Thanks, Nivard, these were interesting! --Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nivard Ovington Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 11:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LEI] Victorian Letters Hi Carolyn All evidence I have seen and read on the subject suggests literacy was far higher than is often assumed Some information on literacy based on ability to sign marriage registers http://www.bl.uk/collections/early/victorian/pr_intro.html and http://ideas.repec.org/p/umb/econwp/03107.html (downloadable pdf) History of Education in England http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_England http://richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/2011/01/literacy-revised-version.html Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hi, Brian, > > The fact that she writes at all in 1858 is what I find fascinating--a very > intelligent and determined woman--with family and household duties occupying > most of her time, and the general lack of extensive education for women at > the time. > > My family's experience (coal miners) was quite different, particularly for > the wives and daughters. Illiteracy was the norm well into the 1880s. It > might be interesting, along with the letters to have a short discussion of > the existing educational system for farm workers' and their families in > England at the time the letters were written. Thanks for sharing. > > --Carolyn Sidebottom, Minnesota, USA ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Yesterday I posted the first transcription of a batch of letters written by a mother to her son, who had left home to work away. Because the letters had only the day and month date, I could only try and determine their order by the contents. However, I have now realised that the letter published yesterday was in fact the second of the ones I have, written in 1860, whereas the one below was written in 1858. Just a bit more background. The family lived in Wymondham which is a village to the east of Melton Mowbray, where George was an Ag. Lab. Parents: George Eaglesfield born Greetham, Rutland 1803; Elizabeth nee Judson, born Greetham Rutland, 1804. Children, all born Wymondham. George, 1828; Mary, 1829; John, 1832; William, 1834; Susannah, 1836; Joseph, 1838; Sarah, 1839, Elizabeth, 1845. John was, at the time of this letter, working as a plate layer on the railway in County Durham. As before I have transcribed it exactly as written, with original spellings, which my computer spellchecker is constantly trying to correct! The letters were also written with no punctuation and no capitalisation at the start of a sentence. This makes reading it amusing when you get to the bit about lizy being ill and read it as "she can't sit up in bed without holding the Doctor." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ March 22 Wymondham My Dear son John I write to you hoping to find you quite well it leaves me beter than I have been I have such a bad pain in my face an tooth ache I never had it so bad in my life I ham sorry to say poor lizy is very ill she has got a bad cold an it is turned to fever their is a bad illness an fever hear she is very weack she is never been up since last fridy weack she is had nothing but drink an oringers this last weack Mr Douglas is atended her more than a weack she cant sit up rite in bed without holding the Doctor says she is a little beter to day she will take a deal a raisin I think I have nothing but trouble this poor child is such a tie but the lords will must be done I think a great deal about the too poor girls that is departed we had a leter from Gorge he sent for your adress an we sent it him his wife is got another son they call him tomas your father is not going to ponton this year they have got a man in the house stutring Gulcon is dead John we never told you that wen tom peniston left you he went an got a place at Darlinton he only worked 6 weaks an then he fell bad of the fever an then he died he has been dead 10 weaks his mother went an waited on him she staid with him an seen him bired so no more this preasant time your effectnate Mother E Eaglesfield rite soon as you can Adress to William William Eaglesfield Berkley House Bath road Reading Berkshire As before I will now add in corrections and punctuation, and fill in a few details. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- March 22 Wymondham My Dear son John I write to you hoping to find you quite well. it leaves me beter (better) than I have been. I have such a bad pain in my face an tooth ache I never had it so bad in my life. I ham (am) sorry to say poor lizy (Elizabeth, John's youngest sister, aged about 12 here) is very ill. she has got a bad cold an it is turned to fever. their (there) is a bad illness an fever hear (here). she is very weack (weak). she is (has) never been up since last fridy weack (Friday week). she is (has) had nothing but drink an oringers (oranges) this last weack (week). Mr Douglas is atended her more than a weack (week). she cant sit up rite (right) in bed without holding. the Doctor says she is a little beter (better) to day. she will take a deal a raisin (raising). I think I have nothing but trouble. this poor child is such a tie but the lords will must be done. I think a great deal about the too (two) poor girls that is departed. (Sarah died in 1857 and I can't trace Mary, so maybe she had died young also) we had a leter (letter) from Gorge (John's eldest brother George who lived in Derby). he sent for your adress an we sent it him. his wife is (has) got another