Margaretta NOTTIDGE [26742]

  Other Records

1. Margaretta Nottidge: Letter to Catherine Maria Downing [97], 26 Feb 1844, Midgham Newbury.
Liveing Archive IMG. 2548 - 2552.
Written on news of the death of Catherine's daughter Sarah Anne Liveing 22 Feb 1844

My dearest Catherine
The newspaper of this morning has conveyed to us the melancholy intelligence of the death of your precious Sarah Anne - I had heard of her growing weaker & weaker but little did I think your trial was so near at hand - dearest friend you know how truly I always sympathise with you, & from the sincere affection I feel for you & all belonging to you, I cannot refrain from writing to convey how truly we feel, & how much we think of you & shall pray that God will come as he has in greater troubles enable you by his mighty help to submit as humbly and patiently to His Holy Will as you have ever done - I can picture you to myself though grieving for your loss, yet
(Page 2)
rejoicing in her joy, removed in mercy from the pain & sorrow all must encounter in a greater or less degree during our sojourn on earth - for some time past I have thought of writing to ask particulars about the health of the dear departed one but I know what a trouble it is in times of sickness to have to write & as I could hear through the Sadlers & Colchester sometimes I have waited much now but rest assured as much though we are unfortunately separated so far you are never forgotten or less valued by your sincere friend at Midgham - at this painful period I will not say anything about your coming with some of your family to visit Midgham for a little change, but you must remember what delight & comfort
(Page 3)
it would be when you could feel equal to leave home to indulge us with your company which will be so enjoyed by myself & good Tom - our precious darling is quite well & grown fast a great girl - she is so healthy thank God & and a most sensible affectionate child - what a treasure she is I often feel she is too great a one to be lent to me long - do not for the present think of troubling yourself to write to me I shall be sure to hear of you through some of my friends - my dear husband's mother is very dangerously ill & I do not expect she will live much longer - my own beloved
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parents & all the rest of my family were well when I last heard - as my tooth is aching very much I will only add my dear Tom's & my own best love you and uncle & believe me always my beloved Catherine with our sympathy
your sincere and affectionate
Margaretta Fowke
Midgham
Newbury Feb 26th 1844

Written in the flap of the envelpoe.
My letter is written by candlelight and my pen and ink is very bad but I have been too happy to change these - I shall not expect any of you to write at present - you have my constant prayers and best wishes

2. Margaretta Nottidge: Letter to Catherine Maria Downing [97], 26 Mar 1844, Midgham.
Liveing Archive IMG. 2543 - 2547.
Written following the death of Catherine's daughter Sarah Anne Liveing on 22 Feb 1844

Midgham
March 26th
I know my dearest Catherine will not object to receiving a few more lines from her old friend May - I have little to communicate but I want you to know how much I appreciated your kindness in writing to me when any exertion? Must have been painful to your feelings I did feel it most kind and it afforded us no small degree of comfort to find your fortitude & resignation & patience keep pace with your more than common trials "God will never leave you or forsake you" my good amiable Catherine - it is delightful to know you are enabled to bow with submission to his Will through faith in your saviour which we are all bound to do & yet how difficult it is not to repine - which you have never done - your departed treasures we have every reason to hope are removed from pain & sorrow, to eternal
(Page 2)
life & joy unspeakable - you hinted dearest Kate you had some cause for anxiety for some other precious members of your dear family, most earnestly do I pray it may be unfounded & that I may soon have the happiness of hearing it - I hear of you sometimes through Jane Anne Inglis, who is intimate with your friends the Fearon's - my dearest husband is gone into Essex in consequence of the death of his mother which event took place on Thursday last - she had been gradually declining for some time her sufferings were not great, she was sensible to the last, resigned & patient which affords the greatest consolation to her children under so severe a trail - Poor Mary & Charlotte will miss her sadly, she was to them a most kind good parent - out of all Mrs Fowkes large family
(Page 3)
I believe 12, four only remain, my dear, Tom, Villers, & the two girls - you will rejoice I know to hear that my beloved parents are well - dear Tom is staying with them his mother's house being full - the funeral takes place on Thursday, & I do not expect to see him back till Monday, he left me on Saturday - you can imagine I feel lonely without him notwithstanding I have a sweet little interesting companion I wish you could see what a healthy happy dear it is- Midgham air I am sure is remarkably healthy my health has improved wonderfully since I came notwithstanding my love for old Essex -
How dreadful are the accounts we read of the fires in Suffolk and Essex surely the punishment of incendiary fires ought at least to be hanging what gratification it can be to the filthy wretches who can commit such a wretched deed I cannot understand. What a dreadful fire was the one
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at Braintree 19 cottages destroyed & all the poor families at present houseless - the world seems to grow more wicked I ought to say it's inhabitants - you know I dare say that dear George has bought a house at Tonbridge & going to reside there where there is an excellent school for his sons, & the girls can have the benefits of good Masters I am so glad he has given up Banking. They have lately discovered an old & confidential clarke (as was believed by everyone, & careful Mr Simpson for he has been in the concern upwards I believe a 40 years) has turned out a rogue & robbed the firm to a large amount of course dear George will share in the loss - I do not know that I am at liberty to mention these particulars but with you they are safe - I am sure no fault can be attributed to dear honourable George although I know it must vex him.
Poor Mrs Inglis suffers extremely from nervous depression I grieve to think of her dear thing - all was well when I last heard from home the Fishers(?) G Nottage had seen Believe me dearest Catherine with truest affection to all yr . . . . yr most attached friend M Fowke -

3. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Woodlands House St Helens HAM. Margaretta is recorded as a wife aged 58 born Wormingford ESS

Margaretta married Lieut Thomas Thorpe FOWKE [26743] [MRIN: 9613], son of Rear Admiral George FOWKE of Sible Hedingham ESS [35205] and Mary Magdalen KELSALL [35206], in 1837. (Lieut Thomas Thorpe FOWKE [26743] was born on 30 Jun 1802 in Castle Hedingham ESS and died on 10 Dec 1874 in Gt Saling ESS.)