Descendants of Mary Ann Carver

 

Generation No. 1

1. MARY ANN4 CARVER (JOHN3, THOMAS2, THOMAS1) was born 1785 in St Matthew, Ipswich. She met (1) WILLIAM BLYTHE. She met (2) JOHN FLAXMAN. She met (3) A. N OTHER.

Notes for MARY ANN CARVER:

John's mother wrote him a letter in 1851 that is still in existence. The script is not in Mary's hand, as the writing in the letter is very much different. She probably took it to someone to have it addressed.

Norwich, May 3 1851

My Dear John

I am very much surprised and feel much regret at not having heard from you since I last wrote over more than six months. I hope illness have not prevented your writing and that you will write without delay after receiving this as I am very anxious to know of your well being. I have had but very little employment the last 12 months which has of course reduced my finances and if it is in your power to len me any assistance it will prove most acceptable. Thank God my health is good and I hope yours is also your wife and children - remember me kindly to them all I do not forget them but often remember you all. do my dear John write directly reember your anxious mother in England - think of her alone in the world relatives nearly all gone and those who do exist take not the slightest notice of me. I shall anxiously await the reply to this - do write directly address me

Mrs Carver

B. Smith's Chemist

Market Place

Norwich

England

if it is left there I shall have it directly - do write and send your poor mother some help - if not God alone knows what the result will be

Mary was in dire straits indeed. She was at least in her early fifties. The (above) letter was written during a period of depression following a potato famine and minor plague in Britain. The 1840's was the period when most of the pioneer families left Britain and arrived in Glanford.

This poignant letter reflects the heartache, hardship and loneliness that was experienced, not only by the people that emigrated but also of those who stayed behind. The voyage across the ocean took a minimum of six weeks. It might have taken an equal amount of time to reach Glanford from an ocean port. This, and the lack of money, made it improbable, if not impossible, for families split by immigration to ver meet again. However, there was contact by mail between John and his mother, because John stayed in Canada and his mother knew about his wife and children.

Address on evelope

Mr. John Carver Postmarked

Farmer

Glalnford Norwich September 5 1853

Near Hamlington and

Upper Canada

North America Post marked Glanford 26 Sept 53

Contents of letter England

Norwich, Sept, 1853

My dear son

I feel much very much surprised at not receiving a reply to my last two letters, hope you will let me hear from you as soon as this note is received - I hope you and your family are all quite well - I wish I could tell you I was, my health is very poor - and have but little employment which want to both combined renders me far from being happy - I do hope my dear son if it lies in our power, that you will send your distressed mother something, could I do without further help

Page 2

I would not ask it of you - your brother William is prospering fast but does not notice me in any way. Your brother James is living in Beccle [s] , and would do something for me but has not the means - I have not here a living creature that can help me - do send me assisstance as soon as you receive this - I shall be anxious till lI hear from you

Page 3

give my kind love to your wife and dear children I believe me to be still

Your affecte Mother

Mary Carver

September 5 - 53

direct to me as under Mrs. Mary Carver

Mr.R. B. Smith Chemist

Market Place Norwich England

from copy typed by Harvey

[Mentions brother James doesn't have the means at Beccles]

[Mentions brother William prosperous]

LETTER 2:

Written about 1854

To Mr. John Carver Glanford

Nr Hamilton Gore District

Upper Canada N. America

My dear Son

I am much perplexed & distressed at not hearing from you after having written three times and rec-d no answer Your last letter to me is dated June 1 1850-now nearly four years - I must think you could not have rec-d them or you would not have treated me so -

Do write directly you receive this I am so anxious to hear from you as I now stand in need of yrl pecuniary aid. I can truly say that I have not enough to provide even for the common neccassaries [neccessities] of life, every thing here now is dear alike, never before knew price so high.