son. they call him tomas. (Thomas born Sept qtr 1857) your father is not going to ponton this year. they have got a man in the house. (possibly refers to Great Ponton House just over the border in Lincs). stutring Gulcon is dead. (presumably a local man who gained the epithet because he stuttered) John we never told you that wen (when) tom peniston left you he went an got a place at Darlinton (Darlington). (presumably Tom was a friend of John's who left home with him) he only worked 6 weaks (weeks) an then he fell bad of the fever an then he died. he has been dead 10 weaks (weeks). his mother went an waited on him. she staid (stayed) with him an seen him bired (buried). so no more this preasant (present) time. your effectnate (affectionate) Mother E Eaglesfield. rite (write) soon as you can Adress to William (John's younger brother) William Eaglesfield Berkley House Bath road Reading Berkshire I find these letters fascinating. The mother is putting down her thoughts almost as they come into her head without any construction to the letter, and spells some complicated words, but writes others down as she speaks them, with a local accent. _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4780 - Release Date: 02/01/12

http://www.dennis-jackson.me.uk/tree/ball/lewin/index.html The James Lewin Letters A series of twenty letters written by or about James Lewin between 1826 and 1847 James Lewin was born about 1810, the son of James Lewin and Sarah Bunney. He was Private 574 in the 98th Regiment of Foot. James Lewin married Jane in 1834 and they had three children - Mary Ann (1835), Thomas (1838) and John (1841). According to the letters James Lewin died at sea on the 7th February 1845, presumably during the regiment's return journey from China. There is no indication when or where Jane died, but the children are described as orphans. The indexes do not list James Lewin's death and I have yet to try the regimental diaries to see if anything is recorded about him. James Lewin's older sister Mary Ann is my gret-great-great-grandmother. She married John Ball in Leicester in 1834. Many of these letters were written to Mary Ann.

That real Leicestershire that. Gill. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Binns Sent: Wednesday, 1 February 2012 9:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [LEI] Victorian letter This list is a bit quite at the moment so I thought that I would like to share with you all some letters which were written in the late 1800s, which highlight the thoughts of folk of that period, and illustrate the conditions that people had to suffer at that time. One of my ancestral lines goes back to a Thomas Eaglesfield, who was a steeple pointer in Somerby, Leics, in the mid 16th century. Along with a few other researchers I have followed this line not only through my direct ancestors, but by filling the majority of all the other known branches too. The Eaglesfields spread not only across Leicestershire and Rutland, but into Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, London Docklands, Warwickshire, Liverpool, USA, South Africa et al. During this time, the spelling of Eaglesfield (derived from the eponymous village in Westmorland) changed to Egglesfield or Eglesfield with some branches. Many of this extended family became quite wealthy. In particular, a James Eaglesfield founded a large Hosiery business in Hinckley in the early 1800s. One of his sons, George Eaglesfield, was an insurance agent and estate agent in Leicester in the 1820's, 30s, and 40s, but made a fortune being a share broker during the period known as "Railway Mania". His brother William Applebee Eaglesfield was also in this field. However many were just FWKs or Ag. Labs, but their stories are no less interesting. During my researches I came across an American Eaglesfield descendant, and he sent me photocopies of letters that had been sent to his ancestors from England. These concerned George Eaglesfield, an Ag. Lab. from Wymondham and his wife Elizabeth. George was born in Greetham, Rutland, in 1803, the 8th child of 12 of Joseph Eaglesfield, who himself had been born in Hungarton, showing how the Eaglesfields spread through each generation. George and Elizabeth's 3rd child John had left Wymondham in the late 1850s to work for the Great Northern railway in Durham. He married there in 1861, and had 3 children in Durham, before emigrating to the USA in 1869. The letters were written to him, firstly in Durham and then in Pennsylvania. There are only a few letters, but I will publish these in chronological order over the next week or so. As you read through them you will come to realise that George and Elizabeth never ever saw their son John again from the day he left to work on the railway in Durham. They never met his wife, nor did they ever see their grandchildren. It is this that I find most sad. This is the first letter, typed below exactly as written, with no punctuation and with all the spelling errors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Jan 19 1860 Wymondham My dear son, We recived your letter an the money quite safe an was glad to hear you was well an thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases in the winter we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc he had entred the club 3 monts ago when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned to him I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing lizy sends her love to you she has had a nother bad finger it is got well but they ar very tender she is tired being a tome she would like to out as soon she