FAMILY HISTORY: SWARBRICK
THE LIFE OF GEORGE SWARBRICK
LEGAL NOTICES:
| George Swarbrick died on 11 May 1859 leaving no Will - not unusual for someone who died at the young age of 51 years. Without a Will, it would have been up
to his family to administer his estate - and this responsibility fell to his younger brother William Swarbrick, a miller at Myerscough Mill, near Garstang. George owned his own home, business and the business premises, as well as other properties in the town, and there was quite a bit for his administrator to do. This is demonstrated by the various notices that appeared in local newspapers in the year following his death. To begin with, there was the matter of disposing of George's personal effects: |
| "No. 4, CHAPEL YARD, FRIARGATE NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY To Book Collectors, Housekeepers, Brokers and others." |
| "MR. GEORGE PARKER has received instructions from the Administrators of the late Mr. George Swarbrick, plasterer, &c., No. 4, Chapel Yard, Friargate, Preston,
to SELL BY AUCTION, on Wednesday and Thursday next, the 25th and 26th May, 1859, commencing at one o'clock each day, The whole of the excellent HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE and VALUABLE BOOKS. The FURNITURE comprises in the HOUSE, mahogany sofa, with cushions, in hair seating; mahogany card table; 12 mahogany chairs and arm chair, in hair seating; easy arm chair, with cushions; handsome chimney glass, with gilt frame; chimney ornaments; two large pier glasses, with gilt frames, 6 feet high by 2 1/2 feet wide, glass very suitable for inside shop windows; handsome eight days time piece; four ornaments, with glass shades; set of tea trays, nearly new; weather glass; hearth rug; 10 superior engravings and prints, in maple and gilt frames; fancy cigar box; watch stand; cast fender and steel fire irons; oil floor cloth; wire blinds and frames; window curtains and blinds; two pairs of handsome cut glass decanters; dinner and wine glasses; glass salts; celery glass; set of castors; set of china, white and gold; white tea and coffee service; oil lobby cloth and door mats; stair carpets and brass rods; eight days clock, in mahogany case; mahogany snap table; large gilt frames, with coat of arms, in plaster; &c. THE BED ROOMS contain mahogany and birch four-post beadsteads, with framed footboards and valance hangings, feather beds, bolsters, and pillows, hair mattresses and paillasses, blankets, sheets, and suitable bed linen; mahogany, oak, and painted chests of drawers, washstands, dressing table, chamber services, mahogany night commode, mahogany swing dressing glass, bed-side carpeting, mahogany stand, oak desk with drawers and bookcase, large print of Dr. Cahill, in maple frame, several prints in rosewood and gilt frames, map of Great Britain, view of Rome, and other pictures, snap table, small fenders, deal desk, folding-up bedsteads, with cushions, iron stove, with pipes and wire screen, clothes horses and towel rails, four pot spirit kegs, lot of colour staves, small cast ornamental fire grate, large office desk, with drawers; two cupboards, mahogany buffet stand, brushes, and large night pan. The KITCHEN and SCULLERY, &c., contain large kitchen dresser, with drawers; sofa; round mahogany table; stool, with oil cover; chairs; rocking chair; small stand; lead sheeting on floor, 12 feet by 9 feet; fender and fire irons; kettles; two coffee mills; new copper kettle; patent scales and weights; brass and chamber candlesticks; dinner service; quantity of pots; dozen dinner knives and forks, with carving knife and fork and steel to match; dozen dessert knives and forks; brass pestal and mortar; coffee and tea caddies; sugar nippers, knife sharpener and steel; metal tea and coffee pots; flat and box irons and heaters, saw and cleaver; candlebox; Japan spice box; four small brass pans; 2 large brass pans; copper scope; frying pans; iron pans; round table; tin and wood buckets; mugs and milk basins; jugs, preserve jars, and pots; a quantity of stone bottles; hand and long brushes; chopping boards; a quantity of baskets; lantern; sieves, and various other requisites. THE BOOKS consist of The Builder, eight volumes; The Practical Builder, two volumes; Architecture, one volume; Universal History, two volumes; Holy Catholic Bible, four volumes; Practical Masonry, one volume; Popular Encyclopedia, complete, in seven volumes; Stuart's Architecture, three volumes; Nicholson's Journal, seven volumes; The Interview, one volume; History of Greece; Waverly Novels, forty-seven volumes; Don Quixote, two volumes; Doctor Lingard's History of England, twelve volumes; Hardwick's History of Preston; Times Telescope, seventeen volumes; the Percy Anecdotes, nine volumes; Byron's Tales, five volumes; History of the Roman Republic; Butler's Feasts and Fasts of the Church; Book on Interest and Discount; Carleton's Tales and Stories of the Irish Peasantry; Cooker Book; White Slave; Uncle Tom's Cabin; Valentine McClutcy, the Irish Agent, one volume; Enquire Within upon Everything; Preston Chronicle filed from 1838 to 1859; the Builder, in numbers, from 1853 to 1855; the Illustrated London News, in numbers, from 1850 to 1859; and a large quantity of pamphlets and publications, Book Shelving, and Cupboards. N.B. - The books to be sold on the second day (Thursday), at four o'clock. Preston, May 19th, 1859" |
| NOTES: | |
| 1: | In some instances the word "glass" in meant to be looking-glass or mirror. |
| 2: | A Paillasse was an under-bed or mattress filled with straw or sawdust. |
| 3: | The above information is from microfilmed newspapers at the Harris Library in Preston, and was published in The Preston Chronicle on Saturday, 21 May 1859. |