Rotherham 16 June 1803
My dear Mary Ann
Your Uncle Jonathan Hatfield
& I got to Great Houghton on Sunday last &
left your Grandmother very well & your Aunt
Abbatt in a very feeble state which at her
age it cannot be expected she will recover
from, we are now at M^r Turners whose
family we find well Betsey & Jonathan the two
youngest children we have seen we
have not been here above half an hour
& I am seated to write to you for the depar=
=ture of the first post that you may receive
this letter on Saturday & hear of our welfare
I was much disappointed not hearing from
you at Barnsley where I was yesterday I
blame the post, for I think you & Betsey &
Miss Roberts woud certainly write as I desired
I hope it is not owing to any indisposition
& am anxious to hear from you & trust I shall
when I arrive at Manchester on Sunday evening
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which we hope & shall endeavour to accomplish
but our horse is much galled by the Harness
not fitting well & the roads being in a very
bad state and makes travelling tedious.
Tis post time and I have only time to
say our friends at Houghton & here send you
love & good wishes & to assure you your Sister
& Brothers of my fondest affection deliver
my love Respects to Miss Roberts & say I
hope to hear from her at my arrival
at Manchester also from you Betsey & James
united farewell my dear daughter farewell
Ever your Affectionate Father
& Friend Tho^s Nicholson

Rotherham 16 June 1803
My dear Mary Ann
Your Uncle Jonathan Hatfield
& I got to Great Houghton on Sunday last &
left your Grandmother very well & your Aunt
Abbatt in a very feeble state which at her
age it cannot be expected she will recover
from, we are now at M^r Turners whose
family we find well Betsey & Jonathan the two
youngest children we have seen we
have not been here above half an hour
& I am seated to write to you for the depar=
=ture of the first post that you may receive
this letter on Saturday & hear of our welfare
I was much disappointed not hearing from
you at Barnsley where I was yesterday I
blame the post, for I think you & Betsey &
Miss Roberts woud certainly write as I desired
I hope it is not owing to any indisposition
& am anxious to hear from you & trust I shall
when I arrive at Manchester on Sunday evening
[new page]
which we hope & shall endeavour to accomplish
but our horse is much galled by the Harness
not fitting well & the roads being in a very
bad state and makes travelling tedious.
Tis post time and I have only time to
say our friends at Houghton & here send you
love & good wishes & to assure you your Sister
& Brothers of my fondest affection deliver
my love Respects to Miss Roberts & say I
hope to hear from her at my arrival
at Manchester also from you Betsey & James
united farewell my dear daughter farewell
Ever your Affectionate Father
& Friend Tho^s Nicholson