£250 to Mrs. Wardle

Memorandum
Scarlet’s [?] Plans, Toronto Junction
Dec 6th, 1907

Aunt Horatio’ Will:
£25 For John Ford as Executor
£300 Mary Ann free of Duty her servants
£100 Children’s Hospital
£100 Victoria Memorial Hall in Sheffield
£100 Chapel Trustees Crookes
£100 to the Weslyan Mission
£250 to Mrs. Wardle (Aunt’s Niece)
£250 Mr. Edmund Lee, nephew
£250 to another Mr. Lee, nephew
£250 to Mrs. Hadfield, niece
£250 to Mrs _____ Lister [illegible] the one above
£600 to provide a nurse for poor people in Braddon, to be called the Ann Fox [? Probably a typo – Ann Bradwell] Nursing Home
£20 to Constance Herberts
£10 to Annie Bradwell, Charlie Bradwell’s daughter
£10 to Elizabeth Buttons
£10 to Hannah Marie Langden
£250 to Joseph’s Hospital for Women
£250 to the Royal Hospital
£250 to Hanna Maria Needham

[total disbursements: £3385, which, depending on the measure, is valued at between £1,300,000 and £2,300.000 in 2007 currency]

if there is anything left after selling all & paying the above out it has to be divided between the nephews & nieces of her late husband’s share alike.

Dear Brother & Sister

Just a few lines hoping you are all in good health. We have just received letter from Hannah & hasten to let you have the news we are sending on your address to Hannah she did now know yours & she promised to get them for the Executors so that they can correspond with you after if Necessary. The above is a copy of Aunt Horatio’s will as I have had it sent to me. Hoping to hear from you soon as you have not answered my last letter.

I remain Your Loving Sister,
E.J. Jeffery

Across the top of the letter, in pencil:
I forgot to say this is only Aunt’s will. We shall still have the money Uncle left us in one years from Aunt’s Death

 

He left you out.

Dear Arthur and Family,

We have often wondered how you are all going on. No doubt you all have altered very much as we have done here. I am sorry to say that Father died last December & was buried at the Wesleyan Chapel, Bradwell. It is 24 or 28 years since since mother died & the grave had never been opened.

My wife died last May after 6 weeks’ illness. We buried her at St. Lukes. She left me with 2 lads, 2 years 10 months & 6 months, the youngest a perfect model of his mother, called Arthur Harold. I sent him to be nursed at Bradwell & he grew wonderful. At 7 months old he was bigger than plenty children at twice his age but he died at 11 months old (convulsed inwardly).

The other lad John Reginald will be 4 next July. Not over-strong but exceptionally quiet with a grand retentive memory. My mother-in-law is house keeping for me. We have servant-maid, man, horse & turnout, Engine (steam) boiler, enameled steam [illegible] mincers & appliances all on the very latest principles.

Emma Jane lives at Bradwell & has 5 bonnie children. Jemima is not married yet. Hannah Rebecca is married & has one child. Delia is married & lives at Bradwell. Her husband, Charles Bancroft, Job Middleton’s grandson, bought my father’s house, buildings & etc. some 12 months ago for £400.00.

He (father) had gangrene set in the left foot & it killed him. I used to go and see him once a week. I made his will & he left mother the interest of his worth while she lives. I & Hannah Rebecca are the executors to father’s will, he has left us power to sell all or part or anything, so we are having a sale to pay his just debts & testamentory expenses on March 28th.

He left Emma Jane, Jemima, George, Hannah Rebecca & Delia share & share alike. He left you out. I tried my level best for him to leave you like the rest, but he said he would not. If I would not follow his instructions, he should let some old will stand. I wanted a new will because in that old will he had left me everything he had – land, homestead, furniture, down to a match box.

After father’s funeral & before the will was read, no one knew how things was. So I said to all concerned, “Mr. Z. Walster, before this will is read, there are some of the family who will be minus of a share. Are you all agreeable, no matter who it is that is left out, to share with them a portion to make us all alike?” Each & all answered yes, so you, old chappie, shall have as share equal to mine at mothers’ death. You must not build your hopes of having much money out of father’s estate. There are 3 fields left & but he has had some horrendous law reverses, one cost £100.

I should be very pleased to hear from you any time. There was a [illegible] report of your being on your way home again, but signs cannot be so bad with you as they are here. Everybody complaining about bad trade & short work.

With a hearty, hearty wish that 1896 will be the best year you have had is the earnest desire of your affectionate brother,

George Fox

523 Cheetham Hill Road
Manchester

P.S: Remember all my family to yours, Mrs. Fox as well as the rest.

 

Uncle Horatio has died and left Arthur 160 pounds.

Undated, likely late 1887

My Dear Brother and Sister,

I am sorry I could not answer your letter before now, but I have been busy and was glad to hear you had a safe journey over the sea and you had settled down in home again and have seen about the policies for you, and I could not make anything of them but it strikes me I must have been to the wrong place, so send me the address and I will do my best for you about them.

I have good news for you, my Uncle Horatio has died and left Arthur 160 Pounds and all of us the same and us three young ones the extra from my Grandfather’s share that was lost in the bank so I think after all his greed, he has died worth eleven thousand pound, and divided it share and share alike. The Bradwells he has left only 100 each as they was more of a family than us, so you see there is fuel for a the fire, yet Emma Jane and Hannah are come to live at Manchester and my father has been over today to tell me about the money and he asked for your address and he said he would get George to write to you with love.

