David Cragg 1822 

1822

“A letter to be left at the Bear and Staff Inn, Penny Street, Lancaster for David Cragg of Greenbank, Wyresdale.

Dear Parents,

I sit down with pleasure to inform you that I am in health and like situation pretty well. I received your kind letter dated the 3rd month 4th and also a letter from John Pye. I am in the first class in every branch of my learning and though I still remain in the lower school I hope soon to be out of it. I was sorry to hear that dear mother was worse. As spring is fast approaching the boys are much employed in working at their gardens. They have begun to set their seeds and roots. Please give my love to grandmothers, grandfather, John Pye, Agnes Winder, Ann Birket and James Topping. As I have nothing more to write at present I will conclude with dear love to you all and remain your affectionate son, Timothy Cragg.”

“Robert Whittacker (Whitaker, Whiteacre) Superintendent of Ackworth School near Pontifact, Yorkshire. Wyresdale, 3rd of 9th month, 1822

Dear Friend,

I intend to be at Ackworth school on the 4th of the 10th month next in order to remove from there my son Timothy Cragg.
I remain with respect,

David Cragg.”

“To Timothy Cragg, Ackworth school, near Pontifact, Yorkshire, Wyresdale, 3rd of 9th month, 1822
Dear Son,

We are all well at present hoping these lines will find thee the same. I had not intended to have writ again to thee, the time thou has to stay being so short. But George Barrow deeming it necessary the superintendent Robert Whitacker should have notice of thy removal I thought I might write thee a few lines as well as not, informing thee that I intend to be at Ackworth school on the 4th day of the 10th month at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, so pack up and be off that afternoon on way towards Wyresdale. If anything falls out that I cannot get off at the time appointed thou must stay and be content till I do come but as we are now throng in harvest I expect that I shall be forward next week so we may reasonably expect to have the crop house before I set off. Which easy I will come I have not concluded. I had thought of coming by Ribchester and Blackburn, Huddersfield and Wakefield, etc., and sometimes I think of coming by coach to Manchester so to Huddersfield and Wakefield. I have not much notion of taking the route by Spikpton and Leeds nor by CLitheroe, Broenly and Halifax, as we shall not be I think in any hurry we may take any way we please though it may not be exactly the nearest.

Thy loving father, David Cragg, with my own and thy mother, brother and sisters respects.”

The first half of the 9th month they were shearing, they sold a cow, and worked two days at David’s father’s farm. Isaac and Alice Winder, who worked for Molly, went to Lancaster.

On the 14th David received a letter from his brother Timothy from Cincinattit in Ohio in America.

9th month 15th - "A dry wind blows hard. A great deal of corn housed today in these parts in good order. My wife indisposed today, I fetched the doctor at seven in the evening.”

9th month 16th - "A fine day. My wife safely delivered of a son at two o’clock in the morning which we named David after my grandfather who died at Chapelhouse about 76 years ago.”

The rest of the month they were busy selling produce: cheese, apples, plums, and a horse. On the 22nd David, Isaac, Ann, Margaret, and Mary went to the meeting. They also got up the potatoes.

10th month 1st - "Six o’clock at night. Making preparation for my intended journey from Wyresdale to Ackworth for my son Timothy from school having been there one year. I propose going by Hrne’s End, Oaken Clough, Longridge fell and Ribchester to Burnley or Todmerton to Halifax and Wakefield and back by Wakefield, Huddersfield, Richfield, Newchurch, Harlinton, Blackburn, Ribchester, etc.”