cold get a place I have been to Leicester to tack the child home to her father his wife as had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing it will be all the beter for little Jane her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony but he never gave me any he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som as soon as he could but he never will it is a year this last Cristsmes since we have not had a sixpence I hope these few lines will find you will it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- To enable it to be read more easily, I have corrected some of the spellings below, and added full stops, though not capitalised letters, where appropriate. It is interesting how the word "and" is spelled - just as spoken - "an" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- We recived (received) your letter and the money quite safe and was glad to hear you was well and thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble (acceptable) your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever. Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases (places) in the winter. we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob (entered the club - sickness benefit?). we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc (since). he had entred the club 3 monts ago. when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled (entitled) to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned (anything happened) to him. I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing. lizy (Elizabeth, John's sister) sends her love to you. she has had a nother (another) bad finger. it is got well but they ar very tender. she is tired being a tome (at home). she would like to out as soon she cold get a place (she would like to leave home). I have been to Leicester to tack (take) the child home to her father. his wife as (has) had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing (blessing). it will be all the beter (better) for little Jane. her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony (money) but he never gave me any. he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som (some)as soon as he could but he never will. it is a year this last Cristsmes (Christmas) since we have not had a sixpence. I hope these few lines will find you will (well). it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father. I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat (affectionate) Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy (happy) new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) I have no idea who this little girl Jane is, nor what, if any, relation she is to Elizabeth Eaglesfield. For information, John's brother William was working in London as a servant. Brian Binns Loughborough _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2109/4778 - Release Date: 01/31/12 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi forgive the none genealogy subject but just read this in the Daily Mail, as there has been so much spam sent from list addresses , that "drive by" infections are very real. please keep your virus and anti spam up to date regards Terry Threat from new virus-infected emails which take over your PC even if you DON'T open their attachments A new class of computer infection is threatening PCs - emails which infect PCs without the user having to open an attachment. The user will not even be warned this is happening - the only message that appears is 'loading'. Full Story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2094982/Threat-new-virus-infected-emails-PC-DONT-open-attachments.html 02 February 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

Hi, Brian, The fact that she writes at all in 1858 is what I find fascinating--a very intelligent and determined woman--with family and household duties occupying most of her time, and the general lack of extensive education for women at the time. My family's experience (coal miners) was quite different, particularly for the wives and daughters. Illiteracy was the norm well into the 1880s. It might be interesting, along with the letters to have a short discussion of the existing educational system for farm workers' and their families in England at the time the letters were written. Thanks for sharing. --Carolyn Sidebottom, Minnesota, USA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Binns Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 6:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [LEI] Victorian Letters (... ...) I find these letters fascinating. The mother is putting down her thoughts almost as they come into her head without any construction to the letter, and spells some complicated words, but writes others down as she speaks them, with a local accent. _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4780 - Release Date: 02/01/12 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Madeline If you are enjoying the Victorian Farm, you may remember they refer to a book quite often, Henry Stephens, The Book of the Farm You may be interested to know you can get your own copy from www.archive.org Select texts and search for henry stephens the book of the farm You should find three volumes plus others on buildings etc Select one and on the next page you will see an HTTP on the left, select that and then the line ending pdf You can also read them online of course If you have farming ancestors, and most of us do at one level or another, I think you will find it interesting to read something they did Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) PS There are plenty of other books on Archive.org that you may find interesting Thank you, Brian, for the most interesting post. I am currently enjoying tapes of Victorian Farm, Victorian Christmas and Victorian Pharmacy, all from BBC TV. Such a hard and difficult life many of our ancestors had. I have several Leic. connections and hope to visit in the summer. Connect the dots as it were. Madeline in California