I must close hoping this will find you all in good health as it leaves me at present. With love and kisses to my little niece and the boys and all,

Your loving sister,
Jemima Fox

Church Inn
Clayton, near Manchester

 

We had some cussing for it.

August 26th, 1888

Dear Brother & all:

I was very glad indeed to hear from you. I thought you had quite forgotten one. They say out of sight, out of mind, & I fancied it was true.

The weather here has been dreadfully wet all summer. Many acres of grass went, yet at Dronfield they would give anyone crops that would go & get them. The weather is so unsettled.

There have been lots of changes since you left. We have a bus running opposition from Hathersage 3 days a week, one from Castleton 4 days a week, M. Hall Bridge Inn, Bradwell 4 days a week.

John Cheetham is dead & they have had a sale of 5 horses, 3 heavy carts, dog trap, spring cart , [illegible, possibly:] 2 buggies & harness. I bought the best of the [buggies] for £8.15.0 & Michael Hall the other for £5.0.0

I am running to Sheffield 5 days a week now, we had some cussing for it on Saturday August 19th. I & the Castelton [illegible] was running from Sheffield & going down by Fox House. He could neither pull up his nor keep right, both of us having heavy loads on & I had 35 passengers he had 15. We both had 4 horses & in as first. He came pass me at full gallop, he runs his 2 & 2, you know, 4 in hand style. He nearly ran into me & when he got past I pulled up at Fox House but away he went until he came to the bend in the road just below & down he come with such a crash, both leaders running his wheelers straight over them. [illegible] one horse nearly killed and frightened everybody.

They picked one up for dead, but she is coming round all right; his [illegible] it is a smart one. They call it the Surprise. Large gilt letters & he advertises to run the journey in 2 hours & 50 minutes. He has 10 good horses to do the work. He drives in top white hat & yellow kid gloves, quite a proper swell.

I have got six of [the] best horses in the world, I can leave any of them anywhere. 3 5 year olds, 2 6 year olds & one aged the one we bred. They are the finest horses that ever was in Bradwell, not one failure. They all stand 16 hands high.

3 Bay Black Points
2 Blacks
1 Roan

The Bradwell people back me hand & heart. They all call M. Hall a rogue. We are pulled out-of-doors with work.

The new railway is coming, they have given the tenants notice for the land.

(Job) Charles Middleton has bought Top Cupalo & is going to build a fine house for himself.

Emma Jane has got married to T. Jeffrey of Smalldale this last weeks. They live at Leeds. There was 19 of us sat down to dinner. It was held at home. We had a proper time of it, I can tell you.

John Bradwell, Newburgh Arms, was taken ill & died very sudden & M. Hall has been at Hassop over taking it & everybody is crying shame over him. Father went & saw Taylor for himself & I am the next of list when Mrs. Bradwell leaves.

I think we are all very well in health, which I sincerely hope you are enjoying, give my kindest affections to your family, receiving the same yourself, [illegible] I remain,

Your true & sincere brother,
George Fox

Bradwell

PS: Tell Herbert & the lads to stick to their school & make men of themselves.

 

I couldn’t let you want if I could help you.

March 12th, 1888

My Dear Brother & Sister,

I cannot tell you how glad I was to receive a letter from you, not having heard anything about you since you left England.

I was very sorry to hear of Sissey’s being dead, the little darling, & you will miss her so much. It does seem hard to part with the only girl, but she was too good for this world.

From your letter trade does not seem very bright, but things will be brighter when the warm weather is come, & if you are in need, you must let me know & if it is in power to help, I will willing do so.

Now I am going to give you some good news, you will be surprised to hear that Uncle Horatio died last July worth over nine thousand & he left us two hundred each, but we cannot get it until Aunt has been dead twelve months & she is alright up to now & came to live here in October, but shall be leaving in about six weeks.

I am going to be married to Tom Jeffrey at Whitsuntide or soon after. I went home last weekend & they are all very well. Father gets to look old, Hannah has been living in Manchester three months but it did not suit her & she had to go home for a few weeks. She is better & has got a place at Maccelsfield & Jemima is in a place at Middleton near Manchester. George is much the same. If you write to me soon, I shall get your letter before I leave here.

John Conway is married to Lizzie Ancock at Huck[illegible] & Jack Wragg to Claire Jeffrey, daughter Dennis & Robert Evans daughter were married at xmas & there are six or more coming of in a while. I don’t know where Tom and I are going to live, so that if you send any letters home, I shall be sure to get them & then can let you know where we settle down.

My dear Brother and Sister, I should like something of Sissy’s, if only the least thing. I think if she had been my own child I could not have loved her more, but she is better off. I hope the boys are all well. They will have another Uncle Tom soon, by the by. Mary Hannah Parkin [Darkin?] is to be married the first week in June to Jabor [Jacob?] Hall in Imalldale [Smalldale?]. Don’t you think it a proper leap year?

Well, I think I have not any more news to send. With much love & kisses, from your loving sister,

Emma Jane Fox

The Grange
Eccles, Manchester

PS: I am enclosing a [photo?] of Father and Hannah’s. Please write soon & tell me all particulars about your means for I couldn’t let you want if I could help you.