Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1815, 1824 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Sent to Freddy Brittain by F. P. White, the Librarian at St. John's College, following their recent acquisition of the papers of John Whittaker, 5th January 1956.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Includes three letters written to John William Whittaker of St. John's, two concerning the death of Jesus student Charles William Atkinson who died on 17 March 1815.
The first, dated 15 March 1815, is from Charles Atkinson's sister Eliza Sarah Atkinson and she asks for Whittaker to inform her of any change in condition of her brother's health.
The second, dated 25 March 1815, is from Atkinson's father William Atkinson (also Jesus, matriculated 1775), writing to Whittaker concerning his son's death and recounts those who attended the funeral including Dent, Edward Peacopp (Queens) and Caldwell. Also describes his sons burial place as being in the Chapel on the right as you enter and adjoining the wall of the cloisters. Atkinson further mentions that ten or eleven other students in Cambridge appear to have died from the same fever as his son at the same time and that students were discouraged from attending the funeral for fear of spread of the disease.
The third letter, dated 17 October 1824, is written by William Atkinson to Whittaker asking if he could 'inroduce' his second son, Joseph Milner Atkinson of Catherine Hall into the church.