Sheffield Archives LD1567/1

Sheffield Archives LD1567/1

TRANSCRIPTION

Dear Sister,     London August 26

It affords me a great satisfaction to me your sympathies with me in my (maybe plight), and (maybe impress) so much affection and ------ for my (maybe misery), all which together with your desires that our love and friendship may ------- upon the same foundation, and in the same degree as usual. I hope there is no danger of a breach of our mutual faith and love, and for that reason no occasion for any cautions upon that account. Tis true the distance deprives us of any other enjoyment, than what a sheet of paper with our good wishes can afford us, but if we have not the same opportunity of passing away a few hours in the possible (?) endearments of each other’s company, I hope our regard for each other will continue as --------- as ----

I find you are all going down into Yorkshire. I wish you safe down, and pray my duty to Mother, Grandmother. Love to brothers and sisters, and all my friends and acquaintances.

Pray my love to your husband, I hope all the family are well, I am as ever your Affectionate brother,

J Wright

COMMENTARY

Letter[i] dated : 26 August

To : Catherine Elliott, Stony Strafford

From : Jervas Wright, London

Although letter is included in the file of Dorothy’s[ii] letters to Catherine “Kitty”[iii], it is in fact, from Jervas Wright[iv]; Dorothy’s eldest son and Catherine’s and Rebecca’s[v] brother.

Unfortunately, though the month and day are inscribed, Jervas neglects to mention the year! The address on the letter, implies that Catherine “Kitty” is still in Stony Stratford. We know that by 1746 she was living in Norfolk Street in Sheffield. Jervas also infers that Catherine “Kitty” and family were going to visit Sheffield shortly and we know that this happened just before Rebecca’s marriage in October 1743. We also know from Dorothy’s previous letters, that Jervas did not communicate well with his mother and that there had been some sort of upset between him and his sister. The tone of this letter suggests that whatever their differences, Jervas did not wish that this should damage their relationship. The tone also suggests that he would not be meeting up with his family for some time. Dorothy is her letter dated April 1744, said that he had written to her about meeting with army officers, implying that he was thinking of going into the army. There is a reference to him being a “surgeon in S. Wade’s Horse”, from 25^th December 1744 until March 1751.  I suggest therefore, that this letter was written in about 1743.

Going into the army as a surgeon was probably an excellent way to get medical experience, before setting up practice on one’s own. At the time of this letter, surgeons usually learnt their craft as an apprentice to or as a student of a master surgeon, needing neither a medical degree nor any formal qualification. Hospitals also trained surgeons. Furthermore, those who served as a military surgeon, were entitled to practice as surgeons in England without the need for the usual formal certification. Until 1745 surgeons in London came under the auspices of the Worshipful Company of Barber-Surgeons, thereafter splitting to form Royal College of Surgeons in London. 

Living until 1797, Jervas witnessed considerable changes in medical and surgical practices over that period. Many hospital, including teaching hospitals, were built during the early part of the eighteenth century. The Middlesex Hospital was the first, in 1791, to have a cancer ward and one year later, a Cancer Charity was founded for the relief of patients and for the conduct of controlled clinical trials. Inoculation was bought to England in the 1720s by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu[vi] and, by the end of the century, vaccination had been started by Edward Jenner[vii]. The great London surgeons of the day, such as Percival Pott[viii] and John Hunter[ix], (of whom Edward Jenner was a student), gave classes on anatomy and dissection.

Wade’s horse regiment was the colloquial name for a regiment originally raised in 1685 as the Earl of Plymouth’s Regiment of Horse. In 1751 it became the 3^rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards and from 1765, became the 3^rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards. Wade was George Wade[x], 1673-1748. He had a long and honourable career, serving in Flanders, Spain, and elsewhere. In 1722 he was sent to reconnoitre Scotland. This resulted in his building roads and bridges, to improve communication, which unfortunately meant the destruction of a part of Hadrian’s Wall. Wade retired in March 1745 but was brought back, later in the year, to deal with the Jacobite Rebellion. He took his men to Newcastle, hoping to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie’s southward progress, but failed, returning  whence he had come. Wade then failed in stopping the Young Pretender’s retreat from Derby, after which he resigned. It is unlikely then, that Jervas met up with his sisters or indeed, his uncle-in-law Alderman Samuel Cooper of Derby.