Chapter
V: 1853 to 1855 - Liverpool
Adam’s diary
1853
July Sarah and I went to Liverpool to see whether it would
be a suitable place for starting a business on my own account.
We decided on doing so and immediately began making preparations.
Before returning to London, went to South Molton and spend a
few days.
In August 1853, Adam’s employer, Mr Nisbet, wrote the following
letter to Mr M. Macfin Esq, B.. (?) S.. (?) House [Liverpool]
Berners Street, London, August 1853
Dear Sir,
Our Senior Assistant Mr Reid who has been in our employment
for seven years discharging his duties very much to our satisfaction
is about to leave us with a view to enter into business on his
own account.
After much consideration, he informs me that he hears of no
place so eligible as Liverpool and he has determined to ascertain
for himself by a personal enquiry how far these anticipations
are likely to be fulfilled.
Now Dear Sir may we solicit for him a few minutes conversation
in order to afford him the information he seeks.
Mr Reid is a Member of Dr Hamilton’s congregation and is both
pious and persevering, etc (?). Should he see fit to settle
in Liverpool we shall feel no fear that he will acquit himself
otherwise than as becomes a Christian Young Man.
Mr R. is a married man.
With many apologies for troubling you with this extra matter.
James Nisbet & Co.
Adam’s diary
October Left London for Liverpool but as business arrangements
were not sufficiently advanced went to Scotland and spent 3
weeks among our friends.
November Went to Liverpool and took up our abode at 11 Buckingham
Terrace.1
10th December Mary Helen born.2
Hannah was with us and when she went to leave shortly after
on driving to the station we found that the trains were all
stopt, on account of the snow.
12th. Opened my shop in Liverpool.3
20th Helen Martin, my sister died.
1st January 1854 Mary Helen baptized in Canning Street Church.4
August 1854 During this month Sarah spent a fortnight in Scotland.
16th Sep 1855 Sarah Jane born. Mrs Chappell from London with
us.
7th October Sarah Jane baptized in Canning Street Church.
October. John Martin died. On hearing of this event I went
to London and saw after the funeral. Brought Helen and Jeanie
Martin to live with us for a time. 5
Chapter VI: 1856 - South Molton
Adam’s diary stops here. Since he was suffering from consumption,
probably having caught it from Jeanie, he spent time in South
Molton and Ayrshire to rest. When Adam was away Sarah minded the
bookshop in Liverpool.
Adam’s letters from South Molton to Sarah in Liverpool
South Molton, 4th May 1856
My Dearest,
We arrived here safely last night before 10 o’clock. Bill was
at South Molton Road with a trap. Doddy6
was very good all the way, except a little crying as she went
through the tunnel at Liverpool. She slept a good part of the
way. She would not speak to any of them last night for she was
very sleepy and tired and she was not very fond of lying in
a strange bed. She said “Me can’t lie down papa”. I took her
down again and she went quietly enough when I went myself. She
lay this morning till ten, and then she did not seem more friendly
than before. Nobody would she let put on an article of clothes
but me. She got very free however after she was dressed. Bill
and I went out and had a long walk and when I came back I was
told she had been playing and was very merry and she had been
out several places with Mary Hannah. We have just had our dinner
and I have brought her up stairs and put her in bed for a little
and now she is fast asleep.
I was over at Mr Vicary’s this morning and had two glasses
of beer 6 months old which was very nice. He said he had kept
some for me and I was to come over every morning and have a
glass.
All here are very well. Father and Uncle Harry are better than
ever I saw them. I was very tired last night. I went to bed
at 11 and did not wake till the 8 o’clock bell awoke me. I did
not cough once from the time I lay down till a little before
I got up. Mary Vicary had been very bad with Erysipelas but
now she is quite well.7
When you write on Monday night let me know whether Nisbet has
sent any Vicar’s Life and if Mrs Matheson’s book was delivered
on Monday. It was to have come from Nisbets on Monday forenoon.
Be sure and write all particulars every night. I will write
again on Tuesday.
