Transcript of letters from Lanty & Betty Rawes of Seatoller, Borrowdale, Cumberland to their son John Rawes in Jamaica. Written in 1809 (Originals with Judith Mary Rawes of Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire). (Seatoller Line and Jamaica Line)

[On back of letter:] 2/2 KESWICK 298 Mr John Rawes Sheerness, St Marys Jamaica By Annotta bay bag for Pacquet [page 1:] Seatoller Oct 21th 1809 Dear John / Your kind Letter dated the 24 of June I Gladly Reciv'd on the 30d of September, Which was twelve Months, to an hour or tow of the time, of day, you & I parted at Whitehaven. We are truly happy & thankful to find in your letter you are so healthey happy & Satisfy'd with your Situation. As I think it must be a Laborious uneasy and Difficult task to keep proper Mastership over so many unruley Servents, but I hope you do it with humanity Good nature & Patience, and also keep's a proper guard over such Uncivilized Mortals as I have seen in the new's papers things I was much concerned about amongst the Blacks in Jamaica, but was discovered before any Fatal Consequences take place. God grant you may live in peace and quietness wich is Our Sincer prayer My Dear Son - And when you write again I will thank you if you will give us some Description of the Iland, what your Estate produces, and how you manage it. How many servants you have in your house and what kind of provision you generaly live on, and any other Curiosity as I dare say you will have seen maney, and I Sincerly wish you may be able to give us a just acount of your Uncle which you know wou'd give us great satisfaction here. [page 3:] Your Aunt Bettey is Dead and also your Niece Bettey Wiliams Daughter in the Measles early in spring. Jos Clark & your Sister Mary is married and lives in Keswick in the Museam Square. she is by our fire side at presant. Your Mother & her is going to Pattr[Patterdale?] on Setterday I was there about a fortnight ago on my return from your Aunt's funeral the Old people wars[?] in tolerable good health, and verey anxious to hear what you said conserning their son Your Clothes is sent, you will have a letter from each of Your Brothers, who may perhaps send you every one a knife who this Moment sends thir Love and also your Sisters Mary and Agenes. I might add many things more but time will not permit so I will Conclude with my sencear Love and Parental Wellwishing of Your ever Loving & Affectionate Parents Lanty & Betty Rawes N.B. I can't tell wheather you w[e]re in erenest or in Jest, when you write what you house keepper request me to send however We shall endevour to send them and you can Dispose of them as you think fit. But I hope in no undesant way Your again in Love. L.R. [page 2:] Dear Son. We are all very well (thank God) and Just Fighting on as usual. Yet I hope I shall be able to send you such Cloths as you request, (But in a way you will not expect). If all be well we will send them with your Friend Jos Bragg who is intending to sail for Jamaica by the first fleet, if possable he can get all ready. He also will let me have £10 to get your Cloth's with which I hope you will be satisfied with, and also be able to remit him the above sum again when he arrives at Jama or soon after as possable, as it woud have been almost impossable for me to have procured them without his assistance which I belive he do's with real pleasure, therefore (if it please God) he reach Shearness give you him every assistance in your poower he never Receved your Letter which was very anxiously look for. Mr Mawisons parants[?] received a letter from him along with yours saying if his Bro. Jos & Jos Bragg sho'd go to Jam. he cou'd get them places. But Jos Mawison I understand Declines coming, but let that rest till you, hear more they are well at Newland. I was over the Day after I recived your letter which we spent with great Delight on hearing of the health & welfare of our Distant Children. Mr Mawson speakes gratly in your favour which realy gives us great joy and we devoutly pray that God Almighty may send down his Blessings upon you. [written up left hand margine of page 4:] & excuse my bad writing and incorrect enditing[?] as I am not in the way of writing probably on the eastern seaboard. Notes:- St. Mary's is situated on the north western coast of the island and the plantation was almost certainly a sugar plantation probably catering for the rum industry. The port of Whitehaven, Cumberland was heavily involved in this trade. The 'old people' are Betty's parents James Lancaster, died 96 and Mary his wife, died 102. The letter suggests that one of their sons is also in Jamaica. Mary, Lanty's daughter, married Joseph Clark at Crosthwaite on 27 mar 1809. Betty, John's aunt, was married to Isaac Hodgson and was mother of the Rev. John Hodgson, the Historian of Northumberland. Transcribed from the original by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham, 1997