Transcript of letter dated 28 March 1831, from Thomas Carry Palmer of Bromley, Kent, to his cousin in law, the Reverend John Hodgson of Whelpington, Northumberland. (The original is contained in a bundle of letters held by the Northumberland Record Office - SANT/BEQ/18/11/1/94.). (Bromley Line to Hodgson Line)

[Page 1:]                       Bromley March 28 1831 My dear Sir           I have delayed from day to day replying to your friendly letter in the hope of giving you a more favourable account of the health of the object of your kind enquiry and I am truly happy to say that within the last two or three days we have observed a marked improvement in the health of Captn Rawes - but until further time has elapsed the great anxiety of all the Family will severely abate as we have been so frequently disappointed - Mr Scott has now the charge of him and he seems very confident of altimately restoring him to health - his present plan is to avoid medicine as much as possible & to feed him on vegitable & milk in [?]bundence - Mrs Rawes' anxiety on Richard's account you may imagine has been very trying but I am happy to say she in point of [Page 2:] health[?] is quite wonderful - she dined him as usual yesterday - Mrs Palmer Miss Rawes & William Thompson and Mr William are all quite well and as to myself I am quite as well if not better then usual - all I want is a new set of lungs, and a little more Flesh might be as well but I thank God I am as I am. I quite agree with you on the subject of Mr Long's aquittal of the murderous charges but I think he deserved some punishment for not calling in the assistance of a competant surgeon when he found the wounds of their patents (expecially Miss Cachin), assuring an unhealthy appearance if he did not understand the proper mode of treatment and I fear he did not. Notwithstanding all which has been said about the horrid bearing[?] quality of his liquid application I am quite sure it was more harmless than any ---- of the liniments & other applications usually [Page 3:] used by the Faculty. I rubbed it well into my skin for 30 days & it produced no more effect than if I had applied it to a Sealboard[?] The good I derived was from Inhailing the medicated air. I hope you are enjoing as much as we do this very delightful weather it tempts us to our pleasant labour of our Garden. I say us but my part in the work is trithling compared that of Mrs Palmer who really toils at it & most thoroughly enjoys the result of her labours. I wish you may come to London about [early?] [August?] time & make this House your head quarters the coaches all seem so ---id in their movements you may be at your work in London as soon from hence as if you lodged within a mile or so because you are enduced to rise earlier in the Country than in the gloom of London. Mrs Palmer & all the Family here desire to be most kindly remembered to you Mrs Hodgson Elizabeth & all your family with. Dear Sir                     Yrs very truly                     Thos Carry Palmer (Addressed to Revd. John Hodgson, Whelpington, near Newcastle on Tyne) Notes:- Thomas Carry Palmer was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and sister of Captain Rawes of the HEICS. Thomas Carry Palmer died 24th March 1839 aged 67. Thomas Palmer's mother-in-Law mentioned in the letter was Mary Rawes, wife of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and was buried Bromley 1 Oct 1831 aged 85. The Richard Rawes referred to in the letter is that of Captain Richard Rawes, of the HEICS,. The letter confirms that his home was in Wigmore Lane. He died on 27th Oct 1831 aged 44. The William Thompson (Rawes) & Mary Rawes mentioned were brother and sister of Elizabeth Palmer. Copied by Julian Rawes of Harvington, 2019.

Transcript of letter dated Septr 25th 1831, from Thomas Carry Palmer of Bromley, Kent, to his cousin in law, the Reverend John Hodgson of Whelpington, Northumberland. (The original is contained in a bundle of letters held by the Northumberland Record Office - SANT/BEQ/18/11/1/97.). (Bromley Line to Hodgson Line)

