Question re: memorabelia from the LaPeneteires

This one is a very odd ball query.
What I "do" know: My Great-Grandmother and her sister were maids back in the 1800's for "the two old lady sisters - the LaPeneteire's" (one was Jane) in Cornwall, England. I have their photos (with names on the back) along with my relatives in their maids uniforms. I also have their brother's photo. I have a number of items with the name "LaPeneteire" written on it in India ink. (For instance: bed linens which state "LaPeneteire" and the room that item was assigned to). Some small books with their names in it... and a few other small mementos like the monocle that one of the "old ladies" was wearing in the photo. I have reason to believe that the two old ladies were fairly well off; and had never married. My grandmother who remembered them said that "they always stayed in bed and got waited on...but they weren't bed ridden". I am of the opinion; these things were given to my relatives upon the two old ladies deaths. (Rereading this; I'm reminded of Scrooge and the washerwomen that wanted to sell his bed clothes! AGGGH! )

Family oral history: (which may or may not be correct) - That the LaPeniteire's fled to Cornwall after the French Revolution. The Lapeneteire's siblings' father fought with Lord Admiral Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar. A envelope containing a rather "hot pink" remains of a corded tassel was said to have been part of the epaulette worn by Nelson as he died. (I have reason to question this one - as I did some research and it appears that a museum in Cornwall HAS his uniform and the tassel epaulettes are gold - not red.) Our oral history states that the LaPeneteir's were noted seamen in the service of Lord Nelson.

The question is: What do I do with these items? I'd like to keep the original photo of my Grandmother and her sister with the old ladies; and am willing to make a copy to prove provenance to the LaPeniteires - but we really have no connection to the other items. IF they were worth anything; I'd be willing to sell them. Where? I did make inquiry several times to that Cornish museum that housed memorabelia from Lord Nelson...they never responded. Honestly, this stuff really only has an indirect possible connection to him Lord Nelson - save the "hearsay" epaulette tassel. It is a fair size box of "stuff". Everything is currently packed and so I don't have access to it at the moment. I'm not even POSITIVE of the name spelling... LaPenetiere, LaPeniteire, LaPenitiere... without digging out the box...

But thought I'd throw what I know out there...and see if anyone has any bright ideas?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Leslie

 

BINGO!

 

Cool !!! A lead! Thank you!!!
That "fits" doesn't it!!
Leslie

 

This is my first time reading this thread. I hope the leads will help you to know a path to approach dealing with the items. Depending on what all you have, a museum may want some of them.