I remain, Your affectionate Husband,
Adam Reid
South Molton, 11th May 1856
My dearest Sarah,
I duly received your last two letters. I can assure you I am
always very anxious to get them. We have had two beautiful warm
summer days. I hope they will continue for a little so long
as I am here. I feel the benefit of the change every day. Just
now I feel as if I could walk 20 miles. The cough was very little
this morning. I think in a short time it will go altogether.
Doddy and I had a nice walk through the fields yesterday. You
would have laughed to see her chasing the lambs. I was over
in the church and heard the funeral service. Mr Serles is the
name of the man that was buried. After dinner I am going out
with Mr and Mrs Nutt, Sarah and Mary Ann out to a Mr Allan’s,
a farmer about 3 miles out and as the day is very beautiful,
it will do me good.
I wish you were here for I am sure we would all enjoy ourselves
very much. Doddy and I always have a chat about “Mama and Poppy”
when we go to bed. Dod enjoys herself very much.8
She is quite free with all now. I am just afraid they will spoil
her stomach sometimes by giving her so many sweets, buns and
so forth but she is quite well. And they say here that she is
much improved since she came. And they say also that I look
a great deal better.
Last night Bill and I had a glass of “Rum Hot” at the Kings
Arms. This morning I have not gone to church. Bill, Mary Anne
and Doddy and I are going for a short walk through the fields
before dinner. Father has a shoulder of lamb for dinner.
Doddy often speaks of Mama and Poppy. She will be glad to see
you again. They say here I must stop for a month but this is
impossible. I will stay another week and I will see then how
I am.
I have written another note to Mr Blyth and if he has not sent
the money yet then post the letter on Monday night. I have asked
him to pay it on Thursday and if he does not, I must pull him
up.
I remain, Your own Dear Old Man Adam Reid
South Molton, Tuesday 13th May 1856
My Dearest,
Your letter came last night as usual, but I did not get [it]
for about 2 hours after its arrival as I was out. Bill and Bill
Nutt and myself went out in the afternoon to see “Bishops Nympton
Revel” and we did not get home till half past 8. So that was
a long walk for me and I was not much tired. On Sabbath we had
a walk as long when we went out to Mrs Allan’s farm about 4
mile out. We went away at half past 2 and did not get back till
after 10. So you see I am improving. We have had four beautiful
days, but today it is cloudy and threatens rain before long.
Still Doddy and I had a walk through the fields before dinner.
I generally go out myself as all here are busily employed.
A lot of the young folks had a pic nic at Filleigh yesterday.9
I believe there was about 17 or 18, but I spent the day as comfortably
at Bishop Nympton.
I am sorry to hear you head again troubles you. You say you
have been thinking but I don’t think you have got any very troublesome
thoughts to bother you just now.
Has “Wilsons Notes” come and are they all delivered? If not
John will find the list in the “Magazine book”.
In next letter send 57 worth of receipt stamps heads, for Mr
Vicary.
Doddy is sleeping just now when I am writing
Everything has improved very much since I came. The trees in
the churchyard are looking very green, and jackdaws are building
their nests in the tower.
Father is going to Barnstaple on Friday. If things are going
on well with you I think I will stay over Sunday.
They are all very anxious for me to stop. Certainly I am improving
very much but still there is no place like home. I am just going
to Mr Fenner’s to tea. Mrs Manly has never heard from her son
yet.
I hope to hear good accounts of business. Meantime I remain,
Your affectionate loving, Dear old man, A. Reid
South Molton, Thursday, 15th May 1856
Dearest,
This is a very wet morning which entirely prevents me going
out. So I have sat down to write as soon as breakfast is over.
Doddy has followed me up stairs and is playing beside me. I
intend to bring her with me when I come. For even if you came
here, it would be impossible for you to take care of the two
in the railway. One is quite enough for anybody to take care
of.
