PAIR OF DIAMOND JEWELS, 1800s

Mary Bermingham, later Mary Clements, 2nd Lady Leitrim  of Killadoon, Ireland was a noted beauty of the time. Married to Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim 1768-1854, friend of both the Duke of Wellington and the Prince of Wales, active parliamentarian and Liberal activist. They had eight children dividing their time between their estate in Ireland and London residence at 37 Upper Grosvenor Street, where they held many soirées and parties. Mary Clements was left money in her mothers will to purchase diamonds: "As I think neither Lady Leitrim nor Lady Charlemont happen to have the ornaments which correspond with their rank, she wants her money in the three per cent consols to be divided equally between them for the purchase of jewels, preferably a diamond necklace each". It is possible that these jewels where purchased as a result of the bequest from her mothers will, thence by family decent.