I was wondering if anyone might help identify the source of this conch shell and any links to the owner Lil Moore. The shell is inscribed:
William John Japha born November 25th 1820
Anne
Maria his beloved wife was born November 20th 1828
The conch shell was owned by Lil Moore who lived in Liverpool, but we don’t think she had any living family when she died. As far as we can see there was only one Lilian in the Japha family tree, so she may be Lilian Suckley (born 1909), daughter of Ethel Japha and Thomas Suckley. Ethel being the granddaughter of William and Anne Maria by John Robinson Japha (1852-1880) and Mary Whitehead. But we have no idea if she married.
The origin of the shell is mystery, although Williams’s son William John (1853-1917) was a seafarer in the merchant navy which he joined in 1855. This seems the most plausible explanation of its origin but it would be fascinating to know if its source could it be traced or guessed at or if there is any equivalent?
We know quite a bit about William Japha who was born Wolf Japha in Fraustadt, now Wschowa, Poland, but this is the only material artefact or place of living that has been discovered, so it is most precious to us.
Many thanks
Denis