This year a local historian, Bill Longbone, discovered a cache of letters relating to Richard Haworth, and we now have a fascinating and moving record of his experience.
He was baptised at Holy Trinity, Hull, on 18 January 1781. We next pick him up on 18 February 1805, when he married the 18-year-old Mary Birks. He is described as a merchant. Two daughters were born. It's not clear when Mary died, but Richard was in London, working as a clerk, in 1841, without Mary but with two older children. In 1845 he married Charlotte Fraser in Hull. By 1851 he was in London again with her, described on the census as a "traveller". It's not clear when Charlotte died. Those are the bare facts. But the letters tell us so much more.
All the letters are to Samuel Lightfoot, who was an interesting character. He was born Samuel Scholefield in around 1785 but changed his name to Lightfoot in 1829 and set up a firm of solicitors, Lightfoot and Earnshaw, in Bowlalley Lane, Hull. How his friendship with Richard Haworth came about we don't know; perhaps Richard was a clerk in the firm. All but three of the letters in the cache are from Richard, who addressed him simply as "Lightfoot".
What we believe is the first letter is not dated:
39
Holywell Street, Strand
Dear
Lightfoot
Many
thanks for your friendly & prompt acquiescence in my request
which will be of much service to me; and which is made, I can truly
say, doubly valuable to me by the kind tenor of your letter proving
that your friendship for me is undiminished.
I
regret much that you have been a sufferer by the Railways & have
sustained injury by the misconduct of a Surveyor I employed against
the Great Northern, but who found when too late had acted more for
their interest than for mine, and which had contributed much to place
me in my present situation.
Still
I sincerely hope you will spend the evening of your days surrounded
with every comfort, I must battle for it to the end but with thank
God for my age health & strength, which I truly hope that
yourself and all belonging to you enjoy; after the lapse of a few
years I never like to mention names and content myself with asking
you to present my best wishes to all that know me.
The
only Hull friend I know here is Mr Draper with whom I sometimes dine,
last time we met a few weeks, since he inquired about you.
Hull
and the friends I was intimate with near fifty years since form one
of the brightest spot [sic] in my memory. I oft think of it &
them, and the recollection will only end with my existence.
Repeating
my thanks believe me, Yours very truly, Richd Haworth
Excuse
a few hurried blunders but I was prevented acknowledging yours
yesterday.
Richard has asked Samuel for money, and received it. Both men seem to have suffered losses in a venture to do with the railways. The first dated letter follows another request for money:
9
Hatton Garden
January
10. 1856
I
once more address myself to I fear almost the last of those valued
friends whose society it was my happiness to enjoy during my more
prosperous days, and which is often the source of pleasing
remembrances to me. You have given me more than one proof that you
still entertain a friendly feeling for me and to that though
reluctantly once more venture to appeal.
I
am still engaged were [sic] I have been there last six years, my
business hours are from 9 to 7, 8 & 9 at night, but it being with
a most selfish man {?} my remuneration after the utmost economy
leaves barely a shilling at the end of the week for any extras I may
require. Though in good health for being in my 76th year I this
winter greatly feel the want of a few of some comforts and
necessaries which I have no means of obtaining, to you then Dear
Lightfoot I ask for your kind aid to the extent of about £3, which
would render me a service greater than in a letter I can express, and
as I owe no debts, it will be devoted to what I have stated and oh!
how thankful I should be to you for it and it will be the last time I
shall intrude on your kindness.
My
time in this world must now be short, I shall leave it I trust with
an unstained character, and though I have had to bear many trials and
disappointments I have endeavoured to bear them with firmness and
without a repining spirit grateful to the Almighty for many blessings
he has during a long life bestowed on me, and I shall leave it I
trust with more hope than fear of the future.
It
is a painful thing for an old man to have outlived all the relatives
from whom in time of need he might have hoped for aid; let me then
ask this little help once more; but granted or not, believe me I
shall ever feel grateful for the past and sincerely wishing you long
to enjoy what you so truly deserve.
I
am your obliged friend
R
Haworth
Excuse
many mistakes
Again, Richard needs money, and his description of his situation is touching. Samuel stumped up again but, as the next letter shows, a year later Richard had written cap in hand and Samuel, while sending help, was not very happy:
At
Mr Banks
9
Hatton Garden
Feby
6th 1857
Dear
Lightfoot
I
have to offer you my heartfelt thanks for your letter and the
enclosure you kindly favoured me with and I acknowledge you had just
cause to give me the rebuke that accompanied it; at the same time in
justice to myself I cannot refrain from saying that could I explain
all my situation to you, you might think better of me and though I
deeply felt it I retain the deepest gratitude for your many
kindnesses to me and ever shall.
