Distraint of Goods in Suffolk: Ann Adams reports in 1834

This letter is written by someone whose writing stays close to speech forms. I have kept the spellings. Letters like this are less likely to have been preserved; this one illustrates the harshness of English bankruptcy laws, soon to feature prominently in the novels of Charles Dickens. There was not only the Debtors’ Jail but the common practice of Distraining – seizing goods including personal property for sale at auction. It was possible that someone’s friends might buy goods back for them but that did not always or often happen. 

Interestingly, the beneficiary of the forced sale recorded here is going to grant his debtor six shillings a week to live on, equivalent to about two-thirds of an agricultural labourer’s weekly wage. There is no indication of the conditions that might be attached or how long the payments would last.“Sir Edw^d” in this letter is Sir Edward Kerrison (1776-1853), owner of Hoxne Hall in Suffolk and a veteran of the Napoleonic wars from which he emerged with the final rank of General. His great wealth derived in part from his marriage to Mary Martha Ellice, the daughter of a successful slave trader and from a wider family which gave their name to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

The various “sisters” referred to in the letter may be related by religious non-conformity rather than blood relationship; Suffolk was home to a great deal of organised religious dissent.

 

 

Sir Edward Kerrison, after the painting by Robert Mendham

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Transcription (spellings preserved)

Addressed to:   Mrs Tucker   pr favour [that is, sent by hand rather than by the post]

Datelined: Oct. 27^th 1834.

My Dear friend,

I am fearfull the news I have to impart from Hoxne – will come like a thunder bolt. I am sure no person could have any Idea your dear Father was in Debt, how sirprised we were to see his goods advertised in the Ipswich paper but thought Sir Edw^d & he had had some deference & he was leaveing his farm – but how struck with sorrow I was when sister wilden call^d  on me after she had been to the auction - & told me every thing was sold & the person who had put the exsicusion in & to whom your father had signed over all his property, did not leave him so much as a bed to lay on – but is to allow your father 6 shilling pr week  sister wilden left him at sis^r  moore’s, but I hope something will be order,d that he is not obliged to stay there – as I should be extremely fearfull it might make strife as your poor father will be miserable out of imployment – I am now again from home waiting upon poor aunt Blake who is very ill. I am afraid I shall not be at home again for some time – sister hunt have buried her last baby they are better in health. I am fearful aunt mayston will be obliged to Leave her grave what alteration do death occasion in families – sister wilden tell me she is again in the family way – but her daughters have no families – I hope Mr Tucker, son & self are well - I beg you will accept of our best Love & believe me your affect. aunt

ann adams

Octbr y^e [?] 27^th 1834

Since writing the above I have seen Mrs Levet she tells me she thinks you have not had …[tear in paper here, could be the letter] I sent… [with?] her parcel informing you of all the particulars respecting my receiving james box but no wages or mr mews made it appear he had had all that was due to him – so there it must rest - & all things must pass with time.

I am happy to say aunt is better mrs payne will not return til next week