Hi Matthew,
Welcome to RootsChat from me too, what a beautiful find !!
Members do have the option to block receiving PM's from members but it is rare that they use this option, maybe it pressed in error ?? but either way the member has been notified of replies on their topics and could have just sent a quick reply even just to say that they are no longer interested. It was thoughful of you to try and reunited such a beautiful piece with a ancestors, please do not stop you good work.
Regards
Sarah