Genealogy Chat

Oh Janet!!! How sad.....I got goose bumps when I read you post and I could have cried myself....I know what you mean when you say tempted to steal from the RO..... Deb

Jay, What a very sad, but also very wonderful story. I can understand why you felt like stealing those belongings from the Record Office. Surely personal things like that should be with family. How awful that your ancestor probably thought her family didn't care enough to reply to her letter, when in reality they didn't even receive them. I'ts no wonder you were emotional. Kath. x

I found a reference on a2a for Emma (a distant relative) - a patient report for a lengthy stay in the Retreat at York, which was a quite innovative mental hospital, founded and run by Quakers. Today I went to the record office and ordered the document Two packages arrived - a large one, which was a petition to the Lord Chancellor, from 2 of Emma's relatives, trying to get the interest on the money in a sort of trust fund released to pay for her fees etc. THEN I opened the small packet - it was a tiny handwritten envelope addressed to Emma's niece. The seal was broken and inside was a letter written by Emma, asking for family news and lamenting that no one ever wrote to her (although she had written to all family members) and none of the family ever visited her. Also there was a small card with a religious text and 2 bits of material. On examining these, I realised that Emma had actually sewn two little lavender sachets and was sending these to her niece as a gift. When I realised that I was actually touching something this poor lady had made, I just lost it and the tears came. I checked with the archivist and it had been Retreat policy not to post letters from patients. She told me that some of the so-called 'records' are actually boxes containing all the letters patients wrote to friends and family, which were never posted, and all sorts of other bits and pieces. This broke my heart - but I did sent up a few thoughts to her, saying I hoped she was pleased that someone in the family (even though very distantly connected) had eventually seen them almost 150 years later. Yes, I had tears pouring down my face and disgraced myself; and yes, for the first time in my life, I wanted to steal from a record office. Jay

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