[Page 1:]                       Bromley Septr 25th 1831 My dear Sir           I am sure you will deeply participate in the sorrow of this Family when I acquaint you that my esteemed Brother in Law Captn Rawes expired yesterday Morning after a painful illness of nearly six weeks and I am grieved to add that there is good reason to fear his dear Mother will soon follow him We were hastily summoned from our Bed last Tuesday night to be present at her dissolution, but she still exists, & that is as much as I can say, for she takes no nourishment and lies about motionless & speachless. This Evening there is a perceptable pulse & she is more quiet. [Page 2:] Mr Scott notwithstanding gives us no hope a very few hours must I think decide one way or the other. Is not this my dear Sir an awful scene? Mrs Palmer Miss Rawes & William amm wish in kind Regards to you & yours with                       Dear Sir                       Yours very truly                       Thos C Palmer (Addressed to Revd. John Hodgson, Whelpington, Newcastle on Tyne) Notes:- Thomas Carry Palmer was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and sister of Captain Rawes of the HEICS. Thomas Carry Palmer died 24th March 1839 aged 67. Thomas Palmer's mother-in-Law mentioned in the letter was Mary Rawes, wife of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and was buried Bromley 1 Oct 1831 aged 85. The Richard Rawes referred to in the letter is that of Captain Richard Rawes, of the HEICS,. The letter confirms that his home was in Wigmore Lane. He died on 27th Oct 1831 aged 44. The William Thompson (Rawes) & Mary Rawes mentioned were brother and sister of Elizabeth Palmer. Copied by Julian Rawes of Harvington, 2019.

Transcript of letter dated December 1831, from Thomas Carry Palmer of Bromley, Kent, to his cousin, the Reverend John Hodgson of Whelpington, Northumberland. (The original is contained in a bundle of letter held by the Northumberland Record Office - SANT/BEQ/18/11/1/119.). (Bromley Line to Hodgson Line)

[Page 1:]                       Bromley Decr 1831 My dear Sir Two causes have delayed this acknowledgement of your friendly letter of the 16th Octr. I had mislaid that & have been waiting some days for a Frank for this. I assure you every member of this Family [is] deeply sympathetic in the severe loss you have again sustained. After such heavy visitations, God grant that brighter days may be in store for you. The kind sentiments you express towards those we have so recently been deprived of is be assured very grateful to all our Feelings since we know they so well minded them. As to my very dear Mother in Law, she was truly an example worthy of imitation, and for Richard he was Integrity itself - but Alas, they are gone & nothing now remains but to bow without irreverent murmours to the Will of the Almighty who but know when to give and when to take away - I forget if [Page 2:] in my former letter I mentioned that [---] after examination had taken place of poor Rich[ard] the result was satisfactory insomuch as it assured us that no human skill could have saved him & that all was done which could be done. The immediate cause of death was w[ater] on the brain & in the sheath of the spinal marrow[?] from six to eight ozs were found. There is no doubt however that this & all other his pains of Body was first caused by distress of mind. The offer of your portrait I accept with thanks, it will always be a pleasure to Mrs Palmer & myself to have before us the resemblance of one we so highly esteem. Having now found your letter containing the order on the Engraving not many hours shall pass ere it shall be in my possession I am happy to say that William, Mary, & Mrs Palmer are recovering their health [Page 3:] & spirits; the two latter have been greatly fatigued in arranging all things in Wigmore Lane for almost immediately after the decease of Mr Rawes a Lady residing as a lodger next door made an offer to take the House as it was; furnished upon such favourable terms, none of the Family were inclined to let the opportunity slip especially as the disposal of the Furniture would hve been a painful Task to all of us. I am concerned to find by this days paper the advance of that deadly plaque in the North what an awful visitation in this on Mankind & especially if it's to become a perpetual resident among us. We had a letter from Houghton this morning. Mrs Rawes seems comparatively fearless, not so Parents of the youth in that my neighbourhood for Mrs Joseph's Boys are leaving her daily. Mrs Palmer Mr Wm & Mary try to much in kind regard to Mrs Hodgson, yourself & Family with dear Sir Yours very sincerely Thos Carry Palmer Ps. Whenever you or any of your Family visit the South I hope you will make Bromley your head quarters - it will afford us all pleasure to have you among us. (Addressed to Revd. John Hodgson, Vicarage, Whelpington, Northumberland). Notes:- Thomas Carry Palmer was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and sister of Captain Rawes of the HEICS. Thomas Carry Palmer died 24th March 1839 aged 67. Thomas Palmer's mother-in-Law mentioned in the letter was Mary Rawes, wife of Richard Rawes of the Rawes Academy and was buried Bromley 1 Oct 1831 aged 85. The Richard Rawes referred to in the letter is that of Captain Richard Rawes, of the HEICS,. The letter confirms that his home was in Wigmore Lane., Ho died on 27th Oct 1831 aged 44. For 'Houghton' read Houghton le Spring, County Durham, the home of Mrs Rawes, widow of the Rev William Rawes. The William & Mary Rawes mentioned were brother and sister of Elizabeth Palmer. Copied by Julian Rawes of Harvington, 2019.