th-century daguerreotype in original case
- Civil War–era tintype portrait of a young Union soldier
- Represents continuous military lineage spanning 1840s Royal Navy → American Civil War → World War I
- Complete, emotional, historically important personal archive
Detailed Notable Contents
World War I Victory Medals
Original bronze medals with rainbow ribbons; one bearing major campaign bars — strong combat provenance and authentic wartime wear.
Brass Military Epaulettes
Heavy, impressive officer’s examples with beautiful patination and fittings intact.
Civil War Soldier’s Pocket Bible (1864)
American Bible Society edition with worn leather soldier’s cover, containing approximately fourteen preserved hair relics placed throughout — powerful mourning objects symbolizing love, loss, and remembrance.
Royal Navy Death Document (1844)
Handwritten notification recording the death of William Thompson, Paymaster & Purser of H.M.S. Illustrious.
Photographs & Artifacts
Daguerreotype portrait in original case, Civil War tintype soldier photograph, and naval-style glass ink bottle — each adding depth to the personal story.
Cultural Significance
Unlike isolated militaria, this archive preserves a continuous, deeply human family narrative of service, emotion, and heritage. It powerfully illustrates British Royal Navy lineage, American Civil War experience and mourning traditions, and World War I battlefield service, all carried forward through disciplined multi-generation preservation and memory. This is not simply a collection of historical objects — it is a preserved life story, rich with identity, sacrifice, remembrance, and love.
Condition
Authentic historic condition consistent with age and use.
The strongbox retains original painted finish with expected wear, oxidation, and use. Lock remains fully functional. Medals display honest patina with aged ribbons. Bible leather shows age wear with contents intact and secure. Documents are toned with legible ink. Photograph cases show expected age wear; some hinge separation with cases in two detached halves. Overall presents as a deeply authentic and powerful archive.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 13.25 in
Width: 9 in
Height: 6 in
Age
Circa 1840s through Early 20th Century — representing a continuous preserved naval and military family heritage.
Learn More
Explore the historical background and global impact of the First World War in World War I – Encyclopedia Britannica
Discover more authentic wartime relics, medals, and military history pieces in our curated WWI & WWII Military Artifacts Collection
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: United States & United Kingdom — representing Royal Navy, American Civil War, and World War I family provenance
Material: Painted iron strongbox with brass name panel, original working lock and key, painted interior, and complete multi-artifact preserved family archive
Period: Circa 1840s through Early 20th Century (Multi-Generational Naval & Military Archive)
Description
This extraordinary named iron strongbox is a rare surviving multi-generation naval and military family archive, originally belonging to E. A. Thompson. It preserves an emotional lineage of service, remembrance, and identity spanning from the Royal Navy of the 1840s through the American Civil War and into World War I.
The strongbox itself retains original painted surfaces, a brass name inscription panel, chain-secured interior, full structural integrity, and its original functioning lock and period key. Most remarkably, the strongbox survives still filled with its original contents, preserved as a deeply personal family treasury exactly as last closed.
Contained within are two original U.S. World War I Victory Medals (one with campaign bars), a substantial pair of brass military epaulettes, a profoundly moving 1864 Civil War soldier’s pocket Bible containing preserved locks of human hair, mid-19th-century daguerreotype and Civil War tintype photographs, a naval-style glass ink bottle, and a rare handwritten Royal Navy death document from 1844 referencing William Thompson, Paymaster & Purser of H.M.S. Illustrious.
Together, these items form a complete and compelling human narrative of war, family, grief, duty, and remembrance — a true museum-grade archive.
Features
- Named 19th-century painted iron strongbox marked “E. A. Thompson”
- Working original lock and period key
- Complete preserved family archive including:
- Two original U.S. WWI Victory Medals
- One with campaign bars: MEUSE–ARGONNE & DEFENSIVE SECTOR
- Pair of heavy brass military epaulettes
- 1864 American Bible Society Civil War soldier’s pocket Bible containing approximately fourteen preserved hair relics
- Rare handwritten Royal Navy death document, dated 1844, referencing William Thompson of H.M.S. Illustrious
- Early sea-green glass ink bottle
- Mid-19th-century daguerreotype in original case
- Civil War–era tintype portrait of a young Union soldier
- Represents continuous military lineage spanning 1840s Royal Navy → American Civil War → World War I
- Complete, emotional, historically important personal archive
Detailed Notable Contents
World War I Victory Medals
Original bronze medals with rainbow ribbons; one bearing major campaign bars — strong combat provenance and authentic wartime wear.
Brass Military Epaulettes
Heavy, impressive officer’s examples with beautiful patination and fittings intact.
Civil War Soldier’s Pocket Bible (1864)
American Bible Society edition with worn leather soldier’s cover, containing approximately fourteen preserved hair relics placed throughout — powerful mourning objects symbolizing love, loss, and remembrance.
Royal Navy Death Document (1844)
Handwritten notification recording the death of William Thompson, Paymaster & Purser of H.M.S. Illustrious.
Photographs & Artifacts
Daguerreotype portrait in original case, Civil War tintype soldier photograph, and naval-style glass ink bottle — each adding depth to the personal story.
Cultural Significance
Unlike isolated militaria, this archive preserves a continuous, deeply human family narrative of service, emotion, and heritage. It powerfully illustrates British Royal Navy lineage, American Civil War experience and mourning traditions, and World War I battlefield service, all carried forward through disciplined multi-generation preservation and memory. This is not simply a collection of historical objects — it is a preserved life story, rich with identity, sacrifice, remembrance, and love.
Condition
Authentic historic condition consistent with age and use.
The strongbox retains original painted finish with expected wear, oxidation, and use. Lock remains fully functional. Medals display honest patina with aged ribbons. Bible leather shows age wear with contents intact and secure. Documents are toned with legible ink. Photograph cases show expected age wear; some hinge separation with cases in two detached halves. Overall presents as a deeply authentic and powerful archive.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 13.25 in
Width: 9 in
Height: 6 in
Age
Circa 1840s through Early 20th Century — representing a continuous preserved naval and military family heritage.
Learn More
Explore the historical background and global impact of the First World War in World War I – Encyclopedia Britannica
Discover more authentic wartime relics, medals, and military history pieces in our curated WWI & WWII Military Artifacts Collection
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