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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Gallicrow on Tuesday 25 November 25 19:01 GMT (UK)
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It's from the flyleaf of a book, dated around 1890.
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? J. S. W Tear
although the absence of a dot after the proposed ‘W’ is slightly disconcerting.
Added: some version of McTear?
More: there is a record of a J.S.McTear in Northern Ireland first decade of 20th century.
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J S McTear
seems to have published a book on Symbolic Logic, and judging by some letters to newspapers was interested in card games. I cannot find a chess connection.
Correction: I think he was a bookseller and was advertising this book. The interest in card games still stands.
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Brilliant! Thanks very much.
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I have noticed that sometimes Irish names starting with Mc, such as McTear don't always have the c, but are written M'Tear.
Could that be a ' in front of the T.
Ian C
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I wonder if it could be John Smith McTear, who is listed as a board game designer on this page:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/65239/john-smith-mctear
He's described as a "Solicitor and Author" in the 1911 Irish census.
Here's the link to the book with his signature:
https://www.thomsonroddick.com/catalogue/lot/ae49ba335f19e8b83d066c6bf704b481/234ee8408ea626887a25312564534f0c/carlisle-thursday-4th-december-2025-at-1130am275-lot-167/
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He's described as a "Solicitor and Author" in the 1911 Irish census.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/St__Anne_s_Ward/Arthur_Street/133336/
...and in 1901 census.
House 43 in Clifton Road (Bangor, Down).
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Bangor/Clifton_Road/1252737/
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000763064/
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Addresses from his adverts in The Bookseller:
1894 1 Croom Villas, Bangor, Co. Down
[Added: various newspaper items for Croom Villa, Clifton Road, Bangor]
1897 [same address]
1902 [same address]
letter to Pall Mall Gazette, 1905
Belfast
letter to Pall Mall Gazette, 1907
6 Arthur Chambers, Belfast
During the same period as the last item above the same address is associated with adverts for properties to let via "G. K, Smith & McTear"
1907 is the last year that he appears with the Arthur Chambers address (or at all that I can see), by 1912 it is associated with Walter Smyth, solicitor
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Died in Bangor, Co. Down in 1913
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1913/05330/4483798.pdf
Ian C
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Added: this is already covered in reply #5
He invented a card game: ‘Penchant’
https://www.abstractgames.org/penchant.html
British Museum General Catalogue of Printed Books 1964
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Probate of the Will of John Smith McTear late of 10 Arthur Street Belfast Solicitor who died 7 September 1913 at Bangor granted at Belfast to Margaret McTear and Frances M.McTear Spinster.
Date of Grant : 20 March 1914
Effects : £2,932 11s. 4d.
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearch.aspx
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Buried: Clifton Street Cemetery, Belfast, County Antrim
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/276190674/john-smith-mctear
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Died in Bangor, Co. Down in 1913
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1913/05330/4483798.pdf
The informant for his death was Charlotte McTear (sister).
Her marriage to James King Kerr - 12 August 1873.
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1873/11276/8136222.pdf
The witnesses at the marriage include Margaret McTear, Frances Mary McTear and George McTear.
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Adding to the story-
The witnesses at the marriage include Margaret McTear, Frances Mary McTear and George McTear.
Margaret McTear Death 1916
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1916/05254/4457047.pdf
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/276190675/margaret-mctear
Probate of the Will of Margaret McTear late of Creevelea Knock Belfast Spinster who died 17 March 1916 granted at Belfast to Frances M. McTear Spinster.
Date of Grant : 15 September 1916
Effects: £3,094 2s. 9d.
Frances M McTear Death 1934 https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/
Frances McTear 4th February 1934 88 Female Belfast
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/276190673/frances-mary-mctear
McTear Frances Mary of Creevelea Kings Road Knock Belfast spinster died 4 February 1934 Probate Belfast 18 June to Robert Watts solicitor and reverend Herbert John Rossington unitarian clergyman. Effects £2268 0s. 1d.
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Adding more information on the McTear family history for the OP-
Both McTear sisters in 1901 census
House 33 in Knock Church Road (Pottinger, Down)
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Pottinger/Knock_Church_Road/1220804/
1911 census Margaret McTear
House 26 in King's Road (Pottinger (part of), Down)
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Pottinger__part_of_/King_s_Road/228599/
A George McTear's death 1909. Informant J S McTear (brother).
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1909/05473/4532051.pdf
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146507240/george-mctear
Marriage George McTear to Diana Girdwood - 9 April 1874.
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1875/11191/8100999.pdf