Description:Featured above and on the left are images of two letters from Michael Gammow, Cleveland House, to Joseph Burgess. Foley Coal Office, circa September 1823.
These letters are an exchange of correspondence between Michael Gammow and Joseph Burgess regarding Michael’s nephew Joshua.
It appears that Joshua is an orphan who has been sent to reside with Mr. and Mrs. Burgess at Lane End. Michael Gammow is hoping that young Joshua will use his time there to become educated.
In the first letter undated, he gives thanks to Burgess for looking after his nephew, and asks Burgess to give Joshua information about other members of his family. Joshua has two sisters; the eldest was married to a stone mason and has a six year old daughter. This stone mason is described by Gammow as a “worthless fellow”. The couple has been estranged for some time; the mother and daughter are being maintained by friends without any assistance from her husband.
Joseph’s youngest sister, Mary Ann has been married for a year and a half to a head waiter at a hotel where they both live. Gummow describes him as a” very industrious young man”. The marriage is very happy and they hoped that sometime soon Joshua could come and live with them, but that cannot be just yet.
As a token of their love the sisters have sent Joshua a few trifling things, to which Gummow added some old clothes which could be cut to fit; to Mrs. Burgess Gummow sent a little tea for her to enjoy. He feels it is perhaps better quality than she can get at Lane End. He finishes by asking Burgess to give his love to “the boy”.
The second letter is dated 17th September 1823, is in response to correspondence sent by Burgess, probably on the 29th of August of the same year. It is mainly concerned with his nephew’s education, or lack of it.
He expresses his sorrow that Joshua is not fond of learning and that Burgess should tell him that unless he learns to read and write and do his pounds, shillings and pence in the common way, that the family will not notice him, and he will only have himself to blame for becoming a dunce.
He goes on the say that the extra two shillings a week he is giving to Burgess for the lad’s education would be better given to some decent respectable young man who will assist with education and visit Joshua at his place of work.
Gummow has asked Burgess to give a report on Joshua’s progression in about six weeks and from time to time there after. He finishes by reiterating that without education, he will cut a bad figure in the world. He implores Burgess to impress this and desire Joshua to act upon it immediately and hopes that this advice will have the desired effect.
Finally, Joshua’s sisters send their love and hope to receive a line or two from him in his own writing.
Click on the image on the left to see the second of these letters.