Anne Steele, Haycombe, to Ann Cator Steele, Broughton, 27 September 1734.

Hond Mother

         My Aunt is a little uneasy not having heard from Cousin Anna since she has been at Broughton and I doubt not but you are the same on our account but you need not be in any trouble for my sister for she enjoys her health very well and tho’ she wants to see her Father & Mother yet she is so perfectly well satisfied with being at Haycomb that she begs you would give her leave to stay all the winter which my Aunt desired me to inform you of that we might know your pleasure before the time comes that we are to go home—for my part tho’ I like living here and love the company of my relations extreamly well yet I can’t say but I long to be at home to see my dear parents—we do all thro’ mercy enjoy a good share of health & long to hear the same of you—Cousin Grace Cottle was here last week and to day Cousin Molly was brought by her Father to stay here some time the small pox at Trowbridge has been fatal to some particularly Mrs Shrapnel has lost two children Mr Truman his prentice & Betty Culverhouse her son, but the distemper is now very much abated and to all appearance will be soon out of the town I think she told me it is not in one house in the street they live in—this family join in respects to all as due sisters, duty, to her parents and love and service with mine Brother & Cousin Anna please to give my duty to my Father and accept the same your self from

                                                         your dutiful and obedient daughter

                                                                                 Anne Steele

P.S.  Cousin Betty remembers her love to her sister and desires her when she comes home to bring Laurinda’s Poems with her

Haycomb Septr 27 1734

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 2 (ed. Julia B. Griffin), pp. 257-58 (edited version); STE 3/7/ii, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: To | M.rs Anne Steele | at Broughton | To be left at the 3 Lyons | near the market place | Sarum Wilts. 

At the time of the above letter, Jane Gay was a widow with four children: Anna, Jane, Elizabeth, and Richard. Besides Anne Steele's visit to Haycombe, William Steele IV (1715-85) and two of his Haycombe cousins, Richard and Jenny Gay, visited Oxford and the university in late July and early August (see Broome, A Bruised Reed, p. 92). Jotted onto the paper at some later time is a deleted sentence:  ‘I hope you will promise £1000 on Considering Mr Watters proposals is so large, and I am Satisfied of his ability If you talk of less you will make me look very little I hope you will consider it and consult with my Uncle and remember your former promise.’  This refers to the dowry for Anna Gay by Thomas Attwater just prior to their marriage in December 1734. 

References above include Anna Gay of Haycombe, who married Thomas Attwater (1691-1767) of Bodenham in December 1734. It was his second marriage, being nineteen years Anna’s senior. Their children included Gay Thomas (‘Florio’) (1736-92), who married Mary Drewitt (‘Fidelia’) of Bratton on 30 September 1762; Caroline (‘Dorinda’) (1746-1825) who married Thomas Whitaker (1735-1784) of Bratton on 10 January 1765; Marianna (‘Maria’) (1749?-1832), who married George Head (d. 1785) of Bradford-on-Avon in February 1773; and Jane (‘Myrtilla’) (1753-1843), who married Joseph Blatch of Bratton.