Hi I know that this William Cherry won't be related to many of us, but this is an interesting letter from India, our Cherry families have been everywhere, enjoy, Gaila ----- Original Message ----- From: "Graham Ray" <g.ray@virgin.net> To: <merring@bigpond.net.au> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 2:49 AM Subject: PML Search Result matching "William Cherry" > ===================================================================== > A result of your requested PML search. To refine or cancel this > search, please visit http://pml.rootsweb.com/ > ===================================================================== > Source: INDIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [India-L] Old Letters > > > I sent an old letter to the list the other day concerning Bullock Carts and > a few people have asked if I had any further correspondence that may be of > interest. The following letter was sent by my great great grandmother to her > brother Zachary Macaulay and I feel gives an interesting insight into the > way of life in those times. As you will see Selina Cherry had just returned > from a furlough in England, while her brother had returned permanently to > London. Selina was in her early thirties and had a family of six children at > that time. Her husband, John William Cherry was Acting Sub-Collector and > Joint Magistrate at Salem. > > Shevaroy Hills > > February 19th 1854 > > My dearest Zachary > > We were glad to see by your last letter that you were all well > notwithstanding the very great cold. We are now I am thankful to say more > comfortably settled in our new abode and I must say that the climate is most > delightful for us old Indians but I doubt if it is cold enough for growing > children - the sun is very powerful but it is always quite cool in the > house, we are even now sleeping under two blankets and a thick counterpane, > with all the doors and windows shut, the houses are built quite like English > Cottages surrounded with very pretty gardens, filled with English flowers, > the fruits certainly are a failure, as yet we have only tasted peaches, > there are plenty of them. I should think 300 on our tree, but not nice to > eat and only fit for jam and tart however I think they may be improved by > cultivation and I mean to try my hand at it this year with the assistance of > the cottage gardener. I brought out with me some fruit seeds and have > planted most of them, but not long enough to know if they are good - one of > the two Spanish onions was spoilt by the sea air, but the other is growing > famously in a pot under the dining room window and I often look at it and > think of that dreadful day we bought it at Gravesend, do you too remember? I > often wish we had never been home, it certainly makes India appear a > thousand times more horrible on your return. However as we are to spend the > next twelve years here, it is no use grumbling about it but be thankful that > Bainbridge treated you as he did for your small means at home are better > than thousands here. You will be sorry to hear that poor Mr Mackenzie is > again very ill and obliged to leave Madras, but I do not know where he is > gone, I saw him while at Madras, he then appeared quite well but seemed much > hurt at your not having answered his last letter to you - His wife went home > a confirmed drunkard and having lost the use of all her limbs - Our dear > children are all quite well and little Alice chatters famously. She has more > colour now than when she left England, indeed they all have, dear Willie > seems none the worst for the change. The company are so stingy that they > will not allow us a medical man up here, and this of course adds to my > anxiety about the children for in case of illness no doctor could be got > under six hours. Just fancy what we are driven to in this out of the way > part of the world, we were all day yesterday busy papering our dining room > [a good sized room too] and I assure you we did it beautifully indeed it > really could not have been better done by the finest paperhanger in London. > It is a much more troublesome job than you would fancy and I wish you would > try it for once by way of amusement. I hope some day to send you some coffee > from our own plantation. We have a few acres of it we are surrounded by > large quantities of it belonging to Richardson the shopkeeper at Madras - it > is a pretty bright green shrub covered with red berries and at one time of > the year I am told, that for three days the trees are covered with white > blossoms which gives the place the appearance of a large sheet of snow, and > the scent is most overpowering. > > Our last accounts from dear Kenneth were good, I wish he were nearer to us, > and that he could get a peep at Zachothe - sometimes poor fellow he seems > quite banished from us all, and to have no one to care about him. I wish he > were married to some nice person, do you remember the small tin canister of > snuff you gave me? I put it to George's nose the other day and he > immediately said "that smells like Uncle Zachy". Indeed dear Zachary we very > often talk of you all, and Selina and Willie frequently remind me of the > happy Saturday nights we used to spend in Great College Street "and of the > nice lobster salads" we used to have. I suppose I shall never taste another > until I return to England and then I shall be too old to enjoy it. When you > write next time, pray let your letters be longer and the news more about the > children, tell dear Selina she must write me a nice long letter and if Zachy > would favour me I would be very glad. Poor George met with an accident on > board ship which may have been very serious, he fell the whole way down the > stairs leading to the lower cabins and struck his forehead against an iron > bar at the bottom which fastened down the hold and cut his nose across > against the padlock. And now dearest Zachary I must say goodbye for if I go > on crossing this you will not be able to read it. Give my kindest love to > all the children and Mrs Macaulay > > Believe me to be your affectionate sister > > Selina Cherry > > >