10th month 2nd - "Set off from home at four o’clock this morning. A stormy morning of wind and some rain. I got to Crosshill school at five and Oaken at 6 am. I reached Longridge at nine and got a glass of ale. Then to Ribchester by quarter past ten. From there I went to Whaley six miles in two hours. A great deal of ruins there. From thence I intended for Padiham and walked one and one half hours and had got out of the direct road and gone by the engine wash pits and over a canal to a four lane ends and a large public house where I found myself seven miles from Bromley, five from Blackburn, two from Harlinton, so then to Burnley I went. Burnley is a large town and many new houses building and all very throng. I got breakfast here. Then came to Padishan. Three miles then over the hill through the nick of pindlets to Clitheroe, 10 miles from Burnley. I was at Clitheroe about 12 noon, to the White Well about 10 miles. By then desirous to get to Portsmouth Arms towards Halifax at night. I missed my way out of Burnley and has to turn back. I reached Portsmouth about seven at night, some time after dark, the roads very mucky by heavy showers of rain and much carting upon. I reckon I travelled today 13 miles and was sadly tired. I was almost past my tea. I reckon I travelled out of my way five miles today. There is neither mile posts or guide posts in most of these roads.”

10th month 3rd - "Slept very well and sound last night and feel very fresh this morning. I am writing these lines about six o’clock in the morning before the family gets up as I have not paid my reckoning I shall be like to stop until they get up. I partly expect to get to Wakefield today 33 miles. That will be 11 hours walking for me and no stopping allowed and I must not travel after six at night in these strange parts. It it be eight before I set off from here ‘twill be only 10 hours at six o’clock at night so I must stop short of Wakefield, at Dewsbury, perhaps.
“Set off from Portsmouth about eight in the morning having got breakfast before I started. I travelled at the rate of three miles an hour to Halifax where I stopped most of an hour and got two glasses of ale and some bread and cheese I had in my pocket. The day was very soft and warm. Close and small rain at times to Halifax on. I then set off to Wakefield up the hill 16 miles that way I proposing to get to Dewsbury early at night five miles short of Wakefield. I experienced a most heavy shower of rain this afternoon but it cleared up and was a fine night. I left a large or town on my left called Clockheaton. Dewsbury like a moderate sized town with six or seven public houses and a post office. When I was there between five and six at night. I was so brisk and fresh that I concluded to go forward to Wakefield which I did though I had three miles to travel in the dark. I reached there about half past seven and put up at the Cooper Arms where I was last year, and got tea and went to bed. My feet most blistered and sore - worse than I expected before I pulled my stocking off. I did not sleep very well. I seem to have catched a little cold. I was all asweat all day it was so very close.

10th month 4th - "Got up at six this morning and am writing these lines before the family gets up. I saw at Portsmouth the Leeds Mercury and here I saw the Halifax Herald. By and By I must be getting off towards Ackworth for my son Timothy. 12 months since I left him there. I propose to be there at 10 o’clock in the forenoon and so to pack up and be off soon after dinner. I set off from Wakefield about half past eight having got breakfast before I set off. I was going thither two and one half hours, packed up and we got off about half past two and came to Wakefield again where we proposed to stop again all night.

10th month 5th - "A very fine morning yesterday. We got back to Wakefield about five o’clock and stopped all night there. Got up at six o’clock and went to Desbury, a town about half as big as Lancaster, where we are stopping to get breakfast. It is a very fine country, good land, very full of inhabitants and numbers of coal pits, and weavers forever. They seem to live in peace and plenty. We propose to go to Hepton today through Halifax. We stopped all night at Todmeton, a very good house. We travelled 28 miles. Timothy, I think was sadly tired but he did not complain much. My feet are very wore, else I am in pretty good trim.

“6th of the 10th month - We set off for Burnley about half past six and went to Portsmouth fro breakfast where we stopped about one and one quarter hours. Then by Padisham, the to Whaley, Ribchester… twenty two miles today. It rained very heavily when we was in the Nobhead of Whaley. We preferred to stop at Ribchester all night. We have got tea and well entertained.”

There is along verse about his family at home and the Old Robbins farm. With times so hard in the country and the land not producing well, no matter how hard they worked … “I think it would be best to give up the Old Robbins farm and as Paul says, to the devil, for it has played the devil with me.”

10th month 7th - "Second of the week , and the sixth of this journey. We stopped at Ribchester for breakfast and set off towards home about half past eight in the morning, a stormy morning of strong wind and heavy showers of rain. We reached Oaken’ Clough about ten o’clock where we stopped some time and got ale, cheese and bread and then home where we arrived about half past four in the afternoon and found all well and our folks glad of our safe return. We was start and footsore and pretty well tired after a travel of about 160 miles in six days, all on foot in warm and rainy weather and very mucky roads which made it heavy-some travelling. 24/4 ½ , the cost of the journey.

