Amanuensis Monday – Bob Seeks Employment in America

“An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.”

This could include the following: transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some we never met - others we see a time in their life before we knew them.

Here is a letter from Bob (Ward), living in England, to his Uncle William Ward in America. Bob is seeking employment and relocation advice from his uncle.

  [Letter Transcription]

c/o 3 Cumberland Villas

Milton Road

Gravesend,

Feb. 16 - 1913

Dear Uncle William.
   I am writing you to this address with the hope that should you have moved from it the letter will find its way to you.
   I have it in my mind that you are coming over to England this year, am I correct? because if you do, I want to return with you for the States;  please let me know either way.
   Now I’ve made two changes since you were last over  the first was I got a job in London with a firm of Floating Dock Specialists and from them I came to this place which is opposite Tilbury Docks on the Thames I am now an assistant Mechanical Engineer with a Large Cement Combine £7.000.000 Capital   where I’ve been 18 months and I am fed up with the English system of Engineering.  we are too conservative and ____.  I should be glad if you would give me some advice upon the following.
   What district is most suitable _ to make for,?  I mean where is your Mechanical Engineering quarter?
   What salary ought I to expect as say an Engineer’s Designer, I am getting here 55/- per week?
   Would 50£ carry me over and keep me say 3 months in America  supposing I was that time looking for a berth?
   What time of the year is considered best for arriving in the States?
   I shall be extreemly glad if you can give me any guide of help with regard to the numerous questions and I should also be glad if you would indecate on a paper map the district referred to.
   I have no startling news but I believe you are aware of my Fathers condition and position he does not alter much and keeps on in the same poor style from monthe to month.
   Mother seems to me getting older but manages to keep herself occupied but at times naturally gets a little low spirited    the remainder of the family are all in good health and I hope to hear you and all are in best health   our company by the way has several monopolies in the Cement Industry.  recently have erected on Vancouver Island a cement factory which is to commence output this August and they are now contemplating putting a plant in South Africa and they have plenty of Directors sons and nephews ready to do the tripping.
      Wishing you good health and awaiting news.
      Yours Sincerely
      Bob

[Envelope]

Addressed to:	Return to:
Mr. Wm. Ward    Azusa       Los Angeles Co         Cal U.S.A	Stamped REGISTERED Gravesend  No. 69

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Amanuensis Monday – A Post From John Barton

“An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin – some we never met – others we see a time in their life before we knew them.”

Letter dated Dec 26 1893 to
Wm. and Hannah Ward in Chicago, Illinois, USA, from
John Barton (Hannah's father) in Newthorpe, England

To: Mr. W. Ward

850 West Congress Street
Chicago
Illinois
United States - America

From:  Newthorpe

Nottingham

Dear Son and Daughter  I received your leter and was pleased to hear that you were all well and thank William very much for his kindness  I think it would rather ____ for me at my time of life to come out there as I cant turn my hand to anything as I could 20 years since and the thought of giving home up seems to much for me at present   I would much rather keep a home to receive you if you thought well to come back while I live  I have had a severe experience for over two years and I have not got over it yet  I could tell you a good deal if I could see you much   hope to do some day  I have not been very well since  Mothers Death  I was a week before I started work    soon after I started I hurt my arm and had to away g again and now as been at home two weeks with a very bad cold _______ but glad to say I am much beter and about ready for work again so you will see I have had rather a rough time of it and I feel as if I cant aford to have any one in the house with me at present Aunt time is very poorley yet and cannot do any thing for me (Uncle _____ is also beter)  _______Straw live were Bauners did next door so Mrs and Nellie see to me now    I lock up when I go to work   when get home at night they fetch the kettle and boil it and puts anything to cook on hot for me as I want while the fire burns up and Nellie cleans up for me   they are very kind to me and I try to make myself as comfortable as I can but o it is so loneley by myself  but Mother beged of me such a many times to be shure and take care of my home and keep things together and I promised I would   she thought you would be comeing back   she would liked to have seen all three of you before she Died   there are a many things she would liked you to have I should not to see things as she as made go any ___ else you ask me what.  Mothers Illness was first poorley for along time and then the Jaundice set in and when they was at worst great black places broke out on her when getting beter of that the water got in her legs about March they seemed to ___ that she ___ untill June or July and then began she to secken again and filled with water in her bodey and was the cause of her Death if spared I will tell you inove another time your Aunt Hannah sent me a small Box by Post with a card and two nice _____ I must conclud with Love to all hopeing to hear from you soon

