Furmidge1868

A letter from Harby to Georgetown, 1868.

In this transcript the original spelling of the words has been kept. The text is continuous without any break into paragraphs. Often the letter continues from one sentence to another without the punctuation of a full stop and capital letter. The punctuation has been altered, mainly to break continuous text into sentences and to add paragraphs.

Harby, Melton Mowbray, March. 1868.

To W Hardy Esq.
George Town
America

Dear Uncle & Friends,

(It’s a funny beginning) (excuse me)

You will think we have quite forsaken you because we have not wrote so long a time. Now I sit down for the first time to write to you for I see nobody else will. So I must begin first to tell you a litte about Harby, about Granmother and Tet. Granmother gets worse for wear. She as only got a bit of one eye left. She has got two cows. She will keep tuing at it keep hea still you cannot for she gets quite childless. Yet, for we never call her (?aunt) has not got married yet. She says she shall have to come to America to find a bow for nobody will have her in England. She is nearly always at our house for Mother want somebody to help her. We have nearly a house ful of children.

Their is seven of us. Willm is the oldest and I am next and then Tom, Elizabeth Ann, Vincent, Linney. Russel is the youngest, he is nearly two years old. Willm is not married yet. He is all but though he lives at Nottingham but not at his old place. He buys corn and sells flour. His master name is Palmer. They are millers. They are about the biggest in Nottingham. It is a very good place. He as thirty shillings a week and they keep rasing him about every year. He has been their about a year. I, Sam am at Home with my Father. I help in the whare-house and the offices. Father has got a good trade. We have took too another trade, Small Seeds. Mr Bailey Eaton has given up so we thought we would have it. It is a very good trade. We are in several trades now. We sell Lot cakes, Cotter Cakes, Corn of all sorts, Coal, several different sorts of Meals, Small Seeds, that Clover seed, Ryegrass & etc.

I am nineteen next birthday. I go without a crutch about home. My lameness is a great deal better than it was. I use to go with two crutches when I was younger. I am enjoying better health now then ever I did in my life. I often think that I shall come to America and then I shall see what sort of country it is, and all my cousins. Granmother says she should like to see you all together once more before she dies. She told me to be sure and remember her to Uncle, Aunt, Cousins & Mr. Maw. We want her to have her likeness took and send it to you but we cannot persuade her. Tell Mr Maw that I think he as quite forgotten what he said when he was at Harby beside the Granham canal but I thought I would just put him in the memory of it. He said he would write to us and send us all their likeness’s but just tell him that now will do. Tell him to be sure and write but just give him my very best love to him. And wish him many happy turn of the day and I hope he will be better. You come to England and bring all with you, you bring Mr Maw with you and I would make him stop longer with us than he did when he was last here. I should like to see you all at England. I think I shall see you all sometime.

Tom that boy that used to caccle when you was at Harby, he is at Melton school now. He will make a good scholar. He is thirteen years old. We have had a great fine school bilt at Harby but a bad schoolmaster.

I have but one sister and I often wish that I had none for she as let temper over and over again. Her name is Elizabeth Ann. She is about 9 years old. She often talks about her little cousins in America and sends her very best love to you all. The youngest boy his name is Russel. He is the bigest beauty that ever lived in England or America. He is about a year and a half old. He is as fauce as a man. Mother and Father is enjoying good health and they think that you are all dead in America for we have not heard anythink of you so long.

Sam Lovitt keep coming to Harby. He is postman yet. He was talking about Billy Hardy whiskey the other day. James Lamin keep in the old mill yet. John Lamin has the mill. He lives with his mother. Hy Lamin has the bakehouse & shop. His wife is dead, she has been dead about 2 years now. He has only three children. Neither John or James Lamin is not married nor they don’t look like marring . There is several old Folk and young ones dead, Old Charles Greenwood & his wife, Old Mr Adcock and the doctor Adcock, Old Mr Adams and many more that I could mension. Mrs Musson still lives in the old house by herself. John Key is in the asylum. He as been in for several year’s now. He is a very poor creature. Samuel and Miss Musson still lives together. He works at the old shop yet. Johnny Musson he lives at Sleaford, Linconshire. He follow’s his trade up. He is doing well. He was at Harby last summer. There is several young men come to America this last year or two and there is several more coming. Their is three or four young folks gone to Australia. Edmund Hall oldest son is gone. They have had a fine job with the Fenians in London and others places but I have heard nothing of them latly. They have hanged some in Manchester, but most likely you have heard.

Now I think I must conclude for I think I have told you about all the news I can remember just now. Father, Mother, Grandmother, Tet, Willm and all of us and others sends our very best love to Uncle, Aunt, Cousins, Mr Maw wishing we may see all your face once more. If we don’t on earth I hope we shall in heaven. So I conclude with best love to you all

And remain

Your affectionate nephew

S Furmidge Jun

Harby
Melton Mowbray
Lecestershire
England

(look over)

I quite forgot my Aunt Mary at Melton, till I finished off at the bottom but she is very well and all her family.

P.S. Be sure and answer my letter and fill a paper like mine and it will hold some news. Tell Mr Maw what I say if you please

Good bye, good bye.

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