Handwritten letter from Mary Ann (Ingham) Bottomly

(Letter to her sister Dinah dictated to her eldest daughter Alice)

Burnley
Jan 30th, 1877

Dear Sister

After a long silence of seven or eight years I now address these few lines to you hoping they may find you and husband & children in the enjoyment of good health as this leaves me and family in at present thank God.

Dear Sister - I many a time wondered why you did not think of writing to me before this, but I suppose it's the same as the old saying has it - out of sight out of mind. But I feel very anxious about you so I thought I'd write to hear how you were, also to inform you that I have got married again to a man called James Bottomly and I feel very contented in my new undertaking. All the children are living with us and besides we have an increase to our household in the shape of a young son called "Tom". He is 16 weeks old at this time. Our Grace is very ill off to hear from you. She wanted me badly to write this letter. Her daughter Dina has been married about 6 months.

Dear Sister - You must excuse me for not having a great deal to say this time, but I am afraid that you may not get this letter, for perhaps you are not in the same place that you were the last time I wrote. But if you get this write an answer back as quickly as possible and perhaps after that we may have a deal more to say to each other.

Dear Sister - To conclude this letter I send you a slight token of my love for you in the enclosed Valentine and believe me I will ever remain you affectionate Sister.

Mary Ann

Direct to
James Bottomly
35 Danes House Road
Burnley Lane
Burnley

Daneshouse Road   35 Daneshouse Road
Daneshouse Road & 35 Daneshouse Road, Burnley (per Google Streetview)

If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.