Thank you Nivard.   I shall check it out.   Madeline --- On Wed, 2/1/12, Nivard Ovington <[email protected]> wrote: From: Nivard Ovington <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [LEI] Victorian letter To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 11:55 AM Hi Madeline If you are enjoying the Victorian Farm, you may remember they refer to a book quite often, Henry Stephens, The Book of the Farm You may be interested to know you can get your own copy from www.archive.org Select texts and search for henry stephens the book of the farm You should find three volumes plus others on buildings etc Select one and on the next page you will see an HTTP on the left, select that and then the line ending pdf You can also read them online of course If you have farming ancestors, and most of us do at one level or another, I think you will find it interesting to read something they did Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) PS There are plenty of other books on Archive.org that you may find interesting Thank you, Brian, for the most interesting post. I am currently enjoying tapes of Victorian Farm, Victorian Christmas and Victorian Pharmacy, all from BBC TV. Such a hard and difficult life many of our ancestors had. I have several Leic. connections and hope to visit in the summer. Connect the dots as it were. Madeline in California ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This list is a bit quite at the moment so I thought that I would like to share with you all some letters which were written in the late 1800s, which highlight the thoughts of folk of that period, and illustrate the conditions that people had to suffer at that time. One of my ancestral lines goes back to a Thomas Eaglesfield, who was a steeple pointer in Somerby, Leics, in the mid 16th century. Along with a few other researchers I have followed this line not only through my direct ancestors, but by filling the majority of all the other known branches too. The Eaglesfields spread not only across Leicestershire and Rutland, but into Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, London Docklands, Warwickshire, Liverpool, USA, South Africa et al. During this time, the spelling of Eaglesfield (derived from the eponymous village in Westmorland) changed to Egglesfield or Eglesfield with some branches. Many of this extended family became quite wealthy. In particular, a James Eaglesfield founded a large Hosiery business in Hinckley in the early 1800s. One of his sons, George Eaglesfield, was an insurance agent and estate agent in Leicester in the 1820's, 30s, and 40s, but made a fortune being a share broker during the period known as "Railway Mania". His brother William Applebee Eaglesfield was also in this field. However many were just FWKs or Ag. Labs, but their stories are no less interesting. During my researches I came across an American Eaglesfield descendant, and he sent me photocopies of letters that had been sent to his ancestors from England. These concerned George Eaglesfield, an Ag. Lab. from Wymondham and his wife Elizabeth. George was born in Greetham, Rutland, in 1803, the 8th child of 12 of Joseph Eaglesfield, who himself had been born in Hungarton, showing how the Eaglesfields spread through each generation. George and Elizabeth's 3rd child John had left Wymondham in the late 1850s to work for the Great Northern railway in Durham. He married there in 1861, and had 3 children in Durham, before emigrating to the USA in 1869. The letters were written to him, firstly in Durham and then in Pennsylvania. There are only a few letters, but I will publish these in chronological order over the next week or so. As you read through them you will come to realise that George and Elizabeth never ever saw their son John again from the day he left to work on the railway in Durham. They never met his wife, nor did they ever see their grandchildren. It is this that I find most sad. This is the first letter, typed below exactly as written, with no punctuation and with all the spelling errors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Jan 19 1860 Wymondham My dear son, We recived your letter an the money quite safe an was glad to hear you was well an thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases in the winter we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc he had entred the club 3 monts ago when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned to him I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing lizy sends her love to you she has had a nother bad finger it is got well but they ar very tender she is tired being a tome she would like to out as soon she cold get a place I have been to Leicester to tack the child home to her father his wife as had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing it will be all the beter for little Jane her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony but he never gave me any he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som as soon as he could but he never will it is a year this last Cristsmes since we have not had a sixpence I hope these few lines will find you will it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- To enable it to be read more easily, I have corrected some of the spellings below, and added full stops, though not capitalised letters, where appropriate. It is interesting how the word "and" is spelled - just as spoken - "an" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- We recived (received) your letter and the money quite safe and was glad to hear you was well and thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble (acceptable) your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever. Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases (places) in the winter. we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob (entered the club - sickness benefit?). we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc (since). he had entred the club 3 monts ago. when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled (entitled) to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned (anything happened) to him. I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing. lizy (Elizabeth, John's sister) sends her love to you. she has had a nother (another) bad finger. it is got well but they ar very tender. she is tired being a tome (at home). she would like to out as soon she cold get a place (she would like to leave home). I have been to Leicester to tack (take) the child home to her father. his wife as (has) had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing (blessing). it will be all the beter (better) for little Jane. her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony (money) but he never gave me any. he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som (some)as soon as he could but he never will. it is a year this last Cristsmes (Christmas) since we have not had a sixpence. I hope these few lines will find you will (well). it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father. I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat (affectionate) Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy (happy) new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) I have no idea who this little girl Jane is, nor what, if any, relation she is to Elizabeth Eaglesfield. For information, John's brother William was working in London as a servant. Brian Binns Loughborough _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2109/4778 - Release Date: 01/31/12

Thank you, Brian, for the most interesting post.  I am currently enjoying tapes of Victorian Farm, Victorian Christmas and Victorian Pharmacy, all from BBC TV.  Such a hard and difficult life many of  our ancestors had.  I have several Leic. connections and hope to visit in the summer.  Connect the dots as it were.   Madeline  in California  --- On Wed, 2/1/12, Brian Binns <[email protected]> wrote: From: Brian Binns <[email protected]> Subject: [LEI] Victorian letter To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 5:30 AM This list is a bit quite at the moment so I thought that I would like to share with you all some letters which were written in the late 1800s, which highlight the thoughts of folk of that period, and illustrate the conditions that people had to suffer at that time. One of my ancestral lines goes back to a Thomas Eaglesfield, who was a steeple pointer in Somerby, Leics, in the mid 16th century. Along with a few other researchers I have followed this line not only through my direct ancestors, but by filling the majority of all the other known branches too. The Eaglesfields spread not only across Leicestershire and Rutland, but into Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, London Docklands, Warwickshire, Liverpool, USA, South Africa et al. During this time, the spelling of Eaglesfield (derived from the eponymous village in Westmorland) changed to Egglesfield or Eglesfield with some branches. Many of this extended family became quite wealthy. In particular, a James Eaglesfield founded a large Hosiery business in Hinckley in the early 1800s. One of his sons, George Eaglesfield, was an insurance agent and estate agent in Leicester in the 1820's, 30s, and 40s, but made a fortune being a share broker during the period known as "Railway Mania". His brother William Applebee Eaglesfield was also in this field. However many were just FWKs or Ag. Labs, but their stories are no less interesting. During my researches I came across an American Eaglesfield descendant, and he sent me photocopies of letters that had been sent to his ancestors from England. These concerned George Eaglesfield, an Ag. Lab. from Wymondham and his wife Elizabeth. George was born in Greetham, Rutland, in 1803, the 8th child of 12 of Joseph Eaglesfield, who himself had been born in Hungarton, showing how the Eaglesfields spread through each generation. George and Elizabeth's 3rd child John had left Wymondham in the late 1850s to work for the Great Northern railway in Durham. He married there in 1861, and had 3 children in Durham, before emigrating to the USA in 1869. The letters were written to him, firstly in Durham and then in Pennsylvania. There are only a few letters, but I will publish these in chronological order over the next week or so. As you read through them you will come to realise that George and Elizabeth never ever saw their son John again from the day he left to work on the railway in Durham. They never met his wife, nor did they ever see their grandchildren. It is this that I find most sad. This is the first letter, typed below exactly as written, with no punctuation and with all the spelling errors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Jan 19 1860 