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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FSJ/1/7/5
Former ReferenceD3311/11/5
TitleLetter from Hannah Booth and her sister-in-law Sarah Henrietta Kay to John Franklin, following the death of his wife Eleanor
Date2 Mar 1825
DescriptionFirst part of the letter from sister-in-law Sarah Henrietta Kay
Second part of the letter from sister Hannah Booth
Extent1 sheet
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderSarah Henrietta Kay and Hannah Booth
Sender LocationDevonshire Street
RecipientJohn Franklin
Recipient Locationc/o the Hon. William McGillivray, Montreal; if not there to be forwarded to Kingston, Upper Canada
Archive CreatorSir John Franklin (1786-1847)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
Transcript or IndexDevonshire Street March 2nd 1825
My Dear Sir
As I take for granted that if all our letters of various dates arrive at the same time, you will attend to reading them in their proper order, I shall presume that you have read Mrs Booth’s letter of the 25th of February, and that you are by this time acquainted with the afflicting event that took place on the 22nd. I shall not presume to offer any condolences to you on the distressing subject, being quite assured that you know where to apply for better consolation than any I can give, who stand, I may say, equally with yourself in need of it. Your sister has kindly communicated the details of what passed since our former letters and I therefore may take it up from the night of the 22nd. After the first stunning shock had in some degree subsided we set to work to write letters to such persons as we felt it necessary to apprise of our mournful loss and to Mr [?] Giblet to make the necessary preparations for the last duties. We have I think had everything done that you would have wished and, I hope, as you wish. I am gratified in finding that your brother and sister think so, and that they have expressed themselves satisfied at the manner in which all has been performed. I have felt it a very severe stroke to me, as it must have been at any time, and I thank God I have been enabled to get so well through the various and multiplyed and constantly unceasing duties that the death of my beloved sister at this particular time has involved me in. I have been obliged to support myself by taking opium constantly as the violent cold I caught in getting up at night brought on my cough very severely, and nervousness and agitation add considerably to what was bad before. I have hitherto borne up tolerably well by dint of great exertion but I feel I want some change both of scene and air- but as I do not think it would be right to leave this house till we have looked round us a little and there are many things that we would like to have had your opinion about, could it be done but as that is impossible we must trust to our own judgement and do the best we can aided by your Brother and Mrs Booth’s opinion.
The first two days my dear departed sister looked very composed, but very much oldened in appearance and was considered by those who did not know her exact age as much older than she really was but after Thursday the countenance altered and she looked younger and much better than I had known her for many months- as Mrs Booth says than she had ever known her- we did not have the coffin closed till Monday when we found it would be better on all accounts- and yesterday the 1st March was fixed for paying the last sad duties to her remains. I have been so unwell and so interrupted that I cannot enter further into details and I expect that Mr Kay writes by this mail, also so that you will hear more from him- Mrs Booth is to add a few lines here and time runs short- so with every kind and affectionate wish for your support under so heavy an affliction, but which I trust you were prepared for, and compliments to Dr Richardson and your party believe me to be the most affectionately yours, Sarah Henrietta Kay.

My dearest brother
My epistle full of sorrow will perhaps meet your eye first and may God in his mercy support and comfort you under it as we have ? to him. Yesterday closed our dear departed sister’s mortal remains from our view, and I feel thankful I have been able to see the last of her who must ever be dear in remembrance to you. Though a stranger I feel she was my sister and my heart has bled and throbbed to soothe her sufferings but alas nothing could I offer to assuage them. I hope to be able to quit this mournful scene with Baker and the Baby next week. I do not feel equal to moving at present, of course London has no charms for me after what has passed and its pleasures I cannot partake of and therefore my dear Husband is the first to turn to. I am of no use here but I could not leave my dear Baby to be sent down after me. I shall write again to you in a few days and as Mrs Kay has said all that is necessary respecting the funeral I have nothing to add. A letter from Mr Booth this morning expressing sympathy and condolence to you […] me to [?]assist at this time. Ba[by] is very much attached to me therefore. I hope to get her down comfortably to her destined home which I find will have to be Horncastle for a time. Adieu, God bless you [?]Much love Believe me your affectionate sister, Hannah

To Captain Franklin, R.N.
Commander of the Land Arctic Expedition
To the care of The Hon.ble William McGillivray, Montreal
If not there to be forwarded to Kingston, Upper Canada

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Related Names
Name (click for further details)
Kay; Sarah Henrietta (1785-1859); wife of architect Joseph Kay
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