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

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.

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

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