It
was after several days struggle that I once more resolved to apply to
you rather than incur a debt I might not be able to discharge, having
hitherto kept clear of them.
Since
I wrote to you a cloud has come over the concern I have been for
several years been at, that may lead to it's been [sic] closed and
myself once more thrown on the World; in my seventy-seventh year I
cannot expect anyone to employ me and I have long contemplated the
probability of my having at last to resort to the last resource of
old age and misfortune, and trust I shall meet it firmly.
It
is beyond expression painfull [sic] to have outlived all of those so
dear to you, and all more distant relatives; think better of me I
entreat, than your letter indicates.
I
sincerely thank Mrs L. for her writing her best wishes with yours
towards me, and that you may long enjoy each others society and the
comforts you so amply deserve in the prayer of your truly obliged
R.
Haworth
[on
the reverse] I have felt the cold bitterly, bitterly
Five months later there is another begging letter, and we may begin to sympathise with Samuel:
At
Mr Banks
9
Hatton Garden
July
17, 1857
Dear
Lightfoot
I
addressed you during the summer respecting my thanks for the kind aid
you gave me in the Winter stating the great good it had done me and
that I had then a portion of it left; that however was used sooner
than I hoped at that time by a serious indisposition when it rendered
valuable service; health was restored for some months.
Of
that I cannot at present boast as I am very, very far from well and
bear the cold much worse than last Winter, obliged to wear my
greatcoat all the long day I am at my desk with little prospect of
improvement, as I feel myself very different to last year at this
time; and feel my years coming to a close. I have had many
disappointments, but have had many things to be thankfull [sic] for &
hope to find peace at the last great change.
Your
generous mind I have so experienced that I am truly reluctant to
allude to my situation but I really cannot obtain comforts that I
truly want and have no prospect of doing except I once more am
favored [sic] with a little aid by you. I feel it will be the last
time I shall want it, and I throw myself on your long confirmed
friendship.
Granted
or not believe I shall ever feel grateful and truly so for the part
with sincere wishes for yourself and all dear to you.
Believe
me I state all the above reluctantly and remain
ever
yours Richd Haworth
Excuse
errors as I write this late at night.
There is then a gap in the letters until July 1860, but clearly the correspondence, and the requests for money, had continued:
28
St John's Road
Hoxton
Sept
22, 1860
Dear
Lightfoot
I
have received your doubly welcome letter, I say doubly on account of
its kind tone and its enclosure for which accept my sincere thanks.
I
could not acknowledge its receipt by yesterday, you having in mistake
directed it to St John's Wood instead of Road, the order also being
payable at St John's Wood I shall have to go there for it beyond the
Regents Park.
I
own the fault [....] mine in not properly wording in my letter that
excited your displeasure and rightly so; that letter I shall destroy,
not wishing to keep a memento so painful to me, but your very
friendly one of 21 Decr 59 I shall ever retain as a testimonial of
your kind feeling towards me.
Again
thanking you for your generous enclosure. I repeat it is my firm
resolve not to intrude on you again with one of my periodicals as
you have reason to term my too often requests which I can truly say
have been a source of as much pain to me in making as of annoyance to
you in receiving them for your attention to them I shall be truly
grateful to the end of my existence.
I
shall lose no time in [...]ing as I said, and when I again address
you it will only be to write how I get on; may way of life I shall
adhere to till I can afford better for I am well contented with it.
And
now repeating sincere wishes to you and my kind Mrs Lightfoot
Believe
me ever truly
Yours
obliged
Richd
Haworth
Nearly a year passes, before the next letter, this time from a Mr Henry Ward:
St
Barnabas' Parsonage
King's
Square, London E.C.
July
19, 1861
My
dear Sir,
There
is a very old man for whom I believe you have in days past done
kindnesses who has just returned to Hull; Richd Haworth. I have
ascertained that his life has been in every way correct, but one
after another all earthly sources have failed him.
Before
he left London he appealed to our Yorkshire School Society, but his
was a case entirely away from the objects of the Society.
Before
I could bring his condition before the Committee individually he had
left London: the persons with whom he lived here, and with whom he is
connected by his second marriage, though apparently very respectable,
have failed in business and are quite unable to bear any longer the
pressure of supporting him. He is staying at Collier's Boarding
House No 14 Humber Street.
I
have never seen him, for I was out when he called at my house: but I
have been so far impressed with the worthiness of the case that I
have not hesitated to endeavour to raise a little money for him;
though, should his life be prolonged beyond a few months, I fear
nothing will remain for the poor old man but the Union. They tell me
that his faculties are singularly clear, but I apprehend he may have
difficulty in establishing his claim to parochial relief in Hull
after more than forty years absence from it.