I am pretty well in health & spirits would be better if circumstances were brighter, I hope I do not plead with you in vain - dont let yr. poor Mother suffer whilst a son lives that can help. With kind love to yr. dear Wife & little ones & earnestly hoping as soon as possible to hear from you I remain your affectionate but almost destitute

Mother

Mary Carver

address to: MR. R.B. Smith Chemist

Market Place Norwich Norfolk England

for Mrs. Carver

copy from original type by Harvey

LETTER 3:

Norwich May 7, 1855

My dear John

I am much surprised at your long silence, and should not again trouble you, did I not really stand in need of your assistance, provisions and every thing here is very high in price and I can assure I cannot oftentimes obtain the bare neccessaries of life, if you can and will assisst me I shall be very glad and truly grateful, do write to me as soon as you receive this, and I will write in return directly - -I hope you will not turn a deaf ear to these entreaties but reply at once. Give my kind love to your wife, and all the dear children, and believe me to remain with much affection altho much distressed.

Mother

Mary Carver

address my next letter to

Mr. R.B. Smith

Chemist

Market Place Norwich

For Mrs. Mary Carver

Norwich May 7 1855

from copy of original typed by Harvey

LETTER 4:

Norwich Oct. 22. 1855

My dear Son John

I am very much surprised at not having rec_d answers to my several letters, I must think you cannot have received them or you would not allow me to remain in my present distressed condition, which I assure you is very great. do do reply to this letter as soon as you receive this one.

I know not what I shall do, I had to borrow money to pay for this letter so you may judge my distress- when I receive your answer I will write more. I hope you & your children are quite well & happy Write very soon

very affectionate

Mother

Mary Carver

January 29th 56

Norwich

address Mrs Carver Opposite Orchard Garden Heighmam

Some time have elapsed since this was written, but I really have not had money enough to spare to pay for it and it is I can assure you hard work to spare money now_pray send me some as soon as you can or I know not what I shall do_work is very scarce in Norwich_again hoping you are all well and happy with kind love to you & to your dear Wife and children Yours very affecte

Mother Mary Carver

May 30. 1856

from copy of original typed by Harvey

 

Child of MARY CARVER and WILLIAM BLYTHE is:

i. WILLIAM5 CARVER, b. June 11, 1809.

Notes for WILLIAM CARVER:

According to Harvey Carver, William went to Whitechapel, changed his name to Carwood and became a successful engineer.

William was a bastard. Hos father was William Blythe, a farmer of Little Plumstead.

Child of MARY CARVER and JOHN FLAXMAN is:

ii. JOHN5 CARVER, b. March 21, 1816, Blofield, Norfolk, England; d. May 15, 1879, Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada; m. HARRIET SMUCK/SMOKE, February 18, 1847, Canada; b. May 31, 1827; d. February 6, 1900.

Notes for JOHN CARVER:

Carver, by Edith Jerome, Dorothy Mosgrove, Dr Sam Shwaluk

John Carver was the son of Mary Jane Carver, in the parish of Blofied, County Norfolk, England. John bought a small part of Lot 11. Con. 5 near the corner of Miles and Airport Road in 1843 at the age of 27. Four years later he married Harriet Smuck and together they raised 13 children. This was not quite a Glanford record as Jacob Smith, the firts settler, had 14 children, but they were not all born in Glanford.

John died on May 15 1879 at age 63. Harriet died around 1900 and both are buried in St. paul's cemetary.

See notes of Mary Carver writing to John for money....

John would have been 35 when he received this letter (1851). He had a small family of two boys and a a daughter born 1851, who died in infancy. We don't know if she died before recipt of this letter but John and Harriet might have been suffering the loss of this child at the time. It was six years previously that John had acquired a small piece of land, land that probably had not been developed when he bought it. It would take a great amount of work before it produced any amount of revenue. John was probably struggling with his problems in the " land of milk and honey". It is doubtful that John was in any position to give assistance to his mother.

.

Children of MARY CARVER and A. OTHER are:

iii. JAMES5 CARVER, b. Abt. 1821, Norwich, Norfolk; m. ELIZA, September 8, 1842, St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth; b. 1817, Aldgate, London.

Notes for JAMES CARVER:

Entered as Calver in 1851 census for Suffolk

Notes for ELIZA:

Entered as Calver in 1851 census for Suffolk

 

iv. MARY ANN CARVER.