I am sorry to say I have not got quit of my cough yet. It is
better than it was when I left but still it troubles me a little
when I get up and occasionally during the day. But the weather
has not been very favourable. We have had 3 or 4 fine days but
the remainder have been either cold or wet. I am very much stronger
than I was. I have not yet decided when to leave. I should like
to stay as long as possible for the sake of my health but the
state in which business seems to be does not make it very pleasant
to be away. I will likely decide before I write again.
Try and catch a few more Americans. Now is the time for the
Guides to be selling. When they ask for Bradshaw’s Guide you
should always say that Black’s is the best and show it to them.
Bradshaw only gives the time the trains start, whereas Black’s
gives a description of all the Railways and Towns in England.
I think it is a long time since I left and shall be glad to
see you and Poppy again.
Doddy was speaking about you this morning. She said “I shall
see Mama and Poppy”. She is just asking me “Is that Mama’s letter?”.
I will write again on Saturday and I hope to hear better news
of business before that time. This morning I did not wake till
10 minutes past 8 and “dod” would have slept much longer if
I had let her.
I think I have no more to say just now.
I remain,Your aff. husband, Adam Reid
From Sarah to Adam at Newton Head, Ayr
59 Ranelagh Street Liverpool, 13th August [1856]
My God keep you healthy. Good bye my love.
My Darling,
I’m writing to let you know how we are getting on. I am sorry
I did not tell you yesterday how much we took. It was £2
5s, today £2 1s so far.
It has been very showery all day again here. I trust it is
not the same with you.
Mr Kelley was in and had his book on another of Wilson’s works.
I told him a (?) his letters and he said I ought to have had
it on the Thursday. I told him I had it put in the (?)(?) today
or Friday. He said it would do quite well. It did not matter
it was all right.
Miss James, sent by the boy on mother’s orders. She has returned
some of the books that were sent. I think the one only of theirs
.. from old maids the .. knows what they do wrong that little
Wilson the school master has had several books here since you
left. Several from Gillings I got for him. He can scarcely tell
what he requires either. I have sent over to Miss (?) two books,
History of Greece and History of France. You will see John has
marked them up on the paper (?)
Now My Darling I hope you will not trouble for everything is
going on as well as if you were at home. I trust you are getting
better and (?) that is keeping cheery. Pray write and let me
know.
Dobby Trawler(?) was in today. He said he would like to have
seen you. He told me to say he had been. There was a Mr Garley
in yesterday and said he would like to see you. He bought Meurs
(?) Life and said he would call when you returned. Mr Turner
the stationer(?) in James Street, called last night and asked
for you. He told me to ask if you could call on him when you
returned. I do not know what he wants.
Pray give my dear Dod a plenty of kisses from me. My best love
to you My Darling. I remain your loving affectionate wife,
Sarah Reid
From Adam’s father
Newton on Ayr, 4 August 1856
Dear Adam and Sarah,
We received your note today and as you are to be from home
on Wednesday I think it right to let you know that you are to
have some visitors on Wednesday evening. William Martin and
young Miss McWhinne is coming to Liverpool with the Earl of
Carrick which leaves Ayr on Wednesday morning at 3 o’clock and
also young William Park, Bailie Park’s son who is going to London
but he would like to stay a day in Liverpool to see it. If he
calls, if you cannot accommodate him with a bed for one night
if Sarah would recommend him to some respectable house where
he would get a good bed this would be a favour. Some of us will
be at the station on Wednesday evening at 9 o’clock.
We remain Your affect. Father and Mother, Adam Reid
From Sarah to Adam
[undated] 59 Ranelagh Street, Liverpool
My Darling,
I have been thinking of you and Dear Doddy. I trust you are
safe at your home. I’m sure you must be tired. It has been very
warm here, you and poor Doddy must have felt it. I am sure I
shall long to have a letter to know how you and how my Dear
Doddy behaved poor little thing. I am sure she will feel strange.
Do not go away from her for a bit. I have felt all day as if
I could bring up my heart thinking of you. I am real silly but
I cannot help it my darling.
I must tell you we have only taken £1 4s. so far today.
Miss Fraser’s States have come and I sent them up.
I received a letter from your father this morning to say there
was four of them coming. I think I can manage a couple of beds
for them.
