The Quaker Hannah Clark rejects a marriage proposal in 1832

 

The wealthy Clark sisters Elizabeth (1791- 1871) and Hannah (?1801-1879) lived most of their lives at the family home Crimplesham Hall on the outskirts of Downham Market in Norfolk, a county with strong Quaker traditions. When they married – both to Irish men named Doyle, James and Joseph – the husbands went to live in the Hall. They had no direct descendants and their paper legacy is scattered; the sisters have probably had less attention than they merit. Elizabeth is the more obviously prominent figure as a close friend of Elizabeth Fry; but Hannah kept a journal now in the Norfolk Records Office and in 1860 published A Tribute To The Memory Of Ismena Whittaker: Of Sligo, In Ireland; it is available by Print on Demand.

In the letter transcribed below Hannah is rejecting a marriage proposal from James Harford, a Quaker member of a South Wales and Bristol family who owned and managed iron foundries. By modern standards, I guess it is excessively formal and polite. Some further research would be needed to work out how a man in Bristol was courting a woman in Norfolk; perhaps the sisters had been visitors to Bristol or nearby Bath.

 

Transcription

Addressed to: James Harford   23 Trinity Street   Bristol

Datelined: Crimplesham 4^th of 8^th mo^th  32

Postmarked: DOWNHAM (undated and short form of Downham Market) Bristol receiver 6 AU 1832

Docketing note: Hannah Clark Crimplesham 8 Mo 4^th 1832

 

Esteemed Friend

I have been for some time very anxious to convey to thee my sentiments on the point in question especially since thy last letter, and now that my beloved sister has been favored to return I must not delay to hand thee through this medium my decision.

I was in the outset of the business as I think I told thee far more likely to decide in the negative than otherwise but as thou generously said thou gave me full liberty without incurring censure to look at it & give thee a chance of a turn in my mind I ventured to do so & to receive a few of thy letters – my views may be somewhat different to many though not to all . I may perchance  look for more clear manifestations than I shall ever be favored with in order for my guidance in so momentous concern – but so it is I cannot trace any feature of preference or duty in the matter that can in any way warrant my proceeding & as such I think it bur right for me to give thee as early intelligence thereof on my dearest Sisters return as may be for I feel I can hardly act even in a trifle without her advice & her truly generous & Sisterly conduct on all points always encourages my desires so to do nothing can have been more disinterested in this matter than she has – having assured me that could I feel my mind turned to encourage thy proposal she could with pleasure receive thee as a brother – but this not being the case I can only say that it gives me no small pain to make this communication which I now do after having endeavoured to take a solid & weighty view of the subject & I cannot help at the same time adding that I consider it will be best every way to end here without any further interview. I wish however not to conclude without [say]ing It is our mutual wish that the very agreeable & Interesting acquaintance & friendship which has been formed with thy valuable Sister  Elizabeth may not be interrupted at least I feel it right to say I shd. on our part regret it.

I am united by my Mother & Sister in kind regards to thee.

I am thy sincere friend    Hannah  Clark