MANY years ago I bought a bundle of old letters, including one concerning the Ferrabee family of the Phoenix Ironworks, Stroud, dated 1873.

I would love to reunite this letter with a member of the family who is interested in their family history.

I was wondering if you would publish an article asking if there are any relatives in the area who would like to have it.

The letter is to Florence Ferrabee from her paternal aunt, Hester Lucina Trevor (who was living in Plymouth), after the death of Florence’s father, Jim.

It’s a very interesting and sympathetic letter, and contains news of other members of the family, some of whom I have been able to find on genealogy sites.

Hester writes that a fortnight before Jim’s death, his brother Arnold “had a remarkable dream in which he was once again in the old Thrupps counting house waiting for something that he wanted, and he saw Jim seated on his stool there, looking as he used to do, and then he saw him slowly pass away in a kind of dissolving view till the seat was vacant! It has been a strange dream has it not?”.

There is also this rather intriguing passage: “I never wish to intrude or offer suggestions or anything of that kind, but I sincerely sympathise with you all and will gladly do anything I can to prove it – the neighbourhood is rather a melancholy place to me now and some people talk so unkindly that I feel quite afraid to speak when I am there.”

I found that Florence (actually Sarah Florence) died aged 95 in 1944, and must have kept this letter all her life.

Neither Florence nor Hester appear to have had any children, but I am hoping that there are some descendants from Florence’s siblings.

I can send you a scan of the letter if you wish, and also a transcription I have made, as the handwriting is quite difficult to read, and there are still some words which have defeated me!

Joy Davies

Pantygraig

Cilcain Road

Pantymwyn

Mold

Flintshire

CH7 5NJ

Tel: 01352 740685