Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    HY927/2
  • Title
    Letter from Sarah Harvey [widow of John IV] at Ickwell Bury to John Harvey V and his wife Susan on a tour of the north.
  • Date free text
    1801 - undated, but postmarked 26 August 1801
  • Production date
    From: 1801 To: 1801
  • Scope and Content
    “My Dear Son & Daughter, I long to hear from you, my Dear Children. I have had only one letter from you since you left Bedford. I was in great hopes to have had one yesterday. I met your letter to your Aunt at the New Inn and I knew it to come from you and I opened it. I am afraid she will not be pleased, but I have written to her for pardon. I finished my letter to you, which I directed to my son on a Tour so that it is now at Carlile. I think you will be glad to receive it and hope you had the letter directed to Buxton. I long to know how my son liked Matlock and am very sorry you was so late in as you lost that beautiful drive from Derby. I hope & beg you will not do so again. Well, as I promised you a journal, I must pursue my plan. I finished my last, which I sent to Carlile and sent it to the post on Thursday evening. My nephew John would go to William and I sent by him. The morning & evening at Hinxworth I liked very well, but the middle of the day and at meals nobody can describe. I was very glad to get away and did intend it on Friday morning, William Buxton was to drive us, but when the morning came, it was fine and all the people were going to carry wheat. I put the question to him if it would not be very inconvenient to him & he fairly owned that it would prevent him from carrying. I beg’d of Miss A to give him a reprieve, and he ran away like a lapwing. There was time then for me to get home by dinner, but she would not let me all that I could do or say and I was obliged to send for the Horses to come for me at seven o’clock and she was so unwilling to let me go at last that I was obliged to take her into the Chaise and she went with me as far as the last turning in the field. John was to meet her at seven o’clock at Hinxworth after her bringing me to Ickwell Bury, so I thought I should be in time to see him if I went to the New Inn and I had hardly inquired if Mrs. Thornton had pas’t that evening before I saw him coming. Poor fellow, he looked very much terrified and said Ed had behaved to him worse than he thought it possible and I can readily believe it as I never saw so stubborn a spirit in my life in any creature as he showed at Hinxworth and I own I was sorry that John went. When I came home, the children gone to bed, but Nurse gave me a good account of them all. Saturday morning before eight, they all came into my Room in high spirits and Mary was as much pleased as any. Elizabeth looked much the same, but nurse thinks she thrives and takes more notice. The two eldest dined with me in the middle of which Mr. & Mrs. Taylor came. They came in and sat down and upon asking to eat, they did and dined with us and staid till near eight o’clock and as I had promised Susan her tea things in the afternoon, I was obliged to be as good as my word or I should have had no peace. I ordered it in time for to have it over before our tea and no two little girls could be more happy than they were. Thursday Mr. Cox came up. I think him a nice young man and very much of a gentleman. On Sunday, I thought Mrs. Markham would have sent her carriage for me, but she didn’t and I was obliged to send to old Brunt. Both the children went with me to Church and Sarah prayed for her papa & mama & wished them a safe journey several times and repeated the Lord’s Prayer over & over. Monday, the dear little girls dined with me was very good and very happy the Markhams came to tea and Mrs. Markham thought little Elizabeth looked much better. I was glad to hear her say so as Nurse and Mrs M’Grath thinks she is much improved in her looks and in her fair way of doing very well. I think so too, but when I see her with Mary, she looks so very delicate and small, but I put it close to Nurse and she desired me to give her duty and to assure you that she thinks that she has got the better of her complaint and is going on as well as any child can, so you have every reason to make yourself easy and happy and depend upon my sending you the honest truth. The oats began to be cut Hawkings has been two days about them Watson say the crop is good. They will be carried tomorrow if fine and put in the little barn . No more piggs died the one sent to town made 8½ per pound, the calf 61½ we pay 9d William Thornton if they have bought in another calf - we made 4 pounds butter last week. Hawkins brings in about 3 sometimes 4 quarts of milk at a time. Your peacock very well. Tuesday I went to dine at Mrs Pownal’s to meet Mrs Thornton. Met an old acquaintance Mr Pedley. I have not seen him for near 30 years. Before I went who do you think called but Mr and Mrs Stovin. They staid 2 hours. We were glad to see each other. They are going to Ramsgate and take Theodocia with them. Fred Stovin is at Canterbury. They look very well and says they will call on you in their way into the north. We took a walk and were …. in the Alcove in the garden when George brought … your nice letter, which I was most elated with it … if you had seen my countenance on that part of not receiving the letter at Buxton, but now was I delighted that you did not trust to others. I am glad you had it and hope you will receive that at Carlile … …. I never intended writing as I didn’t remember a word passing about it or of Carlile, but as I told you in my letter that all the dear babies were well & I hope you will receive it safe. I directed it to my son on a tour, so that you will be sure to have it if you write to the postmaster of Carlile to forward it to you. We spent a very agreeable time at Mrs. Pownal’s with my dear Sarah and she & William [Astell] send their loves. I got home by nine o’clock, found the children all asleep and well, but Susan in the night wanted to go to bed to Taylor, and wanted a light in her room, but she assures that she will never will do it again. Sarah Thornton looks very thin, and I really begin to think there may be a reason for it. Mrs. Thornton is very much affected by the death of Mrs. Cornwell. William & Sarah went to see her this morning Wednesday and came on to see me & the children. Mrs. Pownal wants them to stay next week, but they leave her on Friday & dine at Hinxworth and come to me in the evening and stay Saturday & Sunday and set out on their journey on Monday. I should have liked to have had them a few days, but I would not press it as I knew other people wanted them. I hope we shall all have a happy meeting at Finningley. I hear all the children are at Scarboro’. I am glad you met my dear Mary little doll. She was a nice girl and I did love her. Mrs. Thornton knows Mr Hodson, says he is a good fellow. The children were ready to eat my daughter, they are very well and the little one looks better today than I ever saw her and she takes notice & knows Nurse. As to books we have had little off yet. I have been out a week and I do assure you I find a good deal to do of one sort or other. I hope we are getting in a better farming now. Such abundance of corn was never known they tell me wheat will yield 10 quarter per acre. I am sorry my son don’t come in for a little. I am sick of his advisers. God bless you both. I am glad you are well and that all your horses etc etc (?) go on so well. Watson says all the things are well at Ickwell Bury, the dear children are & send loves & duties & kisses to Papa & Mama without number. Believe me, your affectionate mother, S Harvey. My son’s Parlour is whitewashed and will be painted the latter end of next week. The sowords (sic) are taken care of.
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