As
he has outlived all who were related to him it occurred to me that
you might not be unwilling to receive so much information respecting
him as I now convey in this note, which I hope will not appear to
make too great a tax on your time or attention.
I
am, yours very truly
Henry
Ward
This fills in some gaps. Richard has returned to Hull, using a small sum raised for him by a charity set up for a different purpose. However, this will soon run out, and Ward has doubts about Richard's eligibility for even the workhouse in Hull, given his long absence from the city. Once again Samuel is being called on to help. A few days later Richard himself writes, feeling the need to apologise:
14
Humber Street
July
26th 1861
Samuel
Lightfoot Esq
Dear
Sir
The
Revd Mr Ward has wrote me he has addressed a letter to you on my
account, this was done unknown to me, but I thank him for it, as I am
sure it was done with the best intention.
You
would I doubt not be surprised at finding I was here with the purpose
of applying for admission into the CharterHouse though you had in
your letter assured me I had no chance of success; if I have
displeased you by writing in opposition to your opinion I deeply
regret it for I have so few friends left that I cannot offend one
[illegible] such an old and kind one as you have repeatedly
proved to me; and I for weeks gave up all idea of coming here.
All
at once an offer was made me of a small sum offered me for the
purpose, the alternative being accepting that, or at once going
into a London Workhouse; the friends I have alone [?] resided
with gave me a sufficient [illegible] for it.
I
could not resist the chance of making another struggle for the
superior place; and since I got here I have given me reason to hope
that my age, weakness and the recommendation I can procure will plead
greatly in my favour, and I have to ask the favour of having one from
you previous to the 1st August, the day the Corporation meet, before
which I must give all my papers in.
I
must in great [illegible] to make my funds last a short time
beyond that date but that I shall gladly practice; for my mind feels
almost [illegible] with the uncertainty I feel with regard to
the future.
Trusting
again for your kindly excuse for acting in opposition to your
opinion, with my best respects to Mrs Lightfoot, believe me ever your
obliged friend
Richd
Haworth
at
Mr Colliers
14
Humber Street
Hull
Forgive
the many mistakes, for my anxiety almost overpowers me.
This is the first mention we have of the Charterhouse, although Richard must have brought up this possibility before, and Samuel he had no chance. It is strange that there is no mention of the several other hospitals in Hull. Now he needs a letter of recommendation from Samuel, and he gets it.
14
Humber Street
Augt
3, 1861
My
dear Sir
I
cannot sufficiently thank you for your very kind note of the 29th
which had a very cheering effect on my spirits, finding you continued
the same kind friend had so long been. Thank you sincerely I must for
your letter to the Mayor giving me character so high, that I fear I
cannot by many degrees merit; it must however weigh much in my favour
and in addition to my age, greatly strength [sic] my claim for
admission to the House; it will also be backed by a very favourable
letter from some of the old & respectable standards that knew me
when residing in Hull.
I
regret your coming so seldom into town precludes my having the
pleasure of seeing you, and with my best respects to Mrs Lightfoot,
believe me
Your
sincerely obliged
Richd
Haworth
14
Humber Street
Sept
17th 1861
My
dear friend
I
have often wished to write you but delayed till I could sent [sic]
you a favourable account of myself which I think I can now do, thanks
to your letter to the Mayor which I doubt not had a good effect.
There
was on the 29th ult a Man's Room in the House to be filled up; I had
twelve votes, being the greatest number except the successful one;
there were 5 [? not clear] below me, none of whom had more than 5,
and from the promises I now have I am told be numbers I am certain to
succeed at the next vacancy, and I think I can safely count on having
a majority, my age having effected much in my favour.
You
will no doubt be glad of the above and more so if a still better
prospect proves true.
My
excellent friends the Revd Mr Ward and his Brother here, who has
acted to me with the greatest kindness, have exerted themselves to
get me into Morden College, Blackheath for which I am eligible, and
with every prospect of success, as the enclosed letter will prove,
having fulfilled all the requirement in it: but I believe it will aid
me much if I send with the papers I have to return in a few days
a certificate from two or three who knew me in Hull, of my
respectability and good character then, and I venture to ask a few
lines of you to that effect; success will place me in a situation of
more than comfort for life; it being £6 a month with apartments,
coals and candles, almost too good to hope for, but I think I have
good reason to hope, at which I am sure you will rejoice.
