Section C - Descendants of Jane Doncaster 1765-1837
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Letter written before his death, by William Rowntree of Riseborough (1727-98), to his son-in-law, Daniel Doncaster[2] of Sheffield who married Jane 1765-1837. It was written from Mansfield, from the house of his son-in-law, Richard Leaver,[6] and posted in Chesterfield.*
Mansfield, 14th 6 mo., 1797
Beloved Son,
I got thy letter this morning and was glad to hear from you and that poor Samuel('s)[1] eye was no worse, yet am feerful not much better, yet if it is a little one may have hopes, wish Jane[2] may take care of herself, for her Mother is very thought of about her. I am obliged to the for him I should have been pleased and I as so as it is, for do not know whats best in the case. We had a letter to day from Betty[3] which gives a better account of there little Joseph and Robt. is boath better. Little Isaac('s)[4] face nearly well. Mary[4] finely. Wm.[4] and Rachel[4] boath feeble. She and the rest of our folks at Pickering prety well. She says Ann Pierson has shut up shop, which is no surprise to me but what I have lookd for. It is well that her father is gone. I think of going to Chesterfield Month. Meetg. to morrow where I may send this letter from it if I get there. My wife is poorly and my cold no better. We intend to come to Sheffield next second day by way of Chesterfield. It did not seem we could git sooner agreable tho it would have been very agreable to us to had more time with you at Sheffield. Elizabeth[5] got my letter and said she should take care to send them things to York her Mother disired might be sent, but hope that Jane and her lads would go home with us.
Richard,[6] Hannah[7] and little Mary[6] joyns thy Mother and me in dear love to the and all thine.
Thy loving Father,
Wm. Rowntree.
Chesterfield.
Richard Leaver and I have atended this Month. Meetg to day which has been small and I think truth in a low way. Wish it may improve. Thy Mother is poorly, still we hope we shall git to Sheffield on 2 day next.
W.R.
Mansfield, 14th 6 mo., 1797
Beloved Son,
I got thy letter this morning and was glad to hear from you and that poor Samuel('s)[1] eye was no worse, yet am feerful not much better, yet if it is a little one may have hopes, wish Jane[2] may take care of herself, for her Mother is very thought of about her. I am obliged to the for him I should have been pleased and I as so as it is, for do not know whats best in the case. We had a letter to day from Betty[3] which gives a better account of there little Joseph and Robt. is boath better. Little Isaac('s)[4] face nearly well. Mary[4] finely. Wm.[4] and Rachel[4] boath feeble. She and the rest of our folks at Pickering prety well. She says Ann Pierson has shut up shop, which is no surprise to me but what I have lookd for. It is well that her father is gone. I think of going to Chesterfield Month. Meetg. to morrow where I may send this letter from it if I get there. My wife is poorly and my cold no better. We intend to come to Sheffield next second day by way of Chesterfield. It did not seem we could git sooner agreable tho it would have been very agreable to us to had more time with you at Sheffield. Elizabeth[5] got my letter and said she should take care to send them things to York her Mother disired might be sent, but hope that Jane and her lads would go home with us.
Richard,[6] Hannah[7] and little Mary[6] joyns thy Mother and me in dear love to the and all thine.
Thy loving Father,
Wm. Rowntree.
Chesterfield.
Richard Leaver and I have atended this Month. Meetg to day which has been small and I think truth in a low way. Wish it may improve. Thy Mother is poorly, still we hope we shall git to Sheffield on 2 day next.
W.R.
[1] Samuel Doncaster was 2 years old when this letter was written; he died at the age of 13 years.
[2] Jane Doncaster (nee Rowntree) had just lost her baby, Joseph, aged five months.
[3] Betty may have been a relative of William Rowntree's wife, Hannah (nee Hebron).
[4] Isaac, aged one year, and Mary aged two years, were children of William (Jun.) and Rachel Rowntree of Riseborough.
[5] Elizabeth, an unmarried daughter of William and Hannah Rowntree, living at Riseborough; later she married David Priestman, of Malton.
[6] Richard Leaver had married Mary Rowntree, who had died in 1796, leaving a daughter, Mary, aged six years.
[7] William and Hannah's Unmarried Daughter, Hannah, was apparently keeping house for her brother-in-law, Richard Leaver; she later married Richard Walton.
* The distance from Chesterfield to Sheffield was 18 miles, the postage charged was threepence.
[2] Jane Doncaster (nee Rowntree) had just lost her baby, Joseph, aged five months.
[3] Betty may have been a relative of William Rowntree's wife, Hannah (nee Hebron).
[4] Isaac, aged one year, and Mary aged two years, were children of William (Jun.) and Rachel Rowntree of Riseborough.
[5] Elizabeth, an unmarried daughter of William and Hannah Rowntree, living at Riseborough; later she married David Priestman, of Malton.
[6] Richard Leaver had married Mary Rowntree, who had died in 1796, leaving a daughter, Mary, aged six years.
[7] William and Hannah's Unmarried Daughter, Hannah, was apparently keeping house for her brother-in-law, Richard Leaver; she later married Richard Walton.
* The distance from Chesterfield to Sheffield was 18 miles, the postage charged was threepence.