I shall feel more comfortable when I get your letter to hear
you got save home. I have nothing more to say just now. With
my best love to you my darling and our Dear Doddy some kisses.
I remain your loving and affectionate wife, Sarah Reid
May God bless you both is the Prayers of your fond wife Sarah
From Adam in Ayr to Sarah
Ayr, 14th August
Dearest,
My cough is keeping better. Yesterday and today I was troubled
little during the day, or during the night – only in the morning
when I got up. My mother brings in a can of new milk every morning
to me before I get up.
I wish “Charley” had kept to his former intention and not gone
to Devonshire till the end of the month. The shortness of my
stay here will prevent me from getting the benefit I expected.
My mother was asking me yesterday when I was going away. I said
on Monday. She seemed not very well pleased. She said you might
have stopt a little longer, when you were able to stay so long
in Devonshire. I certainly would stay another week if business
was going on well and if it did not interfere with your trip.
But as it is, I think I might manage to stay till Wednesday
morning.
Jeanie will not leave South Molton till Wednesday week. Now
if I am home on Wednesday night you could leave on Friday evening
at 6 afternoon. This would give you four clear days to see Jeanie
- Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. But if you think this
is too hurried, say so in your letter tomorrow and I will come
on Monday morning as I thought of at first.
The weather has been very good the last two days. Occasional
showers have fallen but I have not been caught in any.
You had better write home and tell some of them to write to
your friends in Bristol asking them to wait on you at the train
and take you to a quiet place where you can get a bed. On whatever
day you go you will be in Bristol at a quarter past 9 at night.
I am afraid Miss Lewis is a pest. I shan’t take these books
back from her. The two books she has sent to bind, get done
as soon as possible and do all you can to please her till I
come back.
I remain, Your aff husband, Adam Reid
Adam seems to be getting rather irritated by problems cropping
up in the bookshop not helped for sure by his state of health.
59 Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, 5th September1856
Dearest,
It is now a fortnight since you left and this I suppose will
be the last letter I will write to you at South Molton at this
time, that is if you leave on Monday morning as you said in
last letter. If you write to Mrs Thomas at Bristol she will
be able to recommend you where to go.
We continue to have fine weather here. I hope it is the same
with you. The doctor came yesterday and spent a long time with
me. He thoroughly examined my chest. He did not order anything
fresh in the way of medicine except a pill which I am to take
every night. He told me to put on a small blister, which I did
last night. It has rather annoyed me today for it is very sharp
if I happen to move my left arm suddenly.
The cough has troubled me very little for the last two days
and I hope this blister will have the effect of making it still
less. I continue to feel very well and eat very heartily.
We must think of getting a supply of butter etc. from Devon
soon. Would this be a good time to get it? You can ask father
and see what he says. I wrote to Blyth last night and told him
if the account was not paid before Wednesday, that I should
commence proceedings against him. It is most annoying to be
obliged to write in that way to a customer, but still there
is nothing else I can do. Dod is quite well. Last night I was
called down at tea time and when I went back she had got the
pot of jam and was eating it as fast as she could with a spoon.
I can assure you she made a large hole in the pot. This morning
she said “I wonder when Mamma and Poppy coming back to see me”.
I hope you will get all the good you can out of the short time
now you intend to stay. You will write on Sabbeth and say whether
you will leave on Monday morning. If the weather is fine you
can stay a few [the letter ends here]
Newton Head, Ayr, 14th October 1856
Dearest,
I received your letter again today and sorry to hear business
is so dull. I hope it will improve. Also I fear I will be obliged
to hurry home again without reaping much benefit from my absence.
It was very kind in Miss Grindley, but I think I will not visit
Edinburgh at present but rather remain here in quietness as
long as I can and see if that will do me any good.
In regard to the lady that called to buy a book, I think you
might recommend Chalmers’ Life or Bickersteth’s Life. There
are nice copies of both books there.
I am much about the same. I am not troubled with anything but
cough. The chilliness has gone away and my strength is keeping
up.
