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Swindale 25 Oct 1809
Revd Sir,
As your Brother Chris: would give
you all the particulars about the event which
has taken place at Rosgill, and he being there,
he was most likely to conduct the affair
of the Funeral, which he did very well, the
the expences of which he would let you know,
I have nothing to say to you on that head -
but I do not think that your sister keeping
the two Boys is likely to answer well, one
reason is, they will get Master of her
another they are too far from School; and your Uncle has
written from Bromley, to enquire what was to
be done for them, I have answered him, saying
that I would write to, that if you would take one
boy, I would take the other, for as you spoke
of keeping House, Richard might be very useful to you in taking
care of your House
he is an active Boy, you might give him Lessons
to improve him as much as at School, he is too Masterful at Home
I have had a Chapman for your Houses &c. at Rosgill
who I told if he offered likely, I would write to you his proposals,
it was Gerd Rawes alias Dick Gerard
but as he only proposed to give £160 or £170, I told
him it would not do-if you are determined to sell them
I think it will be best to try them
in public Sale, not would I take anything
under two hundred for them, for I think they will
let to pay five per cent or more, at that rate.
I am sorry to hear you have been unwell,
pray
as you not sit to late at Nights to read or write,
Your Constitution is not strong, so you must be
careful.
You will be, kind enough to let me know what
you think is best to be done with the Boys, and as
I suppose Christopher Speaks of being hear, he may then settle
the matter we are all very well.
I am Revd. Sir Your Affectionate Uncle
Gd Rawes
Mrs. Abbot was Interred this Day
(Addressed to Revd. Jno. Hodgson, Heworth Shore, Gateshead)
Notes:-
Rev'd John Hodgson's sister was Elizabeth, baptised Shap 11 Jan. 1787. She would have been aged about 22 in 1809.
The affair at Rosgill is the death of Betty Hodgson, Rev Hodgson's mother and Gerrard Rawes' sister.
John's uncle was Richard Rawes who owned the Rawes Academy in Bromley. One of the boys in question, Robert who
was born circa 1797, may have been sent to live with and be educated by his uncle Richard as he later settled in
Dean Street, Soho, London, practising as a bookbinder. In the 1820's he returned to the north to die, possibly
of TB. The other boy may have been Isaac, born circa 1795, who became an apprentice sailor. He died aged 16 or
17 on his first voyage. He was sailing to Jamaica.
The origins of Gerard Rawes alias Dick Gerard is not known. It appears from the gist of the letter that the
relationship was not close.
Copied by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham.
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