Shropshire Routes to Roots

Exploring industrialisation: Letter from a sick collier

This letter was sent by a poor collier from Manchester to one of the Poor Relief officers in Wrockwardine. His parents used to live in Wrockwardine (which he spells Rockwardine), and so he believes he should be eligible to claim Poor Relief from the parish.

Try to work out how the person writing the letter may have felt. Things to think about include:

• How does he try to persuade the person he is addressing that he is worthy of Poor Relief?
• Does he use many adjectives to describe his feelings and problems?
• Is his tone informative, or pleading? Does he sound desperate?

Letter dated Feb 26,1835 from Thos.Lewis, No.16 Blakeley St. Manchester.

Sir, I am sorry to inform you that in consequence of being employed in damp works as a Colier I have got cold which has caused me to swell all over my Body rendering me incapable of going out and am now twenty one weeks in that deplorable state under the medical advice of the Doctors of the Manchester Infirmary. I am with my Wife and Child reduced to a situation of the most wretched distress, owing for lodging £1 0s 0d without food or means to obtain it and if not immediately assisted I will have no shelter as no further trust will be given me, and will be turned into the Streets. I have had some small relief from the Manchester association, it is now withheld and am quite destitute to remove me with an order would cost me my life as I am not fit to leave my Bed, but I am benefiting from Advice and Medicine and I purpose if I could get a little round to go to my Children to the Potteries in Staffordshire who might if there help me, but I cannot expect to get well or live without food or nourishment and I hope you will not neglect me. My Father & Mother kept the Poor House in Rockwardine and are well known to Mr.Clayton I served my time with Mr.Samewells? in the Long Lane. There is no fund in this Country for Colliers out of work. Your answer will be expected by return of post as I have nothing but your relief to depend on for food or shelter

I am Sir Yr most obt Hble St. Thomas Lewis
No.16 Blakeley Street Manchester