My dears, I have wrote these few lines to you hoping they will find you all in good health as they leave us all at present except myself, for I am getting a poor old woman now and my work is done. I dare say you heard of my master's shooting himself, poor man. I should not have wanted bread if he had been alive, although I have to know what it is now to want, for I get only 1 pound to live upon, no flour allowed me. I was up to my master's that morning. He shot himself before there was anyone got into the room where it was done. I shall never forget the sight, I swear [1]. Then my dears I hope you will write to me and let me know how you all are, for I think long to hear from you all. For I think you have forgot us all, for we have sent 2 letters before but have not received any answer, so I hope you will write as soon as you can. I should like to see you all if I could but that will never be here on earth. But I hope we shall all meet in heaven. I had a letter from Lowestoft to say that my sister [2] is dead. She died in December. I hope God has taken her home. She was a great sufferer. She had to be lifted in and out of bed for 3 years. I hope you will write and let me know how my poor unhappy boy George is, for I am afraid he goes on but very bad. I thought we should have seen some of the young men over before now, as we heard they were got to London, but they are a long time a coming down. But I hope they will get down this summer. I hope you will write soon, then I will write to you and tell you all the news I can. So no more at present from your loving mother

Ann Broughton

Robert and his wife send their love to you all. William and his wife send their love and all the families receive the same from myself. You must excuse all blots and blunders. So farewell.

Footnotes

1: Ann Broughton (neé Bugg) was working as a nurse in the household of William Lugg, an Edgefield Gunsmith. Lugg had a wife and five young children listed in the 1851 census. However, William was alive and well in 1861 - Ann was obviously working for someone else who shot himself.

2: Ann's sister may well be the Mrs. Osborn referred to in letter 8.