The fortunes of Jane Betsy's only surviving son, Harry Skinner

   I realised this morning, (19th June 2020) when Harry's letter (above) dropped out of the file I was tidying up, I had not transcribed the overwritten part of the letter. It is undated. It had been screwed up to be thrown away, when it was received by his mother, Jane Betsy and his sisters, Emma Jane and Rosa May early in 1876. It was probably Harry's sister Emma Jane who smoothed it out and kept it. As with the letter from her sister Laura and brother in law Job about the  trust fund left by their father James Pollard to top up Jane Betsy's annuity from her father, this part of the letter has been overwritten and it takes an effort to read it.  From now on I will continue the story with facts from documentation and correspondence kept. I'm going to try to back them up with economic and social conditions of the time which might be relevant. This is what Harry says early in 1876 on the bit I missed before:– 

    "You will find the marriage in this weeks Norfolk News.

     Today in Newcastle a noon-day prayer meeting (united) was being held in a Public Building & we enjoyed it very much, was an hour of great refreshment."

   The loss of James Charles four years earlier had been a terrible blow to the family. As can be seen from previous letters posted here, he and his brother Harry were studying in London for different roles in life. James Charles for medicine and Harry, I guess, for banking. Jane Betsy's husband, ailing with the cirrhosis which took his life, in February 1871, was suffering debilitating back pain as is indicated from the letters between the brothers.  It was down to Harry to rally round and help with the farm.

   As cousin Mary Howlett has written after James Charles's death, "I hope Harry has recovered from his duties". It is Harry who organises the postal order for five pounds to be sent to the Fever Hospital for those five weeks board Mr Cheyne has asked for. Harry knows he has sent fresh provisions from the farm, because his brother has asked for them in his last letter to him. Harry indicates in previous letters, he has been thanked for them. By the autumn of 1870 it is Harry who James Charles is communicating with, not his father, as previously. Also James Charles's sister, Emma Jane has written to him in place of his father. The brother and sisters are rallying round, as their father, by this time, is probably incapacitated. Harry is just 21 in the summer of 1870, his brother James Charles has written to him about their grandmother Harriet Bately. He describes her as 'your grandmother,' which suggests Harry is a favourite of hers. She was in Great Yarmouth when she died, but had previously been living with the Pages at Stokesby, with her youngest daughter Louisa and her husband Sherwood William. Louisa was Sherwood's William Page's second wife. His first wife, Stephen Bately's oldest daughter, Harriet Virtue, was the mother of the Page children. She died in 1856.   
    In the 1871 census, Jane Betsy is described as the farmer at Tunstall of 312 acres, employing 9 men and 2 boys. There are no domestic servants. We already know from Harry's letter to his brother in London, "Emma Jane has made a custard in a red hot hurry." I have her (my great grandmother's) recipe book from Tunstall, dated 1873.
    That summer after the census, 1871, Harry's brother Thomas died of consumption. Here is the rest of last letter from Harry, which Jane Betsy probably screwed up and Emma Jane kept. Fanny, mentioned in the letter is Harry's wife Emma's older sister.
    It is written from 5, Cresswell Terrace, Sunderland
   " Dear Emma, Rosa and Mother,
    Thanks for your letter received this morning. If you have not sent any letters on here for me, please address them to Thornbrake Villa, Caxton Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W. As we intend going to Fanny's next Wednesday. It has been beautifully fine since we have been here & we are enjoying ourselves very much with Mrs Henry.
   I hope you will soon be better. Should you not be better, be sane and get some advice, as the chest is a very tender part. If all be well, we intend returning to Tunstall for a few days next Monday week. She is very well considering all efforts she puts forth to see about, as no opportunities have been lost by looking about. Should it be Mrs Holblacks intention of leaving, it will indeed be better to take her house and the little room. I am very pleased to hear the evening was pleasantly spent. Possibly we may call on our way home, providing you have not made arrangements for Rosa having music lessons. It is well to do it at once. Mrs Henry joins with us in very kind love, Remaining your very affectionate Harry."

    The "Mrs Henry" he is referring is his wife Emma's cousin or sister.

    Harry's movements after 1876 when his first child Gertrude is born at Freethorpe, Norfolk, can be tracked by the places his children are born. Mildred, Herbert and Dora are also born in Freethorpe. Winnifred (b1881 or 1882) and Elsie (b1883) are born in Burlingham St Edmund, where he is a farming. His wife Emma is not there on the 1881 census, but his cousin Annie Skinner (28) from Thrigby is. He employs a nursemaid called Minnie Spinks to look after eight month old Dora. Harry is 32. Two years later, his oldest daughter Gertrude died in Burlingham (March 1883) His second daughter, Mildred also dies in Burlingham (March 1888.) Harry must have moved to the city from Burlingham St Edmund some time in 1888. After he has become bankrupt as a farmer.  

   By 1891 Harry is 42, living in St Augustine Street, Norwich and working as a Draper. His wife Emma and her niece Elizabeth Black  (20) from Great Yarmouth are living with him. Also his son and three daughters, Dora, Elsie and Winnie. By 1901, he has moved to Yarmouth and is managing a coal and coke agency. He is employing his daughter Elsie (18) as a clerk. His son Herbert is an assistant school teacher and he employs 17 year old Ethel Cooke as a domestic servant.

   In 1911, Harry is still in Great Yarmouth working as a coal merchant in his job as a manager in a coal agency. He has been married to his second wife Agnes Jane for four years. He is employing 16 year old Blanche Elizabeth Nicholson as a domestic servant. 

    .

This ia a photocopy my mother sourced of a picture in the family archives of Harry Skinner with his second wife Agnes, his son Herbert Harry (1878 - 1964) and his daughter in law Gertrude with Harry's granddaughter Dorothy (born 1913)