Anybody missing a hip flask?

[pinkshoes]

Digging about in the loft this afternoon resurrected a hip flask which hubby reckons he bought as part of a job lot at a flea-market years ago.

The hip flask is (probably) silver plated and has the following inscription :

S.F.C.
John Murrie Esqr
Stirling
1868

An extremely long shot, but if anyone happens to know what SFC might be (hip flask seems a strange prize/present for a footballer player but you never know) I'd love to know. Or, even better, if anyone can claim John Murrie as their own, then the flask will be returned to its rightful owner.

Now that would be something


Best wishes
Pinkshoes

[nelmit]

Digging about in the loft this afternoon resurrected a hip flask which hubby reckons he bought as part of a job lot at a flea-market years ago.

The hip flask is (probably) silver plated and has the following inscription :

S.F.C.
John Murrie Esqr
Stirling
1868

An extremely long shot, but if anyone happens to know what SFC might be (hip flask seems a strange prize/present for a footballer player but you never know) I'd love to know. Or, even better, if anyone can claim John Murrie as their own, then the flask will be returned to its rightful owner.

Now that would be something


Best wishes
Pinkshoes

Hi Pinkshoes,

I'll start the ball rolling.

How about Scottish Federation of Clothiers Maybe he got it for his 50th birthday.

Dwelling: 27 Victoria Place
Census Place: Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203546 GRO Ref Volume 490 EnumDist 5 Page 31
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John MURRAY M 62 M Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Retired Clothier
Jessie MURRAY M 55 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Jessie MURRAY U 25 F Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Margaret MURRAY U 18 F Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Daur

Kind regards (and with tongue firmly stuck in cheek),
Annette M

[JustJean]

Well I'll throw in my two bits

what about in 1871 there is a John Murrie age 53 Banker born in Perthshire living in Stirling, Stirlingshire. Along with wife Margaret, and children Elizabeth age 25, Jessie age 24, George age 22, John age 20, Robert age 19, Margaret age 17, and Isabella age 13. He looks like an "Esqr" type to me..........especially since son Robert is a law apprentice....

1871 MURRIE JOHN M 53 STIRLING /STIRLING 490/00 007/00 013

Best wishes
Jean

[mallog]

That must be Stirling Fencing Club then Shame I am only 100 yrs out
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/sti ... index.html

Mallog

[pinkshoes]

Well, looks like two possible contenders anyway - sorry Mallog - even though the flask has been battered about a fair bit, I don't see any sword piercings.

Annette and Jean, thanks for searching. I've had another look at the inscriptions (I really should get my glasses changed) - it says above the name etc : "won by" - so it's a prize rather than a gift (birthday or otherwise)

If no-one has any other ideas about SFC would it be worth contacting the local history society?

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

[JimM]

Using David's patented "lateral thinking method"
Why a flask?... who would use such a thing??

Footballer... surely a wee cup
Clothier... maybe a wee pair a silver scissors
Fencer.... perchance a letter opener craftily designed as a wee swordy thing

Let's think.... who would have the time to sit around swigging "fallin doon water" from a hip-flask??? k
How about a fisher

According to Stirling Council records there was a Stirling Fishing Club 1844 - 1927
http://www.stirling.gov.uk/index/access ... ecords.htm


Jim

[pinkshoes]

That sounds like sense Jim. I was wondering about a fishing club myself but didn't arrive there with your logic - it jist kinda popped intae ma heid

It would be an ideal thing for a day by the river/loch as it actually comes complete with its own wee cup - just fits over the bottom of the flask like a wee sheath thing. It's a surprisingly heavy object - think it's made from lead

So I'll do a wee bit of digging, and maybe contact Stirling Council archives and see if they know of any records - maybe membership lists or winners lists - I guess that's unlikely but you never know.

Good idea to be followed up, but meantime if the real John Murrie please stands up ... ...

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

I've just had a thought - if nobody claims it maybe we could raffle it at the next TS online party - could come in handy for first footing

[pinkshoes]

How about this then! Congratulations Jim you were spot-on. I got a reply back from Stirling Archives (and I'm extremely impressed with the service, thank you Stirling) which confirms that John Murrie was a member of Stirling Fishing Club and was also one of the club's officials (Auditor). He did indeed enter the competitions in 1868, but their records show he won second prize - a reel and line or Hook Book worth £1:1/- A spirit flask was awarded that year, but to a Mr Younger of Alloa apparently. Think we should move that the minutes be amended and recirculated

ALSO - a Mr Murrie was Captain of the Stirling Golf Club in the early 1870s. The gentleman at the Archives reckons that given the spelling of the surname, it was more than likely the same John Murrie - seems reasonable to me.

SO - a trawl through the 1861/1871 census perhaps.

Meantime watch this space. I expect someone by the name of Murrie will visit Stirling Archives in the next week or two, and the very nice man behind the desk will ask - wiz your grandfaither a fisherman by ony chance? Well you know how many strange co-incidences there are in this game!

Thanks Jim not only for setting me on the trail, but for ably demonstrating the wisdom of lateral thinking!

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

EDIT : Jean I've just re-read your post re 1871 John Murrie, Banker - bet a fiver it was him - who else would audit the fishing club books What a team!

[Jean Jeanie]

WOW

Jean

[mallog]

=D> =D> =D>