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Catharine Smith to Priscilla Strange 11 Mar 1837 Gt Bardfield 3rd Mo 11th 1837 My dear Friend Thou wilt probably be rather surprised once more to open a letter from me, but as I, with the rest of our Family, have felt much for you, in your late heavy trial, I thought I should like to write a few lines to tell thee so. We learnt many interesting particulars of the affecting illness & death of thy beloved brother from the pen of our cousin H.Ransome, and also of thy dear Mother's indisposition, in her situation she will feel this keenly, but she will also, I fully believe, be enabled calmly to resign her precious Child into the hands of Him who gave him, it must have been a great comfort to you that his dear Father was well enough (in this sickly time) to attend upon him, though I suppose he was unconscious what was happening around him; when thou art disposed for this employ, I should quite like to hear from thee, as I have thought so much about thy dear Mother and should be pleased to find she is a little recovering; I was mentally with you much of last First day - was thy sister A. able to come ? - This year thus far has been indeed a memorable one, so many of our Friends and acquaintances gathered, one may humbly hope, to their everlasting rest - - Our dear Sister Sus. Marriage has been alarmingly ill with a complaint on her liver, and has been confined to her room many weeks; but she seems now a little recovering, tho' she is in a very week reduced state - We have had quite a loss in the removal of our dear Friend Rebecca Christy; hers was indeed a valuable life, but surely there is cause for thankfulness that she was enabled to give all with so much sweetness and resignation, she was only extremely ill two days, I believe.- My dear Parents are gone today to the interment of Samuel Jessop of Halstead who has been for some time declining; they have both been very unwell with the Influenza; hast thou escaped? It must be, I think, a great comfort to thy dear Parents that thou art settled so near them; I should enjoy coming to see you sometime.- Our relations at Irchester are anxiously expecting to hear from our cousin Joseph, it is a long while now since he sailed.- Our Nephew James {Jakes} is at home for a week or two, though he understood most of the boys remained at School.- R.Brown has claimed the sympathy of her friends, and indeed both of them, but I suppose she is very { ?}.- We should like our dear love presented to thy Parents, and also to thy husband, and thyself, I remain very affectionately thy interested Friend C.Smith. My dear sister S.Hicks was here yesterday; it is very pleasant she is settled so near us. [Seal : Germanic C.S.] Edward Strange Postmarks : Braintree No 3 H Ampthill Penny Post 14FE14 P.S. Bedfordshire 1837

11 Mar 1837

From: 1837 To: 1837

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Smith, Catherine,
Strange, Priscilla,
Ransome, H,
Marriage, Susannah,
Christy, Rebecca,
Jessop, Samuel,
Jakes, James,
Brown, R,
Hicks, S.,
Strange, Edward Harris

influenza, mourning, disease, DEATH, Halstead, Braintree