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Priscilla May to Ann May 2 Nov 1833 Frenchay 11th Mo 2nd 7th day

2 Nov 1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

My dear Mother Thy truly welcome & long, long wished-for letter arrived last evening & it gave me sincere pleasure to find that you are all well - it was so very long since I had heard either from or of you, that I had begun to wonder what could have caused so long a silence -- I have taken a right earnest piece of paper, thou wilt think but I am sure it would be difficult for thee to read a crossed letter & therefore I hope the present more than equal to one -- All the parts of thy letter were most particularly interesting to me & I only wished for a more minute domestic account, do not let more than a fortnight go between writing letters, as we hear not a syllable from any one of you. I see by the date of yours that it was a week old. I had not heard of C.Morris but was glad to hear of her doing so nicely, do give my love to her when thou sees her. I hope Nancy will not feel the effects of her expedition. I was much obliged for her note the dear children all being well was very delightful news, as the time is now come around when twelve months ago we were anxiously watching by the bedside of our dear Robert, I often think of him & all of them give my very dear love to them all -- I am glad to say Aunt has been remarkably well ever since we came with the exception of one day having the head ache, her uniform cheerfulness makes it very pleasant to us- I had no idea that I could ever make so free with her & she is not the formidable personage I had anticipated - I read her parts of thy letter she was much pleased with it. Since writing last we have not had much company but have seen & heard of several - You have no doubt heard of the death of Rachel Pease at Manchester - Margaret Hoyland died from extreme exhaustion brought on by violent sea-sickness in her passage to Ireland. Henry Bewley *has lost his wife, I believe she had been delicate for some time, but it was only two days before she died that any alarm had been excited; the evening of the preceding the last night she requested to be left alone, & even the rushlight to be put out - Henry laid down on a couch in the room & having awoke from a short sleep & not hearing his wife breathe he procured a light & on going to her found that all was over.- Last 3rd day week Aunt took us to Bristol to attend their meeting as Elisha Bates was there. He is tall, sallow complexion, but not particularly thin. He spoke for nearly an hour - has a very rapid delivery, rather a nasal twang, but a good voice altogether, & he struck me as agreeable if not more so than any American I have heard - his views are not extensive & I should think it is not likely he will go anywhere near our county - his being in delicate health makes him desirous of prosecuting his journey in as short a manner as he can so that he declined coming here - he has been under medical care & been detained in consequence at Bristol, he seems to know his journey only by the direction of the compass & not by the names of places - he told Francis he was going South by West - - Thomas & Elizabeth Robson came here on 4th day to meeting & had a public meeting in the evening. Mary & Louisa Wright came with them they all dined here with Philip & Anna - Helen & two boys from Joel Lean's - T.& H.Robson lodged at Francis's & Aunt went with them the next morning to Lawrence Weston & in the evening they were going to have a public meeting at Bristol. They come here to the Monthly Meeting on second day.- This day week Aunt took us to call at Redland, they were very kind in asking us to go & spend a day there - report says Anna Fry has had an offer from an Irish friend but we do not know whether she has accepted him. Yesterday week on Emily's going in with a message to Mariana she told E. that Agatha Hillhouse & Colonel Macinnes & his wife (Jacob Reynolds's daughter) were coming to take lunch at their house, which seems to be the fashion, accordingly the fire was lighted in the dining room & we adorned ourselves & sat waiting the arrival of the three august personages, about two o'clock they came here A.Hillhouse without her bonnet which rather amused us - they did not stay long and nothing particular was said but they seemed very agreeable.- Anna Rake & her youngest son John Lury paid a morning call here, we did not see her then, but as we went to Moorend that morning we met her there. Last first day Francis took us a long walk after dinner up a very steep hill & by the Duke of Beauforts & then out into Stapleton it was a beautiful walk & we enjoyed it very much - F. thought we must have gone four miles - we did not find so much fatigue as I should have supposed - First day evenings are the most tedious part of our time last first day Aunt had the servants in & read for nearly two hours out of Ellwood's Sacred History which she intends proceeding with it is a very interesting History but is one that I should prefer reading to myself.- On 2nd day nothing particular occurred except Aunt's having the headache on 3rd day we were invited to tea to join a bridal party at Francis's consisting of John & Deborah Thomas (late Crewdson) & bridesmaid Deborah Benson the bride's eldest brother(M.D.Crewdson jun.) & wife & George & Edward Thomas they all came to dinner at four o'clock. Philip came for us about six & we were in hopes of being in the drawing room just before they all came from the dinner table but on the our going into the chamber to take off our bonnets we encountered all the female part of the company & William Crewdson as Mariana was showing them her house even to the servants' rooms & Francis hinting that one empty room was the nursery - of course our introduction was in rather an awkward place but Mariana is such an excellent hand at it that no formality could be felt -- we amused ourselves as before pretty much in looking over the pretty things on the tables; about seven we drank tea. Charlotte Collier, the bride, & E. & I sat in one part of the drawing room where the equipage was. I should have said the room was divided in the middle by folding doors, all the rest sat in the other part - - after tea some of the females disappeared I suppose for the sake of looking at Mariana's little things of which she is providing a large stock F. says quite enough for twins in his opinion; about nine the company separated after having spent an agreeable evening though on our part rather silent - Mariana is the life if the party & is equally free & lively in the midst of a room full of company as when we are by ourselves - We are engaged to spend next 6th day with her so do think of us - her sister Elizabeth Gibbins came last fourth day & is intending to stay a week or two - she is considerably shorter than Mariana & though equally free & sociable has not so much of the lady about her - we like Charlotte Collier better the more we see of her. 4th day. I had quite intended finishing this before but have been prevented - Second day was Monthly Meeting here there were not many friends T.