10th month 14th - "On the 24th of the 9th month it was a fine draughty day for getting up potatoes, ripe and fine.” “Susy Birket, Mary Dilworth, Mary Winder, Ann Birket and Mary Clarkson called to see my wife.”

10th month 17th - "A fine day. Got up potatoes Old Robbins garden. I went to see Gilbert Bateson and talked with him about Old Robbins farm. I proposed to take it for one year at a reduced rent and bid him 50 pounds per year. He said he could not take that but he would consider of it a few days what was to be done.”

The next few days David and Gilbert Bateson dickered about Old Robbins farm but could not come any closer than 10 pounds.

10th month 26th - "A fine day. Lancaster market. My wife poorly and I think hazardous dangerous.”

10th month 27th - "A very fine day. We had the company of Dorothy Pye of Tarnbrook, Agnes Winder of Catshaw, John Pye of Scalehouse, Ellel and called also John Gardner, Richard Clarkson, Ann Birket, Daniel Till, Dorothy Drinkall, Alice Gardner, Ann Gardner, etc.”

10th month 29th - "A very fine day but a little rain in the morning. We bagged potatoes. Joseph Pye and Barthol Pye got up their lots of potatoes in Dormeypew. Joseph in one lot he had about half a load. The pheasants and crows having digged most of them up. We had Tempot at noon. I ordered him to be paid off and that he do no more come to my house as I did not intend that we should waste and ming mong with him at every sale. At evening my wife thought I had dealt too hardly with him in dismissing him in so uncourtly a manner. But I am come to a determination not to buy anything of these peddling travellers nor any of my family upon condition whatever. Gilbert Bateson drunk since the 26th.”

On the 30th they had visits from Agnes Pye and Barthol Pye, Molly’s sister and brother. Also Mary Kelsall and Susie Birket. “They all called to see my wife being all along poorly.”

11th month 1st - "Ann Birket, Mary Birket called to see us and Lawrence Pye of Tarnbrook. Mary, my dear Molly, my wife, I think better today but I have thought and do think her in precarious state, hazardous and dangerous and her recovery doubtful.”

On the 2nd, David and the boys mended fences, Mary seemed to be a little better. He was writing the pros and cons of staying at Old Robbins or going back to his own estate at Greenbank, and just managing his own farm, have the boys weave and the girls keep house. The next few days Mary was getting worse. David went to Lancaster to fetch Henry Warton but he was poorly and could not come to Mary. But on the 10th he did come. He pretends to say it is healing and is doing well at present.”

On the 12th is was the day of Gilbert Bateson’s land-letting. Many came but David’s was the only offer made for Old Robbins.

On the 13th David, Timothy, Ann and Margaret went to Lancaster Monthly meeting.

On the 14th they had the company of Christopher Lund.

On the 19th David went to Tarnbrook and Top of Emmets to engage son Timothy in cotton weaving trade to learn with Joseph Pye.
Wyresdale, 11th month, 16th, 1822

To Timothy Cragg of Mill Creek near Cincinnatti, State of Ohio, North America.

