Anne Whitaker, Newbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, [Monday], 15 September 1817.

My dear Philip,

   I desire to feel truly thankful that on taking the pen this morning I have no tideings to communicate but of the pleasing kind – of our journey hither you doubtless received an account from William & since our arrival here we have been favoured with comfortable circumstances – dear George has enjoyed himself beyond my expectation, he did not appear at all fatigued with his long journey, and slept comfortably the whole night – He is quite delighted with his cousin Leah and is well pleased with the servants who are very kind to him and appear to be both very serious women.

   Yesterday proving very wet rendered attendance at meeting difficult but I got out morning & evening and with the help of some dry shoes got the dear boy out once – I received a letter from Alfred yesterday – He got safe to Town about five oclock and found his lodgings ready for his reception but Mr & Mrs Tilney were both from home. Mrs Turton had opened the letter & prepared for him.

   Alfred found them not very busy at the office & Mr Stott seemed very well pleased. Mrs S– is quite ill in consequence of having sprained her back in getting out of a Chaise.

   My Cousin Harriet has decided on returning with me and as Mr Matthews had told her that the next visit she made to Bratton his eldest daughter should accompany her we have sent to request that she may be forwarded hither – you will please to inform the Servants that they may make things as neat as possible during my absence if the Carpet yarn was forgotten on Saturday, I should wish you to send a boy on purpose that Betty Miles may repair the old carpet immediately and then come to our house and repair that which is now in wear – I spoke to her on the subject before I left home.

   I hope my letter may reach you tomorrow for I shall be wanting to hear of you all. I find my time pass on the whole very agreeably here but that does not make me forget the inhabitants of Bratton farm – remember me to the boys, kiss the little darling for me and tell him Mamma loves him very dearly and that I hope he reads to Edward every day – a good long piece.

   Remember me particularly to your Mother & Aunt, I felt quite uncomfortable at leaving home without seeing them but a succession of visitors in the afternoon & evening rendered it impossible. – The good folks here seem to regret the return of the Car very much, but if the wet should set in there will be but little room for it.  I shall not say anything about the time of my return at present but defer it till my next letter when I shall be better able to judge of the probabilities – I almost dread to hear of poor Mr Williams. I can expect no good tidings of him – Suitable regards to all – and accept yourself the tender regard of

                                 Yours affectionately

                                             Anne Whitaker

George sends duty love to Papa love to his brothers, John & Edwin particularly – also love to Fanny –

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 360-61 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 20.2.(a.), Bodleian. Address: Mr Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts. | 15th Sept.r 1817.  No postmark. The Baptist meeting in Newbury was led at that time  by the Rev. Thomas Welsh [Welch]. He was originally from Folkestone and was trained as a businessman.  He began studying with John Sutcliff in Olney in 1810 and in June 1811 left for King’s Lynn to become the minister at the Baptist church there. He resigned in February 1813 and removed to the Baptist congregation at Newbury, where he was ordained in August 1813. He would remain at Newbury until 1839. Others mentioned above include Jonathan Tilney, wine merchant, 3 Castle Street, Holborn, London, the only Tilney living in London at that time (see Pigot’s London Directory for 1823, p. 268); possibly the wife of Joseph Turton, a farrier, at 14 Roll’s Buildings, Fetter Lane, London, just below Holborn (see Pigot’s London Directory for 1823, p. 120); and Jonathan Stott, oilman, at 119 Bishopsgate, London (see Pigot’s London Directory for 1823, p. 187).