I am glad to say the weather still keeps fine.
I hope all is going on well and above all things I hope that
nothing is sold on credit without being entered. Not having
more to say I must close and remain your affectionate husband,
Adam Reid
Tell John I cannot make out what this means “W Gene’s(?) works
and Vol”. If he means the first vol he should have said so.
Tell him to be more careful in writing down orders for it puts
me to a deal of annoyance not knowing what to order.
The other note from Mr Saffley I cannot make out either. It
is the First Prize Essay on something but I cannot make out
what.
I hope you mentioned in last night’s letter whether you found
the two books that I thought was in the shop and that you also
sent Hamilton’s Invoice. If you forgot mind it tonight.
Tell Mrs Nixon that “Brief Thoughts” cannot be got in London
or Edinburgh. If she pays the postage I will get them from Kelso.
Chapter VII: 1857 - Adam’s death
Adam and Sarah had a son, born in Liverpool on 23 March 1857.
They called him Adam. He died in South Molton, on 13 June 1857.
Adam’s health did not improve. He must have sold the bookshop
and taken the family to South Molton where he spent his last days.
A letter from a business colleague in Liverpool was sent to him
in South Molton which gives an indication of Adam’s state of mind.
Liverpool 23rd May 1857
My Dear Mr Reid,
I duly received you note of the 15th May and was very sorry
indeed to learn from it that you were not gathering any strength
but I hope my Dear Sir that by this time you are expressing(?)
more benefit from the change. I would have written to you earlier
but have been myself laid up from a disordered stomach and feel
the full force of your warning which you so kindly addressed
to me. How careless are we of that best of blessings and alas
how little do we price it when in the height of its enjoyment.
Permit me most truly and affectionately to sympathise with you
in that feeling which finds it “difficult to reconcile yourself
to your present situation”. Truly it’s difficult indeed for
flesh and blood to understand it but with the temerity (?) of
that Spirit which is promised to you, you will I have no doubt
got at his mind (?) with respect to your present affliction.
I truly hope that God is with you. This is the condition that
we ought all to long for to understand his dealings with us
and by the Grace of God it is the condition that we ought all
to strive ... (? to realise. David must have found this to be
the case when he said “it was good for me that I was afflicted”.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. But
in times of truth when everything seems to be going against
us ‘tis very difficult to feel this, but faith in a living Saviour
will do much for us. Yea it will do all things for us “Other
refuge have I none”. I hope and trust that you are feeling this.
I take it very kind of you indeed that you should have thought
of me on this occasion the more so as you seem to be suffering
from fatigue and I am selfish enough to wish that it may not
be the last letter that I am to receive from you. I feel such
an interest in you that I can scarcely express it. My partner
Mr Dunnett returned home the other day so much improved that
he is scarcely to be recognised now as the Mr Dunnett of December
last. Not a vestige of his cough seems to have remained with
him and he looks stronger than ever.
I hope that all you little family are well and that Mrs Reid
continues to enjoy good health. Your wishes with respect to
your next were anticipated by my people and we continue to trade
with your successor as usual.
With kindest regards and with best wishes, Remain Your most
truly,
J. M…
The shortest communication from you will be thankfully received.
Adam died in South Molton on 10th September 1957, aged 31.
Adam’s and Jeanie’s parents wrote letters of condolence to Sarah:
From Adam’s parents (written by his father)
Newton, 12th September
Dear Sarah,
I duly received your brother’s note on Friday morning and were
very sorry to hear that Adam was sinking so fast. From your
note on Thursday morning we were so far prepared for the worst
but indeed we had very little hope of his getting better since
the last time he was here we had very little hope. When I went
down to the station with him that morning he left, I just thought
I would never see him again - but now that it has pleased the
Lord to remove him from this world of troubles that he is gone
to a world where trouble is unknown and where the weary are
at rest.
I hope you will soon recover from the fatigue you have had
by Adam’s last illness and be fit to take charge of your little
family and put your trust in God for he has promised to be a
husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless. You will
receive £5 as funeral expenses from the society - as per
order it is sent to Sarah Reid.