Dear brother,

I received thy letter dated the 26th of July last in about six weeks and my father received the letter dated 16th of September about the first of this month. And we was all very glad to hear from you and the account thou gives of thyself and the times in that country are very satisfactory, except the sickness which you have undergone which the letter to me gave account of. We was anxious for further account how you are coming on which the letter to my father cleared up. So now we hope you are seasoned and qualified to stand the climate. As for things being cheap in America we noew have them about as cheap in England excepting only rents and taxes which almost remain in full force and high as ever.
Although we had come to the conclusion to remove to America when I writ last time and continued in that mind and gave notice that I would quit my farm and also made sale of my corn upon the ground by way of making preparation of making ready. But my wife being in a poor state of health and a very bad knee was lying in. The 16th of September she delivered a son which we named David. Since which time she has been worse so that she has been confined to bed for about seven weeks. She hops about on a crutch and stick. So that I think her recovery very doubtful. So I think my way blocked for coming to America under present circumstances having some more difficulties to encounter at this side of the ocean. It will be some time longer till we see how the case may be before we get away. It is impossible to venture with her. All the rest of the family are in good health. My son Timothy was at Ackworth school for a year. When I fetched him I may say he was a good deal improved in his learning for time spent. When I found the declining state of my wife’s health would not permit us to remove to America I went to the landlord in order to try to take the farm for one year more and I bid 50 pounds for it. The old rent was 90 so they would consider it for a few days. Then he offered me it for 60 pounds. A few days after that I bid him 52/6 but he would not take less than 60. A few days after that to be let by writ the 11th day of November at his own house but no one came to view it nor any farmer came to the letting but myself but he told me I should not have it for less than 60 pound per year but I said the matter will soon be settled for I will not stand the bid I have made. So all was dropped and I concluded to retire to the old farm till the way opens for further progress. I am intending some of my children to learn to weave or some other trade as farming now is much worse than nothing. The farming concern is very bad business in this country and is still getting worse and worse. The landlords very stark in lowering of rents and farmers failing on all sides. Indeed what can they do else for they can scarce sell their produce at all.
Richard Sergeant of Nansook too the Lane head, Ted Austin to the farm of Duke Hamilton for 60 pounds per year. Kept it one year and lost 100 pounds and gave it up. His cattle selling for little more than half what he paid for them.
William Whittaker of Catshaw took his farm again for one year and made a sale of his extra goods. A very bad sale. Five sheep 5s each.
Landlord at Marshaw, Swidlehurst, sold up for rent. He had paid 15 pounds in three years and all his property sold for about 20 pounds, he buying most of it again. So Cawthorne will lose about 140 pounds there.
Starbank farm let to Mr. Pennington, formerly of Greenbank, owed George Satherwaite of Lancaster 140 pounds, gave security to Cawthorne for rent and sold them up and he lost most of his money.
John Dobson of Quernmore sold up for rent about October but he is for hanging on. John Slinger has taken Hamerton Hall at three pounds per acre. John Bradshaw of Gate House asked for an abatement of rent before he had been there a month out got none and he has thrown it up.
Ellen Gardner of Kirkland is said will lose three or four hundred pounds this year and tarry on under a lease for a term of years. Robert Gardner, her son, married a rich young woman of 500 pounds fortune but it proved in the bank of Utopie. Henry Bradshaw of Colesley in Ellel sold up for rent and ceded. One William Rogerson of Thursham has taken the farm.
Thomas Bradshaw took a farm at Bare, has been there two years and sold up for rent. The landlord forgave him one years rent but he had nothing for the next year. William Dilworth of Ortner, his farm taken by his son Jackson. It worth about 120 pounds per year, was once 200 pounds or thereabouts. Thos, Drinkall’s farm was 132 pounds reduced to 100. Thomas now wants it for 60. William Robinson of Longmore taken his farm for 50. It 97 before. Luke Eastward of Halton failed and sold up.