I
have had much indisposition and as you will think to practice great
economy. I shall have to thank you for another proof of your
friendship by sending me the above, and with best regards to Mrs
Lightfoot and yourself believe me
Your
obliged sevt
Richd
Haworth
Please
return me the enclosed
He didn't get the room, but came close. Now he has decided to apply to Morden College, an attractive almshouse in Blackheath, London (which is still going strong). But he needs another letter from Samuel. It is not, however, necessary. By December Richard has been awarded a room in the Charterhouse. And he needs more money from Samuel:
14
Humber Street
Dec
14th 1861
Saml
Lightfoot Esq
My
dear friend
Although
I came here contrary to your opinion I am sure you will be much
gratified on my informing you that on the 12th I was appointed to
fill a vacancy in the CharterHouse, the third that has occurred since
I came here. For this I am much indebted to three gentlemen, friends
I may truly call them, who by their efforts obtained me a Majority of
33, namely Mr H ward, Alderman Thompson and Mr Councillor Field; I
may add Messrs Lambert who have always aided me with their votes and
interest.
How
I have been able to subsist so much longer than I expected, I owe
greatly to my very old and kind friend Miss Richardson and
another or two, and also to Mr and Mrs Collier with whom I have
continued to reside, who have always treated me with great kindness,
willingly waiting for their money when short, and to whom I now owe a
little.
Furniture
I have to buy for the room, which I have not yet seen, but shall on
Monday; this I must do as cheaply as I can, but to obtain the means I
must once more appeal to your long and generous kindness for aid
having no other resource, with you [sic] assistance I may pass my few
remaining days in peace and comfort, without this I have no such
prospect; my anxiety would be intense, but for the trust I have that
your friendship will not fail me at this critical moment. and for
which my gratitude will only end with life: on the 17th I enter my
82nd year.
I
could explain much relative about the past which would prove to you I
have been much more sinned against than sinning but I refrain, this
letter is long enough already.
With
my best regards to Mrs Lightfoot and yourself, believe me your ever
gratefull [sic]
friend
and obed servt
Richd
Haworth
For the last time (he obviously hoped) Samuel coughed up the money, and the last letter from Richard is one of thanks:
14
Humber Street
Dec
21st 1861
Saml
Lightfoot
Dear
Sir
On
returning from the CharterHouse on Thursday where I had been with my
official appointment, the only day I have been able to go out this
week through indisposition I received your welcome letter with its
generous enclosure, being more so than I expected but which will
render me such a great service, that I cannot sufficiently thank you
for, but which I truly do.
Your
letter pained me deeply on account of the censure it appeared to
passed [sic] on me; I know I have intruded on your kindness very
much; in this instance I did it very reluctantly but I felt I had no
alternative between it and the Workhouse, friends having done so much
for me; and I trust a little time will cause you to think better of
me.
Again
I sincerely express my gratitude to you, and wishing you Mrs L. years
of health and every enjoyment that prosperity can give, believe me
Your
truly obliged
Richd
Haworth
It's hard to believe that the lack of money to furnish his room would have seen Richard condemned to the workhouse. Still, Samuel's relief was to last only a year. Richard's death was to prove expensive:
Decr
17, 1862
My
dear Sir,
Pray
excuse the liberty I take of writing to you on occasion of the death
of one of the inmates of this Hospital, Mr Richard Haworth.
His
few friends are desirous he should be decently buried if the funds
can be raised. Seeing your name among the memoranda [?] left by him
I thought you might not be indisposed to contribute a trifle towards
the funeral expenses which cannot be calculated at less than £3 &
towards which we have raised a little above £2.
Believe
me I remain
Yrs
respectfully
Emily
C. Bromby
Emily was the daughter of the Master of the Charterhouse, John Healey Bromby, who was then 91 years old. Once again, and for the very last time, Samuel Lightfoot obliged, and Emily replied:
18
December 1862
My
dear Mr Lightfoot
I
beg to acknowledge the receipt of 30/- so kindly sent by you towards
the expenses of Mr Haworth's funeral. This will be quite sufficient
to enable us to have him buried very respectably in the Sculcoates
churchyard
burial ground. Six of his Brethren will be his bearers &
four more will follow him to the grave. It is just a year since his
appointment & his patience under weakness & his gratitude
towards all who showed him kindness have been very pleasing to us.
My
dear father is very well but he does not venture out during the cold
weather. He desires his very kind regards & hopes you are in the
enjoyment of good health.
I
perhaps ought to explain why I have taken upon myself to write &
not my father but you will readily understand how glad we are to save
him all trouble and he is glad of our assistance in the management of
the CharterHouse.
Believe
me to remain
Yours
respectfully & obliged
Emily
C. Bromby
The hero of this story is undoubtedly Samuel Lightfoot. He died in 1870, aged 87. As for Richard Haworth, a single line in our register has become a complex and deserving character.