& E.Robson came they dined at Francis's with rather a large party we had J.S.Fry & his daughter Henrietta, Harriet Fisher & her daughter Ann, S.& S.Jackson & four boys from Joel Lean's, the Fry's only staid tea - they were very anxious to fix a day for our going to see them & to stay a night we fixed for the next day (yesterday) if it should be fine but the morning was so unfavourable we were obliged to give it up.- Today we are going to have Mariana & her companions to dinner & we go there to-morrow as there is some probability that Rachel Wilkins will come to spend a few days with us on 6th day.- - Last 6th day we were engaged to spend at Philip's in company with Helen & her children but H. had an attack of the bowels in the night which prevented her - it was very severe while it lasted being attended with sickness - she is now as well as usual but not strong - her boy is a fine noble fellow much handsomer than his sister - Aunt joined us at dinner at P.'s & we enjoyed ourselves very much - after dinner P. showed us on a large map of the United States the whole route of Frederick's travels - - after tea Francis came to tell us of the arrival of the parcel - we of course could not stay long after such news & therefore trudged home as quickly as we could - when each one was too eager to think of sitting down or taking off our things but clustered round the table intent on our own concerns & for the time caring for nothing else till Francis who had not much to read exclaimed that we looked as if round a gaming table - - Our sittings in our delightful little room I fear must come to a conclusion as the weather is rather colder.- We have not accomplished much work at present, I have finished Anna's shirts & am making a work bag for myself & we have just cut out some scotch cambric caps to make for Helen's boy I should like exceedingly to make another bag but have not the materials - we are wishing to work Aunt a pair of ottomans but she is so long before she gets the worsteds that I am afraid she will drive it off till it is too late - as there is no shop nearer than Bristol & we not having any way of getting there we cannot finish things that we begin which is rather awkward - there are some very pretty patterns of ottomans here which I should very much like to copy from for our sitting room but I regret not being able to do it from the expense of them.- - Wilt thou give my dear love to Nancy & ask her to be so kind as to send me the length in inches of the collars for the frills - I am very much depending on a nice long letter from her. I thought of them on 7th day but I thought H.'s birthday was on the 3rd not the 2nd I want to hear how my plants & pet chickens are. - - Mariana sent us a letter yesterday to read containing an account of the death of Sarah Fox of Plymouth a minister & mother of M.D.Crewdson jun.'s wife that who were of the bridal party she had been afflicted with paralysis a long time - we go to Moorend about twice a week for a walk only - we have missed our way once in trying to go a different one to it we have not yet spent a day there - - Alfred is building a malting & making other alterations he says he sadly wants Charles to help him plan it.- The house is a very moderate size but I should hope it would be comfortable. We find Sarah Jackson a very agreeable person from the little we have seen of her - they live in a very retired spot but I understand it is very pretty yet I do not imagine that Sam. makes up for the society to which Sarah has been used to as he is not a person who has any pursuit.- - - 5th day I was prevented finishing this yesterday by its being meeting day on coming home afterwards I found a letter from Jane Curtis for me she says not a word about Charlotte or the children so I suppose they are pretty well - Caroline & her Mary Ellen were with them they had all been invited together with William & Jane Curtis & M. & S.Holmes to spend an evening with Maria Gordon which seemed to have aroused their wonder very much as M.G. had not been within their doors since she has been at Alton though they not infrequently call on her. Jane says they spent a very pleasant evening & Maria was very agreeable but though they staid till past eleven, her husband never made his appearance - the business seems to increase at least Gordon is kept in by a good deal as he told Uncle James he had only had his hat on once since last winter - Mary Wallis has been very ill but is better - Aunt W. had reached home & they thought her looking better _ Jane says that Sarah Maddock was so much worse that it was doubtful whether she could be living - - Mariana & her sister & cousin came to dinner only yesterday they were joined by P. & Anna the latter keeps about very nicely at present. Mariana would like to have our receipt for Indian Pickle not Dr Kitchiner's.- We are going there to-day though it is so wet.- I am sorry to see by the paper that two incendiary fires have already occurred in our county.- The account of Mary Bennell's muddles was not very surprising to me - it was what she might have expected but give my love to her - I forgot to say that Jane Curtis mentions her brother John being settled for the winter at Edinburgh; no fear of a lack of doctors. E.Gibbins read us part of their newspaper letter received yesterday from Falmouth the cholera is on the decline but has raged very much.- I think I must have now exhausted thy patience & taken up a deal of thy time by this long epistle & should like to have my example followed though it were a week in hand - With my very dear love to F. C. & N. I must now conclude not forgetting a large share thyself From thy affectionate Priscilla I left my Camlet Cloak in Town at Francis's it should would be better at home if anybody could think of it when there - I should like to be remembered to her & him. [Seal :lattice in circle of 9 dots ] Samuel May Postmark : BRISTOL M No 5D Ampthill 7NO1833 8 NO 8 Bedfordshire 1P POST 1833

