Letters to James Claydon - niece Maria Lake and Brother - Hethe and Fringford

Fringford, April 17th 1873

My Dear Brother, I received your most kind and welcome letter the second of April and was very pleased indeed to hear from you, also to hear you was quite well and happy. I never expected to hear from you again in this world, but live in the sure hope and trust of meeting you in a happier and better country above, where parting will be no more, though the merits and intercession of a savior Christ who we all know is gone to prepare to place for everyone who believe and put there trust in him and look to him for help and strength to enable them to reach that happy land, may you and I and all our dear and near friends be there found at his right hand, I myself but my simple faith and trust in a god who I [end of page]

[page 2] believe will in no ways cast me away _____________ ___ him truly and earnestly. Dear Brother, I was very pleased to find you still value your religion and find so much comfort from it, also that you are so happy and comfortable in your worldly affairs, also that you have a good wife, I am glad you like the country, but I myself should not care to leave England, however I am got too old now to change or move much more. Dear Brother, our mother [Mary Turner] died June 1851 and Father [Laurence Claydon] August 1852 about 14 months apart. Our Sister Elizabeth died Febr'y 1866, aged 56 years, Thomas Gibbard died in March last month 1873. I have sent your brother Thomas address but I don't know much about him, only from his son John who is married and lives here at Fringford. He writes to him and I have sent your address to him so perhaps he may write to you now, he is I think quite well himself, but as regards his spiritual things I know not much about it excepting that I have been told he is still a good believer in Christ [end of page]

[page 3] he has married his third wife now just before Christmas. His other wife had been dead a year or two and most of the children dead, also his son John who lives here married Robert Smith's widow, Sarah Gee. that was Thomas Dayly of Gouldington [Godington] is still living and his sons and daughters and are all married and comfortable. Dear Brother, now for myself. I am better than I oftentimes am now, I have not been to constant work for this last two years but of course I am got into years now and cannot expect to do much more a little work in the gardens or something, of that sort is all I do now my wife is still living, but like me much altered by four children are still living. Hannah the eldest settled near Woodstock and has got quite a family of her own now, for living. Richard my son is married and lives in the cottage west mine. He has a family of four children living, the other two all in service. A great many of the old people about here are dead that you know - Richard and Nancy Judd are living, John and Bet [Elizabeth] Worrill and Jonathan Hinks are also alive. I have enclosed a letter to you from Maria Lake

Notes:

Thomas GIBBARD: From parish transcripts, a Thomas Gibbeard married Mary Ann Claydon on 10/11/1833 at Fringford. There is a Mary Ann b. 1801 to Laurence & Mary Claydon. Therefore, Thomas & Mary Ann Gibbard would be sister & brother-in-law to John Claydon and his brother James.
John (b. 1791) & Elizabeth Worrill in 1841 & 1851 British Census, Fringford, Oxfordshire, on same page as Laurence Claydon. Also in Fringford census through 1871.
Thomas Dayly (b. 1798) is listed as Thomas DAGLEY in 1841 British Census, Godington, Oxfordshire. John Claydon (age 3, b. 1838) was with the Dagley's in 1841. Thomas is in the Godington census through 1871. Wife Hannah (b. 1799) may be a Claydon.
Jonathan HINKS: in 1871 Fringford census, b. abt. 1792, age 79.
Richard & Ann JUDD: in 1871 Census, Fringford, on same page (neighbors) as John Claydon (b. abt. 1804 in Fringford) with wife Elizabeth (b. abt. 1814 in Caucott, Buckinghamshire); and Richard Claydon and family.

From Maria Lake, Niece

Hethe, Bicester, Oxon.
April 16th / 73

My Dear Uncle,

You cannot think how very pleased I was to hear from you and to hear that you and your dear wife are both enjoying good health and happy together may God ever keep you so, I have never heard anything of my poor brother Thomas for 30 years. I was very sorry to hear of his death [September 1859 in Aurora, IL, from consumption]. I should so very much like his likeness if you could [end of page]

[Page 2] send it to me. Perhaps if you would not send me his, you could his boys [probably "Willie" and Friend Claydon], I should indeed be very much pleased with either. Richard Jones of Hethe, the baker and Wesleyan preacher is dead but his widow is still living. She is 84 years, and Taylor Cleaver is dead, but his widow is still living. I have been very ill lately but thank God I am now better. My husband is well and in regular work thanks God I have five children. I lost my eldest about 12 months [end of page]

[Page 3] ago in consumption. He was 29 years of age [Urias LAKE, b. abt. 1842]. I have one other son living [William T. LAKE, b. abt. 1847]. I have one daughter in service and three at home and one has been ill for three years in consumption. My husband's mother is still living. She has been paralyzed for these last five years and 6 months. My youngest daughter is with her, my eldest brother died in America [Thomas Claydon], and my youngest sister Ann is living in America. This is her address [end of page]

[Page 4] Mrs. Hollowell
232 Flushing Ave
Nr. Morrell St
Williamsburgh
New York

Now Dear Uncle, I think I have no more to say. I shall indeed be much pleased to hear from you again. Please will you give my kindest love to my dear Brother's boy and what is his name? My husband and family all join with me in best love to you and your wife and may God ever bless, and keep you. From your affectionate Niece Maria Lake.