I should have been very glad to have seen Adam in life but
that was not to be, and I should have been very glad to have
attended his funeral ‘at my advanced age’, and the great distance,
and the difficulty I would have of leaving the wife in her present
depressed state I could not think of coming for (but?) I have
not the slightest doubt that you will pay every respect to his
remains - be so good as give my best respects to your brother
for his kindness in letting us know about Adam’s last illness
and his death. Be sure and drop me a note when you receive this,
and also if you received the £2 I sent on Thursday.
I hope this will find you all well.
We remain,
Your affect.
Father & Mother Adam Reid
Adam’s mother died in 1862 aged 78 and his father in 1866 aged
79.
From Jeanie’s parents, Mr and Mrs Ingram
Ayr, 14th September
My Dear Mrs Reid,
Mrs Ingram and I was sorry to hear of Mr Reid’s death. We trust
you will be enabled to bear this heavy bereavement sent at this
time and may we all be improved by this another lesson given
us of the shortness of our time upon this earth and may it lead
us to seek more earnestly that city which hath foundations whose
builders and maker is God.
We will be glad to hear from you at your convenience and we
heard from a letter you sent to his father here that you intend
being through in this quarter soon if you are spared to be so.
We will be most happy to have a call from you.
We were sorry to learn through your brother’s letter to us
that you are very unwell. Hoping how[ever] soon you may be fully
restored to usual health. We remain your ever aft. friends
Mr and Mrs Ingram
Epilogue
Adam’s body, once so healthy, vigorous and gay has now mouldered
in the dust but thanks to this book he lives on. He and all the
people he knew have come to life again.
I continue to fantasize about meeting him and can only hope that
if there is an afterlife I will, but as Jeanie would say I will
just have to “wonder away”.
Only I and my children and grandchildren are Adam's descendants
on this earth.
After his death Sarah brought her two young girls up in South
Molton. In 1877 Doddy married George Robertson, a house-decorator
and amateur painter whose watercolours, in particular of Appledore
in North Devon, decorate my house. They had four children: George,
Mary (May) my grandmother, Nora and Blanche. In 1891 all the family
including Sarah and Poppy were living in Stanhope Street, London.
Poppy did not marry but had the job of bringing Doddy’s three
young girls up when both Doddy and her husband died in 1898. Poppy
and Sarah took the three girls back to South Molton while brother
George stayed on in London and became a railway accountant. George
and Blanche both died of consumption before the age of 30. Sarah
died on Christmas Day 1901 at the age of 81 and Poppy on 7 June
1932, aged 77.
In 1915, May married my grandfather, Thomas Henry (Harry) Rice
from Lydford in North Devon. My father, Geoffrey, was born in
South Molton in 1920 and the family went to live in Ealing. My
father married my mother, Gwladys (Betti) Sanderson from Wales,
and I was born in 1949. My parents divorced a couple of years
later and my father and I went to live in Twickenham with my grandparents
and great aunt Nora, who had never married.
Harry and May died in the mid-fifties so from the age of seven
I was brought up by my father and Aunty Nora.
Geoffrey would have preferred to have been brought up in South
Molton rather than in the London suburbs as he loved the outdoors
and reminisced about the happy childhood holidays he had spent
there. In fact he wrote a few pages about those times and I also
have his diaries and some letters he wrote when in the Indian
Army - but that is another story altogether.
1 There is no longer a Buckingham
Terrace in Liverpool. It might have been renamed.
2 My great grandmother.
3 The bookshop was in Ranelagh
Street. The building is no longer there.
4 This was a Presbyterian
church at the junction of Canning Street and Bedford Street which
has been replaced by a modern church built for the German Evangelical
Church in 1959.
5 Jean Hall Martin, born 5.6.1836
and Helen Alexander Martin born 17.1.1847.
6 Mary Helen’s nickname.
7 A skin infection.
8 Sarah Jane, their second
daughter, was known as Poppy.
9 A small village between
South Molton and Barnstaple.
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