Wymondham My dear son, We recived your letter an the money quite safe an was glad to hear you was well an thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases in the winter we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc he had entred the club 3 monts ago when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned to him I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing lizy sends her love to you she has had a nother bad finger it is got well but they ar very tender she is tired being a tome she would like to out as soon she cold get a place I have been to Leicester to tack the child home to her father his wife as had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing it will be all the beter for little Jane her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony but he never gave me any he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som as soon as he could but he never will it is a year this last Cristsmes since we have not had a sixpence I hope these few lines will find you will it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- To enable it to be read more easily, I have corrected some of the spellings below, and added full stops, though not capitalised letters, where appropriate. It is interesting how the word "and" is spelled - just as spoken - "an" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- We recived (received) your letter and the money quite safe and was glad to hear you was well and thankfull to you for the money for it is very excuptuble (acceptable) your father being out of work so much more this winter than ever. Wymondham gets to be the poorest of plases (places) in the winter. we are very glad to hear you was entred the Clob (entered the club - sickness benefit?).  we had a letter from your Brother William a month sinc (since). he had entred the club 3 monts ago. when he had been in 3 more months he would be in titled (entitled) to 12 an 6 per week an 12 pounds if any thing hapned (anything happened) to him. I think it will be a very good thing for you to improve in your writing. lizy (Elizabeth, John's sister) sends her love to you. she has had a nother (another) bad finger. it is got well but they ar very tender. she is tired being a tome (at home). she would like to out as soon she cold get a place (she would like to leave home). I have been to Leicester to tack (take) the child home to her father. his wife as (has) had a child but it is dead it is a great bleesing (blessing).  it will be all the beter (better) for little Jane. her father very much disappointed me I thought he would gave me a little mony (money) but he never gave me any. he said he had not any to give me but he said he would send me som (some)as soon as he could but he never will. it is a year this last Cristsmes (Christmas) since we have not had a sixpence.  I hope these few lines will find you will (well). it leaves me very *** I make a trouble parting with the child but he is abler to maintain the child than your father. I think I have said all this time I hope you will write first next time an say a little more so I remain your effectnat (affectionate) Mother E Eglesfield all our love to you good by an may the Lord bless you I wish you a hapy (happy) new year (this is written in the centre of the folded sheet) I have no idea who this little girl Jane is, nor what, if any, relation she is to Elizabeth Eaglesfield. For information, John's brother William was working in London as a servant. Brian Binns Loughborough   _____  No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2109/4778 - Release Date: 01/31/12 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Very interesting, Brian. These will surely be a treasure to add to your genealogy. --Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Binns Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 7:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [LEI] Victorian letter This list is a bit quite at the moment so I thought that I would like to share with you all some letters which were written in the late 1800s, which highlight the thoughts of folk of that period, and illustrate the conditions that people had to suffer at that time.

Hi again OK I see him now although in fairness the born Harboro Warwicks is what it states on the page and looking at the 1861 it appears to be Anns birthplace missed by a line by the enumerator Not that it matters but you gave the folio as 23 in 1861 but its 21, slip of the finger I am sure The 1841 reference on Ancestry is correct as HO107; Piece 599; Book: 5; Civil Parish: Misterton; County: Leicestershire; Enumeration District: 21a; Folio: 8; Page: 16; Line: 1; GSU roll: 438747. So I do not know where you are finding yours from, the best way I find is to use the transcript on Ancestry and scroll down below it and copy the reference there in full All of which does not solve the problem, however looking at the birthplace given in 1861 for Ann and the fact that both she and son Charles are born out of County makes me think your marriage is likely to be found in Warwickshire at the brides Parish Charles appears to be baptised in Misterton but not born in County of Leicestershire, was he being the first, born at the mothers parents as is often the way? Harborough Magna Warks is only about 7 miles distant so perhaps worth a try there for their marriage Any of the childrens birth certs post 1837 will give you the maiden name of the mother but I am sure you knew that Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) Hi Nivard He takes a bit of finding in all of these, as it is listed as Misterton. When you see the image it shows as 'Hamlet of Walcote' 1841 is HO107/599/5, pages 15/16 (those numbers show at the top) several different Cook families on these pages John is top of page 16. His birth equates to 1816 here with the 1841 'rounding'. Ancestry refers to this as Piece 595, Book 5, Folio 8, Page 16 1851 is also a bit of finding as he is listed as born at Harboro, Warwickshire (sic) (Ancestry) Page says HO107/2078 page 3 and 4 Ancestry says Piece 2078 Folio 415, page 3 1861 I found him by scrolling through the 17 pages of Walcote! Page says RG9/2247 (He is spelt Cooke!!) Ancestry reference Piece 2247, Folio 23, page 6 Neil