This much for the farming business which is woeful work indeed. This last year they were blessed by a new vicar at Cockersham who commenced his career in attempting to raise his salary more than double to what his predecessor had done. It was called good news by the parishioners. They say the devil is dead. He has had a short reign of a piece of a year. When every other thing is falling in price, the clergy keep making further and greater claims than ever. And there seems to be no end of these exactions. Men of other kind of property commonly know the extent and limits how far they are entitled to go but these rapacious gentry are ever craving for more but whether this be the devil or the devil comes next in John Curson, I cannot tell.
Parson Hodgeson, Wm. Feather’s landlord at Greenbank. William wanted an abatement of rent but the parson told him he could not think the land was any worse than ever it was. He must have his full rent, but he is dead and has left the estate to his brother, another parson like covetous.
John Jackson of Lancaster, formerly of Greenbank, died about the second of March this year, by no means rich but owing a great deal of money which his creditors will be hard set to get. And many others in Lancaster in the same hobble by the bank failing. The town has become a very poor place and there are about 200 empty houses in the town, the inhabitants being removed to Preston, and other manufacturing places so that Lancaster is present a dead hole.
A large stamp house in Labden near Pendlehill that employed vast numbers of work people, Berry and Company, stopped payment of many hundreds of people in that neighbourhood and at Burnley in particular they suffer the most.
John Pye of Ousleholme kept possession of his estate till August assizes and then was turned out. He is gone to live at Clitheroe but is often back in Wyresdale. He would have had upwards of 300 pounds left if he had gone off quietly but he spent it all in law and nothing left and many creditors unpaid.
Ned Hall’s wife went insane and was very rough and was put in asylum at Lancaster for a quarter of a year at 15s per week but now is home but not qualified for any kind of employment.
Thomas Denham of Dolphinholme died about October and was buried at Morehead Chapel. There was 170 bid to the funeral and dined at the New Hollings. He died worth 300 pounds to be equally divided amongst his brothers and sisters, seven in number.
Thomas Carson of the Bear and Staff, Lancaster, Joseph Parsons of the Green Dragon, Pudding Lane, William Parson’s house in Market Street, Mr Standing called Great Standing in Church Street - all failed and sold up.
A son of Francis Richmond of Landhead in Wyresdale is come over from America to fetch his fortune left by Thomas Richmond, 100 pounds but it was sent over before he got here. He intends to take his sister back with him. He says John and Molly Richmons are well and John got as fat as a pig. He brings account that Andrew Sykes is dead.
The agricultural distress throughout the nation is very great but parliament has not been able to contrive any means to relieve them. For to lower the expenses of the government cannot be agreed to by the, Though they be up to the most bountiful waste and extravagance - not one secure place or pension or useless office can be dispensed with - only the agricultural horse tax was repealed. And after many debates for the whole session the salt tax was repealed to take place New Years Day, 1823 when salt will be 1d per pound. And some part of the malt tax was repealed which seems to be a benefit to nobody. The ministry thinks they do very cleverly when they are forces to take off about two million in taxes, when to do the real thing they should take 20 or 30 million of taxes off and the landlords drop the price of land by one half at least.
Lord Londonderry thought proper to cut his own throat which he did most effectually and died instantaneously - a very good and proper end for such an unworthy man - to be hoped many more will follow his example. His name will be handed down for ages as the steady supporter of every measure of depotism and the powerful opposer of every indication of improvement of reform at home or abroad, I know no more suitable exit unless the gallows. The great reformer, Henry Hunt was confined two and a half years in Manchester gaol for attending the meeting at Manchester when the people was massacred by the cut-throats there, was liberated 30th of October and upon the 11th of November made a public entry into London amidst a great concourse of people but all was peaceable. He said in a speech he made that the lion was let out of the cage and as ready to fall upon his enemies as ever. The Reformers, or radicals as they are called, have increased ten fold since he was put in prison.
Brother Richard and family are all well. They had a daughter born 26th of August named Jennet.
Brother Thomas of Damasgillside all well. His children are getting up very fast.
Brother Titus well and in good spirits. Take an out to see Hannah according to custom.
My father and mother both well. Ann Birket tells of leaving them at Candlemas next. When we see it we will believe it.
With myself and my family I try to believe all is working for the good but sometimes things are very trying and we would willingly shrink from the portion of suffering that is allotted to su.
I remain, dear brother, wishing thee health and prosperity in the land of liberty.