from your ever aff (ectionate) Father
            John Barton  
Love from Aunts Uncles and friends

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Wordless Wednesday - Ward Wishes for Ernest

Family Birthday and Christmas Wishes for Ernest Ward

Card from Grandmother Ward
Christmas Card
Birthday Card (His 9th Birthday)
Envelopes posted 29 August 1888 from family in
Southwell (Nottinghamshire, England)  

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

The Grafted Branch - the WARD, BARTON, and ABBOTT Families of Nottingham, England

The following information has been gleaned from old family letters from the adoptive family of Alexander Ernest Hope Ward, 1861¹, 1891² and 1901³ census records of England, and deductive reasoning.  This list probably contains errors, but it’s a start at piecing together this grafted branch in our family tree.

If this resembles family members of a known tree, please make contact; there are several family letters from this family line that we would be happy to share.

First Generation

Robert WARD, born about 1825, in Birstall, Leicester, England¹ married Ruth (Surname unknown), born about 1815, in Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England¹
They had 4 children:
John WARD, born in 1851, in Stapleford, Nottingham, England¹
Sarah WARD, born in 1854, in Stapleford, Nottingham, England¹
William WARD, born in 1856, in Stapleford, Nottingham, England¹
Mary WARD, born in 1860, in Stapleford, Nottingham, England¹
The 1861 census listed Robert as a farmer of 47 acres, and he employed two laborers: Samuel Attenbro (*carter) and Mary Hayfield (dairy maid).
*A “Carter” (possible 19^th century/or earlier term) is someone who drives a horse and cart, picking up and delivering goods around the area and on farms. Carters were much like the delivery drivers of today.

Second Generation

John WARD married Sarah (Surname Unknown)
They had (?) children

Sarah WARD married John (Surname Unknown)
They had (?) children

William WARD married Hannah (BARTON)
They adopted one child:
Alexander Earnest Hope

Mary WARD married John T. ABBOTT, who was born about 1857, in Nottingham, England³  Mary and John Abbott had at least six children:
Annie ABBOTT, born in1880, in Bashford, Nottingham, England²
Florence² “Florrie” ABBOTT, born in 1887, in Nottingham, England³
Clara ABBOTT, born in 1890, in Nottingham, England³
John W. H. ABBOTT, born in 1892, in Nottingham, England³
Robert W. ABBOTT, born in 1898, in Nottingham, England³
Joseph E. ABBOTT, born in 1899, in Nottingham, England³
In the 1891 and the 1901 census, John Abbott was listed as a Police Constable²/Officer³.  In 1901, Florrie, who was 14 yrs. old, was employed as a **lace fennier and the family lived at 44Y.B. Avenue, 27 Hunger Hill Gardens. ³
** Nottingham's industrial heritage is founded on lace. Nottingham led the way pioneering the great lace making machines that took its production from the cottages to the factories. Its fascinating story is told at the Museum of Nottingham Lace. It is located in what was the hub of the world's 19th century lace industry an area still known today as the Lace Market.

Third Generation

Florence “Florrie” ABBOTT married Horace DANKS in 1910 at Upton Parish Church, in Southwell on Boxing Morning.

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

New Found HOPE

Today is an exciting day! I have found the reason for HOPE!