Hi Nivard   He takes a bit of finding in all of these, as it is listed as Misterton. When you see the image it shows as 'Hamlet of Walcote' 1841 is HO107/599/5, pages 15/16 (those numbers show at the top) several different Cook families on these pages John is top of page 16. His birth equates to 1816 here with the 1841 'rounding'. Ancestry refers to this as Piece 595, Book 5, Folio 8, Page 16   1851 is also a bit of finding as he is listed as born at Harboro, Warwickshire (sic) (Ancestry) Page says HO107/2078 page 3 and 4 Ancestry says Piece 2078 Folio 415, page 3   1861 I found him by scrolling through the 17 pages of Walcote! Page says RG9/2247 (He is spelt Cooke!!) Ancestry reference Piece 2247, Folio 23, page 6   Neil   ________________________________ From: Nivard Ovington <[email protected]> To: Neil Grantham <[email protected]>; [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 25 January 2012, 22:54 Subject: Re: [LEI] Walcote/Misterton Hi Neil Walcote is just outside Misterton and is the most likely venue for a marriage but there are others Parloc gives the following in a 2 mile radius of Misterton Bitteswell    P LEI ENG SP5385 1.8 North West Cotesbach  P LEI ENG SP5382 1.4 West by South West Lutterworth  P LEI ENG SP5484 0.9 North West Misterton    P LEI ENG SP5583 0.0 Shawell        P LEI ENG SP5480 2.0 South by South West Westrill        P LEI ENG SP5784 1.4 East by North East But they could have used another Parish further afield, especially if they were expecting a happy event :-) I can find your John COOK in 1871 & 1881 born 1812 Walcote Leicestershire but can't see him / them in 1841 / 1851 / 1861 I can find one born Waltham but not Walcote Do you have the refs for him Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) Hello all I am helping my wife research her COOK roots, and the Censuses have led us to find a large cluster of COOK's who are her ancestors in Walcote, Leicestershire. I think I am correct in saying that this 'hamlet' (as described on one of the Censuses, though looking at it now it looks like a village) is served by Misterton for it's Baptisms, Marriages and Burials? If this is the case, we have gone back as far as the 1841 showing John COOK and Ann ??? In the Censuses, both are shown as born in Walcote, John approx 1812 and Ann approx 1807. I wondered if anyone has access to any Misterton registers and might confirm a marriage of this couple? Many thanks for any help and comments Neil

Hi Neil Walcote is just outside Misterton and is the most likely venue for a marriage but there are others Parloc gives the following in a 2 mile radius of Misterton Bitteswell P LEI ENG SP5385 1.8 North West Cotesbach P LEI ENG SP5382 1.4 West by South West Lutterworth P LEI ENG SP5484 0.9 North West Misterton P LEI ENG SP5583 0.0 Shawell P LEI ENG SP5480 2.0 South by South West Westrill P LEI ENG SP5784 1.4 East by North East But they could have used another Parish further afield, especially if they were expecting a happy event :-) I can find your John COOK in 1871 & 1881 born 1812 Walcote Leicestershire but can't see him / them in 1841 / 1851 / 1861 I can find one born Waltham but not Walcote Do you have the refs for him Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) Hello all I am helping my wife research her COOK roots, and the Censuses have led us to find a large cluster of COOK's who are her ancestors in Walcote, Leicestershire. I think I am correct in saying that this 'hamlet' (as described on one of the Censuses, though looking at it now it looks like a village) is served by Misterton for it's Baptisms, Marriages and Burials? If this is the case, we have gone back as far as the 1841 showing John COOK and Ann ??? In the Censuses, both are shown as born in Walcote, John approx 1812 and Ann approx 1807. I wondered if anyone has access to any Misterton registers and might confirm a marriage of this couple? Many thanks for any help and comments Neil

Thanks Nivard. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nivard Ovington Sent: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 5:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LEI] FW: o Is this spam??? Hi Gill Yes very much spam Any post with just a link, odd or no subject line and generally to multiple addresses as this one was, is almost certainly spam Best course is to delete and move on The owner of the address it was supposedly sent from is very likely unaware their account has been infiltrated If you ever have a doubt or concerns over a list post, in the first instance email the list admin Admins address for any list can be found on the lists homepage for example http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/ENG/LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS.html Where you will find [email protected] Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) PS it is also good practice not to repeat suspected spam back to the lists as its only doing their job for them :-( > Hi All Is this spam ?? > I have had another similar to this Gill ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

