Description:The Sutherland Papers include 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, an agent on the Marquis of Stafford's estates, regarding Michael’s nephew Joshua.
It appears that Joshua was an orphan who had been sent to reside with Mr. and Mrs. Burgess at Lane End. Michael Gammow hoped that young Joshua will use his time there to become educated.
In the first letter, undated, Gummow gives thanks to Burgess for looking after his nephew, and asks Burgess to give Joshua information about other members of his family. Joshua had two sisters; the eldest was married to a stone mason and had a six year old daughter. This stone mason was described by Gammow as a “worthless fellow”. The couple had been estranged for some time and the mother and daughter were being maintained by friends without any assistance from her husband.
Joseph’s youngest sister, Mary Ann had been married for a year and a half to a head waiter at a hotel where they both lived. 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.
As a token of their love, the sisters 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 suggests it was perhaps better quality than she could get at Lane End. He finishes by asking Burgess to give his love to “the boy”.
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