Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z506/3/15/3
  • Title
    Letter from Frederick Martell, to his grandparents (John Perring Field and wife), Aunts Jessie and Ellen, from Eyre Street, Ballarat West.
  • Date free text
    15 May 1875
  • Production date
    From: 1875 To: 1875
  • Scope and Content
    Will see by address that he has at last got something to do. Government has given him the appointment of drawing master to state schools in Ballarat East, at a salary of £250. Is rather hard work – 13 schools to attend during the week, comprising 21 hours teaching. Not as hard as might think as teacher gives every help – in preserving order etc. Monday -5 hours teaching in Ballarat. Tuesdays 6 hours in Ballarat. Wednesdays – ride 15 miles and teach 3 hours and then go 9 miles and stay all night. Thursday after doing 1 hour, ride 18 miles home and then teach 3 hours more. Fridays – go 7 miles, teach 2 hours, then travel 2 miles further, do 1 hour then ride home. When work is done likes it first rate if weather is fine, but last week has been wet without intermission for 4 days and much colder than Geelong. Had snow yesterday 'something I never saw but once before'. Keeps a pony – a thorough pet, will trot 12 miles an hour anytime. Can manage everything – board, lodging, horsefeed, and tolls, for 30s a week, so can asve £3.10s which 'seeing that I do not spend much for beer etc I ought not to starve'. Stays with Mr and Mrs Cayley who do their best to make him comfortable. Only one child – a girl of 5 summers. Mr Cayley is a Sunday School teacher 'in the one I have joined – they put me into harness at once'. His fellow lodger is studying for Wesleyan Ministry. All teetotallers. Had a letter from Papa. All well except himself who is laid up with rheumatism. Often sees Aunt Maggie who seems to be getting along very well. By Papa's letters learns that Maggie [not Aunt] is often at Wellington and they get on most happily together. Please excuse paper [lined exercise book paper] - 'I am stumped for writing paper, and it is raining hard'
  • Level of description
    item
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