a family heirloom

[plimmerian]

this is the first time an "historical" artifact has come into my possession! 

my grandmother's grandfather's walking stick, carved with a snake wrapped around it (yes my friends are telling me they always knew I belonged to Slytherin!!)

it also has carved on it "From Mickey to Thomas Naylor - Made by J Lavin Haydock" after a cross, a heart and an anchor

Thomas Naylor (1865-1950) was from Newton in Makerfield and was blind in his later years - he out lived both his wives - it has been said he was buried in Cheetham Hill, Manchester but no burial has yet been found!

I am curious to know who Mickey might have been - what significance the snake, the cross, the heart and the anchor might have - and who was the very skilled J Lavin of Haydock!?!

[garstonite]

Newton in Makerfield is now Newton Le Willows
St Peter church
is this your Thomas Naylor - the nearest I could find to 1865

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJWD-Y6J

[plimmerian]

thanks but no - he was bapt on 23 Nov 1865 at St Peter, son of Joseph and Ellen Naylor 

[goldy]

the cross ,heart and anchor represents Faith , Hope and Charity .

[plimmerian]

thanks for that I had no idea - fantastic 

[plimmerian]

Update:

Marriage 1
07 Apr 1890 at St Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire to Ellen Naylor (not related) of Newton le Willows, Lancashire (her father's family from Ashton in Makerfield)

Marriage 2
24 Jun 1916 at Register Office, Chorlton Upon Medlock, Lancashire to Louisa Kinsey of Barlow Moor, Didsbury, Lancaashire

Marriage 3
22 Aug 1935 at Register Office, Newton in Makerfield, Lancashire to Mrs Mary Hannah Brereton (nee Dearden) of Haydock, Lancashire

{maybe this third wife is the link to the Lavin family?}

[scotmum]

Update:

Marriage 1
07 Apr 1890 at St Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire to Ellen Naylor (not related) of Newton le Willows, Lancashire (her father's family from Ashton in Makerfield)

Was Ellen a daughter of Daniel Naylor and Ann Cook/e?

[Marj]

Hi

findagrave.com has,  Thomas Naylor b.4/9/1865 d.16/7/1950 Manchester Crematorium.

Could he be your Thomas.?

Marj

[Rena]

If you look at the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corp) cap badge you'll see there is a pole with a snake wrapped around it.  The snake is supposed to be a reference to good health.

<The snake and pole is a caduceus. A caduceus (kerykeion in Greek) is a staff with two snakes wrapped around it. It was an ancient astrological symbol of commerce and is associated with the Greek god Hermes, the messenger for the gods, astrologer, healer, and creator of magical incantations, conductor of the dead and protector of merchants and thieves.>