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

May, Priscilla,
May, Ann,
Morris, C,
May, Nancy,
Pease, Rachel,
Hoyland, Margaret,
Bewley, Henry,
Bates, Elisha,
Robson, Thomas,
Robson, Elizabeth,
Wright, Mary,
Wright, Louisa,
Lean, Joel,
Robson, T.,
Robson, H,
Tuckett, Philip,
Tuckett, Anna,
Tuckett, Francis,
Weston, Lawrence,
Fry, Anna,
Hillhouse, Agatha,
Macinnes, Colonel,
Reynolds, Jacob,
Rake, Anna,
Lury, John,
Thomas, Deborah,
Thomas, John,
Crewdson, Deborah,
Benson, Deborah,
Crewdson, M.D.,
Crewdson, William,
Thomas, George,
Thomas, Edward,
Collier, Charlotte,
Gibbins, Elizabeth,
Fry, J.S.,
Fry, Henrietta,
Fisher, Harriet,
Fisher, Ann,
Jackson, S.,
Wilkins, Rachel,
Fox, Sarah,
May, Charles,
Tuckett, Alfred,
Jackson, Sarah,
Curtis, Jane,
Curtis, William,
Gordon, Maria,
Holmes, M.,
Holmes, S,
Maddock, Sarah,
Wallis, Mary,
Bennell, Mary,
Curtis, John,
Gibbins, E.,
May, Samuel

health, DEATH, servants, household personnel, social activities, medical conditions, travel, clothing, HOUSING, MARRIAGE, FIRE, fire raising, cholera, epidemics, food & drink recipes, Frenchay, Manchester, Ireland, Bristol, United States of America, Plymouth, Alton, Edinburgh, Falmouth