David Cragg

To go by packet boat from Liverpool to New York and overland to Ohio.”

11th month 23rd - "Mary in poor health. I went for Doctor Taylor of Lancaster and he came to see her. He says the knee is a very bad case and great hazard of it being cured but he undertook to take the attempt to mend it.”

11th month 28th - "Sale at David Craggs of 12 cattle, one horse, carts, wheels, harrow and horse gears, etc., good hay and straw. Auction crier Chris Gates.

11th month 24th - "I think, considering the difficulties that I am surrounded with, that I bear up my thoughts and mind very well and am not so much sunk in grief and woe as might be expected. Being beggared in circumstances, my debts more in amount that my property, a farm too dear by 40 pounds a year, my wife lying in a helpless state, and two to one never to recover, a family of eight small children to provide for and no one capable to manage or help in any kind of business. I have plenty to do and to think about and am at present more content and less disquieted that I was one or two years by past. When the evil day was coming and I saw it coming and I could not avoid the ills that have befallen me.”

11th month 24th - "Five of my family at Wyresdale meeting and one at chapel. Mary Winder, Susy Birket, Margaret Waterhouse and John Gardner called to see my wife who had a large blister plaster laid upon her knee and she was in bad trim.”

11th month 25th - "Dr Taylor came to see my wife and take the blister plaster off. It had taken effect most nobly and he had a better opinion of the case than he had before. He has hopes he may bring it about so that she may be qualified to hop about pretty well.”

11th month 26th - "Afternoon Betty Cragg of Langthwaite came to see my wife and tarried the afternoon. My wife confined to her bed and I see she grows thinner and poorer very much and looks very badly. I went to Gilbert Bateson to talk with him about how I thought to pay my rent asking lieve to sell some hay and he allow me 13 pounds for lime I have set on and never ploughed and I found him in bad trim and not qualified for conversation, I went to my father’s. My mother somewhat poorly. She had pity upon me in my difficulties.”

11th month 27th - "We had the company of brother Lawrence and also John Gardner, Peggy Bateson and Agnes Yates to see my wife. She is I think somewhat better today. Gilbert Bateson drunk and not conversable says Peggy.”

11th month 27th. "A showery day. Some snow on the tops of the fells and cold. I was at Lancaster and came back by Golgate and called to see Chris Gates about calling my sale next month. Doctor at my wife says he is hopeful at present.”

12th month 1st - "A very stormy day. My wife considered to be something more hopeful of recovery. Brother, Titus called, John Gardner and Wm. Stone.”

12th month 2nd - "A cold stormy day. Showers of rain, hail and snow. The fells white over. Dr. Taylor came again to see my wife. He thinks she is coming along finely at present. I want to see my landlord about selling of my hay and corn and telling him how I thought as how I could make up my rent. He would not agree about the lime but to sell the hay he had no objection.”

12th month 3rd - "A fine mild day. I went with Gilbert Bateson to Langthwaite to buy a cow off my brother Richard and helped to bring it home. My wife is coming on pretty well saying she can neither go nor stand and she had four blister plasters laid on her knee at one time.”

12th month 6th - "Rained. Threshed some and dressed some corn. We had Mary Dilworth to see my wife. Somewhat better, at least the doctor says so.”

12th month 8th - "Rain. We had several people up to look at my cattle. Ann Doddong and Agnes Pye came to see my wife.”

12th month 10th -" Some frost. A remarkable, fine, calm and sunny day. My sale this afternoon. A good sale.”

There were many people from near and far. David served six gallons of rum and nine gallons of ale. The next couple of days people were coming to get the things they had bought at the sale. The doctor came again on the 13th and said the discharge of the knee was making Molly weaker and weaker. Many people came to see her, his mother talked against so many visitors when David went to see his folks on the 17th. Doctor Taylor came again on the 19th. He still had hopes.

12th month 20th - "My wife very bad today of her knee, a most acute and intense pain there and down the leg so that she could not be stirred without the greatest pain and hurt. It is ten to one she will leave this world ere long and I and my eight bairns may fight the world by ourselves when she is removed to a better place with angels and saints in the world to come.”

The doctor came on the 22nd and lanced the knee in another place and let out about 8 ounces of matter. About 10 people came to see her that day.

On the 24th Thomas Lambert and Molly’s sister came to see her and on the 25th her brothers Lawrence and Barthol Pye, and Davids brothers Thomas and Ann Robinson came. She seemed in better spirits “but to stir the limb gives unaccountable pain to the knee and down the leg. The leg and foot much swelled.”
On the 28th the doctor said the knee seemed a little better but David said the knee was “very crooked near square bent backwards.” Moving made her screach out in pain but at least her appetite was good. She was no better the rest of the month.

There is a long poem which is hard to make out but it is about his great sorrow for his wife’s pain and his attempts to give her courage and comfort.