The family often speculated that our (adopted Ward) ancestor was a descendant of the Hope diamond family or some other famous family.  When I started actively researching our family genealogy, I followed a link in our local (NSDCGS) genealogy newsletter to access the British Archives.  It was there I found a record of his birth.  His name was listed in the Pancras birth registry as Alexander Ernest Hope, his father was not listed, and his mother was listed as Marie Brennar.

For three generations this Hope surname had been a mystery.  In recent years, we've used DNA testing and compared the results with those in Hope data bases and, it is clear, there is no Hope in this family line.

Yet today, thanks to the internet and genealogy message boards, I have found a missing piece to our family puzzle.  Hope is not a surname at all!  It comes from where he was born.  His 1879 birth registry along with family letters indicate that he was born at 4 Regent Square in the sub-district of Gray’s Inn Lane in Pancras, in the county of Middlesex, England.

At the same time, there was a charitable institution called "Homes of Hope" which occupied three houses, No. 4, No. 5, and No.6, in Regent Square. This was a place where 'fallen women' could go to have their children if they had no one else to turn to.  Servants who had been 'taken advantage of' were segregated from prostitutes, etc.  Their slogan was "for the restoration of the first fallen and the protection of friendless, young women."

According to the Rootsweb message board, the three buildings (circa 1891)
were divided as follows:  No. 4 was devoted exclusively to the reception of young women about to become mothers, No. 5 was for young women in danger of being led astray, and No. 6 was a Reformatory Home for industrial training of penitent young women and girls.

London's  Global University has more information on the Homes of Hope within their UCL Bloomsbury Project.

So, even though we have yet to discover Alexander's natural father, connecting the Homes of Hope at 4 Regent Square, with his birth registry, and family letters, we now know where the Hope name came from.

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Last Letter from Marie

This is the final letter to be posted and transcribed in the series of letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.  

This last letter was not actually penned by Marie but it still relates to the adoption, and is, by far, the most puzzling…who the heck is Mr. Kid?

Adoption by Mr. Kid?, letter dated 6 May 1881 (or 1880)

[Side 1]

3 Milton Road

Herne Hill

6 May / 81 (or 80)

Dear Sir

            I had a letter from Mis Brennar the other day.  she is very anscious to hear about her child  she is also anscious that I should endeavour to get him adopted by a Mr Kid whom she almost agreed to  to let him have it before she left this

[Side 2]

country.  Please write and let me know all about the child as I will write to her in a few days

I am DearSir

   Yours faithfully

A M Latchie

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

Marie’s trouble in Belfast, letter dated 10 April 1880

[Side 1-Right]

5 Regent Square

London

      10/4/80

My Own Dear Sister
            Will you tell me how my Dear Child is and Iam not emproving  Iam wors then

[Side 2]
ever - Igot into some troble when I went to Belfast  that puts me quite out of my minde at times  Do think of me kindly   I know you will for Ye are Christians  You and Your Dear Husband May God spare him  toyou   Ihope Your Polly and ___ ___ are well  Accept my Love for all till Mrs and Mr Darru that I ask for them and Kiss Mrs Mehres and Baby for me  Give

[Side 1-Left]
my Love
            Oh Wont you Kiss my own Dear Child for me   May God watch over him is the prayer of his unhappy Mother
            Marie Brennar
            God bless Ye All
 

[Left Side-Vertical]

Pleas dont be angry with me ___ et  him  _and  I Keep thinking of him and Ye and wish it was Gods will that I ___  ___
            May Ye prosper in Grace and ___ is my prayers  pleas put my letter inside this anvelope   let it be addressed M Brennar enside and the inclosed anvelope address out side

_____ from

M Brennar

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

Marie writes from Manchester, letter dated 24 Apr 80

[Right Side]

Manchester

24/4/80

My own Dear Sister and Brother

            What can the case be of the silence.  I am distracted with soreneses of the worst sort about you your Husband and Earnest.  Iwill

[Left Side]

come and see Ye on Monday  wile you receive one Ill Then___ ___ ___ and God bless Ye
            Your Fond
            Sister Marie
P.S. Iam at Dr.Nills Staping