> I think I am correct in saying that this 'hamlet' (as described on one of the > Censuses, though looking at it now it looks like a village) is served by > Misterton for it's Baptisms, Marriages and Burials? Yes, if you look at the GENUKI parish profile for Misterton, it mentions Walcote as being larger than Misterton village, but as part of the same parish.  It also tells you the Civil Registration districts, the church name, etc. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LEI/Misterton/index.html     Lou

Neil when I see an " about " marriage for 1833 Miserton on IGI it says others have looked before with no success in looking at time period could not find marriages for his likely brothers or cousins William and George so maybe they all married elsewhere anyone have a guess where Walcote persons married? 1841 census seems to show wife and son Charles 8 not born in county may or may not be accurate 1851 census gives alternate birth place for John which maybe was to be on the wifes line again just an observation to keep in mind jim On 24-Jan-12, at 10:04 AM, Neil Grantham wrote: > Hello all > > I am helping my wife research her COOK roots, and the Censuses have > led us to find a large cluster of COOK's who are her ancestors in > Walcote, Leicestershire. > > I think I am correct in saying that this 'hamlet' (as described on > one of the Censuses, though looking at it now it looks like a > village) is served by Misterton for it's Baptisms, Marriages and > Burials? > > If this is the case, we have gone back as far as the 1841 showing > John COOK and Ann ??? > > In the Censuses, both are shown as born in Walcote, John approx > 1812 and Ann approx 1807. > > I wondered if anyone has access to any Misterton registers and > might confirm a marriage of this couple? > > Many thanks for any help and comments > > Neil > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message

Hi Gill Yes very much spam Any post with just a link, odd or no subject line and generally to multiple addresses as this one was, is almost certainly spam Best course is to delete and move on The owner of the address it was supposedly sent from is very likely unaware their account has been infiltrated If you ever have a doubt or concerns over a list post, in the first instance email the list admin Admins address for any list can be found on the lists homepage for example http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/ENG/LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS.html Where you will find [email protected] Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) PS it is also good practice not to repeat suspected spam back to the lists as its only doing their job for them :-( > Hi All Is this spam ?? > I have had another similar to this Gill

Hello all   I am helping my wife research her COOK roots, and the Censuses have led us to find a large cluster of COOK's who are her ancestors in Walcote, Leicestershire.   I think I am correct in saying that this 'hamlet' (as described on one of the Censuses, though looking at it now it looks like a village) is served by Misterton for it's Baptisms, Marriages and Burials?   If this is the case, we have gone back as far as the 1841 showing John COOK and Ann ???   In the Censuses, both are shown as born in Walcote, John approx 1812 and Ann approx 1807.   I wondered if anyone has access to any Misterton registers and might confirm a marriage of this couple?   Many thanks for any help and comments   Neil

There may be some who have an interest in those pictured on a photograph, dated 1927, recently rescued from / acquired on EBay, of the staff and workforce at William GIMSON & Sons Ltd, timber merchants, of 47 Welford Road [where William Henry FREARSON, who was manager in 1911, and a Director by 1929, resided]. Back row R Bedford, L. Vass, H. Oswin, H. Blockley, E. Brant, G. Widdowson, P. Pendle, A. Beck, J. Harmer, A. Sanders, J. Rabbitt, F. Bonsor, E. Hyslop, S. Farrow, J. Eiphick, C. Bent, W. Martin, W. Hawes, Middle row A. Palmer, F. East, A. Cooling, H. Smith, S. Pilgrim, E. Bowles, W. Cheshire, A. Sutton, R. Barden, J. Needham, A. Ranford, J. Coxon, A. Smith, J. Marshall, A. Guttridge, R. Leeson, A. Foister, J. Hill, Front row A Peasgood, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Bentley, W. Hodgkin, William Henry Frearson (Director), William Gimson (Chairman), Henry Hay Gimson (Director), Miss Adams, Miss Knapp, Miss Verey, D. Summer For information, William GIMSON senior, was the eldest brother of Josiah GIMSON [1818 - 1883] the well known Owenite, Liberal & Secularist, and owner of the Vulcan Works in Leicester. Josiah's sons included the arts and crafts furniture designer and architect, Ernest William GIMSON. William GIMSON senior ran a timber business and his son, [Josiah's nephew], William GIMSON jnr [the Chairman in 1929] is shown in the photograph with his son Henry Hay GIMSON. William jun. later bought Swithland Wood on the Bradgate Estate in 1921 and after clearing the mature timber by 1925, he sold it on condition it was used "for the public use for ever". A low resolution image of the photograph is provided on my website - at http://johnphfrearson.host22.com/Gimson%20of%20Leicester.html and a higher resolution image is available. I hope this may be of interest, John Frearson Frearson / Freason - Guild Of One-Name Studies [GOONS] - Member 4688 http://johnphfrearson.host22.com/Frearson-One-Name-Study.html