Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
This letter reports on visits by the parents of the William and Elizabeth to the Nottingham home of George and Elizabeth Hickson (nee Slater) and their young daughter “Lizzie”
In addition there are reports of the election for the British parliament and George’s deep disappointment for the result. Not only did he display his political loyalties by the flowers he grew in his garden but also by wearing some attached to his coat. This sign was mocked by the manger of the local brewery and as a result husband George struck out , hit him and probably gave him a black eye!
It is implied that William’s mother had been looking after Baby Charlie for a time before William’s sisters Sarah & Mary looked after him.
P1 side 1
Byfield House
Old Radford
Nov 24th 1868
My dear Brother
I received your welcome letter this morning and was very glad to hear you were quite well. I had really begun to wonder if I should ever have a Darlington letter again it seemed so long since I heard but I suppose your time is all occupied with writing etc & so I must excuse you on those grounds for I see from your letter you often think of us if you do not put
your thoughts on paper. I can quite believe you my dear William feeling desolate and lonely now the wife you loved so dearly is taken from you but you
Side 2 (page 2)
must try not to murmur at God’s will but remember she is gone to her rest and is now happy for ever. Remember for you have still your dear little Boy, bless his little heart and he I hope will be a comfort and a blessing to you it is a month now since I saw him and I suppose very much improved since then since then. He is beginning to talk now he followed Mary into the pantry the other day and saw some fish so he very plainly said Nice and of course got what he wanted and then asked for more. When George went last Thursday he was in the cradle asleep so he brought me no account of his little feats. Lizzie sent him her little Rebellion seat (as Mary used to call hers) for she thought it would
Side 3 (page 3)
just fit Charlie. I suppose he is very lavish in a general way with his kisses to Grandpa Coates and the old Gent says what another kind and then a laugh as you know how. The other day Mary said something to Charlie but I cannot tell you what and he went to Sarah and jabbered and then to Grandma and then to Grandpa as if he were communicating something of great importance and looked as if it was too. Mr Coates they tell me generally comes once or twice a week to see his little grandson he loves him and cares for him if the others slight him. I cannot imagine which, he loves him . . . . is that his aunts of course. I mean the other side, take so little notice I am sure if it had been my sister I should have felt quite different and not have seemed so careless about the poor dear little babe. It makes me think hard things of them
Side 4 (page 4)
I am more surprised at Mrs. G than I am at Mrs. H when Mother was here she told me Hannah H had passed her in coming out of chapel and did not even look or speak but theirs is kindness he will never miss for he has others who love him dearly enough. Mother has been with us from Saturday to Thursday morning and was very much better while she was with us and seemed thoroughly to enjoy her visit. She said she did not cough or spit a quarter so bad as when she was at home. I never remember Mother enjoying a visit more but we took great care of her. she said she should be quite spoiled if we coddled her and made so much of her. When George was there on Thursday she told him her visit had done her a deal of good so he told her to be sure and come
Side 5 (Crossed p 1)
(written at top of page but a later addition intended for the end of the letter)
George joins in kind love with me and when I have heard from home again and from you, I will send you all the news about your darling I can. With best love I am ever your affectionate sister E Hickton
(Below is the continuation of the previous page)
again soon. She is quite sure this is a very healthy place and the nicest we have had yet so I think she will not be long before she comes again. She often wondered how Charlie would go on without her for he seemed so hang after Mother but Mary said when she was away he took to her then. Mary came last Tuesday the day of the election and went back with George on Thursday She came to the office and then went out and I left word for her to come to me at Mrs Allcocks so we met on the ? of Nottingham Change as John Wood used to call it where we
P4 Side 6 (crossed p2)
HAD A FRISRT RATE VIEW OF THE SENSE CROWD FOR IT WAS
had afforest rate view of the crowd for it was rough and smooth men women and even children and a nice end things were brought to George as was quite disgusted for two such men to be sent to Parliament out of a Liberal town like Nottingham but Wright being Colonel of the Robin Hoods like little Robin of old they carried all before them them. I am glad it is over for it seemed to put a stop to trade and everything else.
Maru told us they had had a letter from John and that Webster had given him a bill for £50
Side 7 (crossed page 3)
[Top of photocopy incomplete]
and wanted to draw it for 6 months but John even John could not stand that he had dated it for the last day of November for 3 months. I thin John is contemplating a change . 2 or 3 of the other teachers are leaving I believe at Christmas. Well my dear Will I think I shallop begin to weary you with my long rigmarole and I have nearly filled my sheath. George wishes me to tell you that he is glad you have done credit for your new constituency by returning such a man but he is quite ashamed of Nottm [Nottingham] and hopes after this disgrace Nottm will be disenfranchised as there is likely to be scrutiny. if so he thinks the two members will be unseated as there are 6 or 7 clear cases already.
Side 8 (crossed page 4)
George wears his colours for in our large garden we happen to have plenty of yellow flowers we have 3 trees of yellow jessamine [jasmine] coming into flowers now. To day the manager from the Brewery came and he being a conservative hooted and hissed him for wearing such a colours and tried to snatch them out of his coat but he struck out and we expected he had got a black eye so George told him when he began to groan that was true Tory argument and all they could do or say in self defense.
Be sure and write again soon for we are very pleased to hear from you and it will help to drive off that dull feel sometimes. Lizzie sends her love to you and I was to be sure and tell you that Grandma played at Dominoes with her which quite delighted her.
George joins in kind love with me and when i hear from home again and from you I will send aaa the news about your darling I can.
With best love and ever your affectionate sister
E Hickton
This kindly letter continues Elizabeth’s efforts to show love and support for her brother in his sad circumstances.
Of special interest to us is the reference to “Grandpa Coates” who “visits twice a week to see his little grandson.” This clearly implies that William’s wife who had just died was indeed indeed a Coates before marriage. We have charming love letters from Elizabeth as well as references on the Ancestry site suggesting that she was – or became- William’s wife. However as William is shown as having Elizabeth as his wife in 1881 census, it may be that another Coates sister , Anne?,was the first wife of William Slater.
Most entertaining for the modern reader are reports of the raucous electioneering meetings in Nottingham and the disappointment of Elizabeth’s husband, George, about the result. That emotion probably contributed to him coming to blows with a manager of the local brewery who mocked him for wearing flowers denoting his party affiliation!