FAC152/1/3

Unfinished letter from Reverend Charles Edward Searle to George Thomas Askew. Sent from London

31 December 1862

From: 1862 To: 1862

Thanks for two letters received. Has lately been reading Governor [James] Douglas reports which are printed for Parliament. Mr Repton [possibly George Repton, Member of Parliament for Warwick has now lived/rented at Odell Castle for three years and has lent him the 'Blue Books' which are colonial despatches. Included in one was a map of Canada showing Cariboo and the Quesnel River where George worked and found a 220 dollar [presumably gold] nugget. Notes that he has dissuaded some lads from going to Canada having 'frightened them with the account of the hardships, and directed them to some quieter and more settles place of labour, such as New Zealand' but that 'a labourer's life in England is to be escaped from, if possible.' Spoke to Sam Gudgeon yesterday who complained of having to support a wife and 6 children of 11/- a week and his 2 older sons are out of work, as are many others. Is working with Mr Repton with a scheme to persuade people to emigate and has visited 3 offices in London, the Cape, New Zealand and the Goverment Commissioners to procure papers. Richard Odell is Odell parish clerk and James Fennell has the village shop. The choir's singing is very good as a master from Bedford is coming to practice twice a week in the evening. George's uncle, William sends his love as does his wife Rebecca and they are still living at Hobs' Green. George's cousin, George, is still living at Morgan Astabula, Ohio. Notes that cousin George 'would be glad to get away, but I suppose he cannot get any ready money, of which the North will want a good deal more, if they mean to conquer the South - What a thrashing they have had. It is good thing we English have nothing to do with this quarrel, tho' most of us sympathize with the South.' Henry Gudgeon, George Tassell, Robert Wright and Mr Ward of Wood End died this year. 'I will tell you about the farms. You knew that Mr Sanders had the farm at Little Odell, where Mrs Kendall the widow lived, who has left the village: Mr Turney has taken the Hold besides his own farm: it is commonly said he will have Fairey's farm, who can't get on at all well: then in the village opposite the School is Mr and Mrs Sanders junior. I think I told you that we have quite a great School House now and highly ornamental and very good teaching indeed. On one side near Goodman's shop is the residence of the Master, on the other the Boys Department, somewhat of this plan [a sketch is included]. The middle part is the old building and for the Girls where you used to attend night school; which is still kept up. I have about 18 names [?] about 10 who can do dictation well. They were little boys in your time, but 17, 18, 19 years old now. John Cooper, Charles Askew, Charles Darlow and such like.'

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item

Searle, Charles Edward,
Askew, George Thomas,
Askew, Thomas George,
Repton, George William John,
Gudgeon, Sam,
Odell, Richard,
Fennell, James,
Askew, William,
Askew, Rebecca,
Askew, George,
Gudgeon, Henry,
Tassell, George,
Wright, Robert,
Ward,
Sanders,
Kendall,
Turney,
Fairey,
Goodman,
Cooper, John,
Askew, Charles,
Darlow, Charles,
Douglas, James

ODELL, Canada, Odell Castle, American Civil War, Little Odell, farms, schools, British Columbia