Item 1823/1 - Letter from Mary Parish to William French

1 item, paper

Letter from Mary Parish to William French, written from Fincham, Norfolk. Writes to say that French must be aware of the situation between her daughter and Mr. J. H. Arthy as her daughter has written to him to explain the situation. Says Arthy has been the destruction of her family and is the author of all her daughters sorrows. Her family have since lost respectability and credit having never had any prior problems. Lived in the same house for 42 years. Maria is the youngest of 5 children. Says Maria's father died of grief over his daughter's situation. The Arthy family bought an estate next door to them but were complete strangers to the neighbourhood. It was after this time that J. H. Arthy formed an attachment to Maria. Arthy apparently asked his brother to write to College to say he was ill so he didn't have to return and instead stayed in Fincham beyond the expected date of 22nd November 1822. After the death of her husband, she and Maria were left nearly destitute as the eldest brother inherited everything and he had a numerous family that he had to look after. The daily infamous reports Arthy's family circulate press heavily on her daughter's wounded mind. Since his family took him out of College in March, it has been reported that he has been in France and Wales for the recovery of his health. For a character reference for her family she says she knows William Burleigh in Barnwell. Her daughter has no letters from Arthy, but has copies of letters written by her to him. Mary then reports that she thought she should try once more to visit Arthy's family, but on doing so 'the whole of them retired from the parlour by a back door'. Subsequently, Arthy apparently appeared behaving in an unmanly and brutal manner.

See Archive of the Month https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/articles/archive-month-low-wench-or-suffering-child