[Right Side-Vertical]

Send word to Mrs Mitches and say also that I will thank her in person on Tuesday
Love to Mrs Mr Nelis and Baby and love to your Husband  Polly and Earnest
God bless Ye
            my prayer

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

Marie writes about her illness, letter dated 12 Jan 80

[Side 1 Right Side]

236 Golborne Mo

Notting Hill

12 Jan 80

My Dear Brother and Sister

            What must you think of me from my silence  I am only getting out of a very bad illness pluracy  Ihope my Dear sister

[Side 2]

is better.  Oh do tell me if Earnest is well  if there is such a thing as abroken heart it is mine.  I never never will be happy on this earth.  There is no joy Iam getting worse instead of better.  I trust you are well and busy and in a prosperous happy way.  Give my love to Polly and kiss my fond fond Earnest for his poor unhappy mother.  Be particular and put your letter in an anvelope with out our address inside the anvelope   I send address.  Do let me have a long letter by return.

[Side 1 Left Side Vertical]

The Dr. told the Rev Sabrine Kington that it will be months  before I am well again. 
With fond, fond love and
kisses  Your fond
     Marie Brennar

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

A quick note from Marie, no date

[Side 1 Right Side]

    Care of Mrs. Garton
Melose my letter  
My Dear Mrs Warde
Pleas tell me  
how my Boy is
also if ye are well  
I wont write more
as I am not here

[Side 1 Left Side]
of this _______ for  
My Haste
                     M.B

[Side 2]
Mrs Garton 
      5 Regent Square
            Gray Inn Road
                  London

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

Marie Brennar letter dated Monday 29^th

[Side 1 – Right-side]

5 Princes St

Oxford

                         Monday 29th

My own Dear Mrs. Ward and Mr. Ward

Many thanks for your kind letter and the enclosed letters.  I am indeed glad to think you consider me worthy of the friendship you express in your welcome letter.  I shall ever remember my visit and your peacefull home. 

[Side 2]

May God bless you and your Husband.  I am in Oxford ill and in bed.  I have not been out of bed since Fri 26^th so am writing this in an awkward position.  Will you forgive me.  Dr. says I am to go back to London soon as possible as I must be amongst those I know and who know my constitution.  There is one thing my dear Mrs. Warde that makes me happy and that is my dear little Ernest is in the Home and Hearts of Christians where I know he is happy and listening to good and not evil.  Thanks be to God for making ye the instrument of his divine will (Preparing a soul) for His kingdom   Kiss baby for me   May God bless ye all   With love

                                                       Marie Brennar

[Side 1 – Left-side]

P.S.  If only will I have so mutch to do but I must write.

            Inclose anvelope with address if anny letters  pleas get Mr. Ward to send them.  I expect one but it may not come till Wednesday.  Remember me to Mrs. Mitchies and Mr. Mitchies

                                                     With fond love

                                                  God bless ye

                                                          Marie

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Treasure Chest Continues - The Marie Brennar Letters

This is a continuation of posted and transcribed letters by Marie Brennar to William and Hannah Ward of Nottingham on the adoption of her son, Alexander Ernest Hope.

 Marie Brennar letter with no dated

[Side 1]

6 Princes Street

Oxford

                                   
My own Dear Mrs. Ward and Mr. Ward ,
            Itrust baby is well and Good and won’t you tell me how he is and I got His bottle from his nurse  I trust it is some Dr. Johnson prepared for him.  It is a large bottle but I changed it fearing it

[Side 2]

would get broken and that I should lose all  I will send the remainder when you write   Put two tea Spoons full into a bottle of milk at night.  It is to keep him regular in bowells and Despel wind
            I will write soon and love to you Polly and Mr Ward from your Sincere and loving
                                    Marie Brennar
P.S.  please post those two letters and once for me and if any come send them to here
            God bless ye

[Side 1 Vertical Writing]

I found the bottle
 could not go to
day It bring Spilt
(the Medicines)
©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved