Reference
Z629/19
Title
Letter from John Turner, baker of Milton to Thomas Turner, St Andrews, New Brunswick, British North America
Been suffering from influenza - been fatal for many here - also had Rheumatic attack, got out a little - been round skirmish with 6 iron mole traps
Father been ill and exerts himself too much; fear he won't last long
Come home without delay.
Trouble with Ann's husband (Whitbread Odell) - abused her all last week; "he at last kicked her lace pillow out of her lap and broke off every Bobbin".
Father ordered him off. On Saturday he came to borrow money - 'had none here'.
Last harvest crop yields very bad - signs of sheep rot
"Incendiaries are very busy; last week Bryan Gibbin's farm at Stotfold was burned and £4000 damage done, 16 or 18 ricks destroyed beside large Barns etc, full of corn - everything but the house was burned. The little Farm occupied by George Swannell adjoining Felmersham Church Yard was last week also burned and the Church had a narrow escape but the Bedford fire engine saved it - there has also been fires at Colmworth, Barford, Steppingley and several others and on Saturday night one of the Lugsdens from Risely was burnt out at Croxton, Cambridgeshire". Last night fire at Great Staughton
Death of Mr Gibbins eldest daughter aged 17
drawing near Stevington Church of Mrs Anderson of Duke's Farm, Oakley;
Mr and Miss Inskip;
uncertain whether Milton Estate can be got away from Mr Evans
"life of our father and myself. We are in a precarious state". mentions fresh regulation re American letters.
Postscript:
Writer a little better; Ann again forced to leave home because of beastly and brutish husband. Fire at Mr Goldings, Biddenham - little damage done as "early discovered"
Felmersham fire intended to destroy end of village but wind changed and turned it on the Church
Doubling insurance on farm stock, everything would be destroyed in the event of a fire and a westerly breeze
Details fire watching
Date free text
28-30 Nov 1843
Production date
From: 1843 To: 1843
Level of description
item