A remarkable family heirloom, a relic that has traveled across continents for over a century, was recently valued at $300 during a visit to the Antique Road Show in Salt Lake City. The heirloom, a silver reliquary adorned with red jewels, holds a significant place in the history of the Padgett family, tracing its journey from England to Canada and ultimately to California.
The story begins in the late 1970s when Barbara Gore compiled family photographs and memorabilia. Her ancestors valued their heritage, preserving numerous items that tell the family’s story. On her father’s side, the Padgetts hailed from Winchelsea, a village recognized as one of the smallest in England and historically one of the cinque ports. Barbara’s grandfather, the youngest of twelve siblings, built a home in Grand Forks, British Columbia, in 1915, relocating the family there the following year.
Fast forward to December 1979, when Barbara’s aunt Frances passed away in Canada. Following her death, Frances’s belongings were distributed among family members. Barbara, who had painstakingly documented the family history, inherited cherished memorabilia, including the unique reliquary. Initially, its purpose remained unclear to her until she learned it was designed to hold ashes or significant relics of the departed.
On a morning in the early 1980s, after sending her husband off to work, Barbara revisited the family albums as if seeing them for the first time. As she turned the pages, she discovered an interior photograph of her great-grandparents’ home, “The Mount,” in Winchelsea. To her astonishment, there was the reliquary displayed on the mantelpiece, captured in time a century earlier.
The emotional weight of this discovery was profound for Barbara, who could not contain her excitement until a more reasonable hour to share the news with her family. The image highlighted not only the reliquary’s historical significance but also its deep connection to her family’s roots.
On June 3, 2023, Barbara’s friend and her sister attended the Antique Road Show, bringing both a family cameo and the reliquary for evaluation. Experts valued the reliquary at $300, but perhaps more importantly, they expressed admiration for the photograph showcasing its journey over the years.
The reliquary’s path has been remarkable. It transitioned from England in the 1880s to Canada in 1916, following the Padgett family’s migration, and ultimately found its way to Durham, California, around 1980. This reunion with its photograph has allowed Barbara to cherish the heirloom even more profoundly, a tangible link to her family’s rich history.
This story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving family history and the connections that bind generations together. Barbara Gore’s experience with the reliquary exemplifies how heirlooms can carry deep emotional significance, representing not just personal stories but also the shared heritage of families across time and distance.
