A George III pair cased pocket watch

A George III pair cased pocket watch, with a verge escapement and a white enamelled dial, by James Johnson, London, the case hallmarked London 1781, the outer with an engraved sailing ship, the initials "SH" and the name "Mabella Truest", 2in (5cm) diameter. * Mabella Truest (or Troest in some sources) was a merchantman of 300 tons built in Norway in 1777 and carrying a full ship ring. Owned by N. Moe, in 1781 she is recorded as trading between London and the Straits of Gibraltar and her master's name was Capt. L. Hanson. Presumably this watch was his personnel property. We are most grateful to Michael Naxton for researching this lot.