This short letter is self-explanatory and is simply an example of an ordinary person applying for employment in the household of a significant local landowner. The Carr family of Dunston Hill wer also signifcant propery owners. Despite the unusual name, I cannot get a convincing genealogy for the writer who signs his name clearly as Wilmot Bridger.
The letter was in a shoebox of Surtees family correspondence sold in 2026 at an English provincial auction; it was probably remainder material left after letters relevant to Surtees' literary career had been removed.
Transcription
Addressed
to: Mr Surtees Esqr Hamsterly
Hall Durham
Datelined:
Newcastle December the 10th 1845
Endorsed
“Paid” and pre-paid with a Penny red stamp; postmark GATESHEAD DE 10 1845
Pencil
docketing note: Application for Bulter’s place – lived with Mr Carr
Sir
Excuse
the Liberty I take to you but haveing heard you are in want of a Servant Sir I
presume to offer myself to you should it be the case I can Sir be well
recommended by my last Master Mr [John] Carr Esqr of Dunston Hill with whom I
lived in fourteen Months at present reside in Newcastle in Marlborough Crescent
Cattle Market at No 13 I am a Married Man but without a Family and my wife will
be no annoyance whatever as she is fully occupied and employed but the way we are situated there is no
employment for me which makes me of course not content should it be true you
are in want of a servant I shall be glad to wait upon you at any time or place
you please to fix I am Sir your Humble Servant Wilmot Bridger
References
Wikipedia:
Robert Smith Surtees (17 May 1805 – 16 March 1864) was an
English editor, novelist and sporting writer, widely known as R. S.
Surtees.
Wikipedia: Hamsterley Hall
No comments:
Post a Comment