Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, F

I am a poor woman trying to make a living sewing as I cannot do any thing else on account of having milk leg can hardly stand on my feet, I have a family of eight children and as long as they were in good health we could get along but now the trouble comes, my little girl seventeen years old so sick with consum[p]tion I cannot sew any more on account of having to take care of her and I cannot get her doctored as I have only twenty five cents in my purse. I am at a loss to know

what to do I am now stoping [sic] with my Brother who has to work hard to suport [sic] his own family So I apeal [sic] to you if you could only help me out I know you have a kind heart for I have read your many charities and even last night when I picked up the paper and seen what you had given to schools, I could not keep from crying to think that my children had no education, and also to think if I only had a five cents to have my little girl doctored, if you doubt my word

write to Dr McClure Seattle Wash he is the gentleman that examined her and wishes to treat her, I would like to see you myself and talk with you and have you look at my little girl she is nothing but skin and bones. I could not believe that she was so thin until I gave her a bath last Saturday & did not sleep all night thinking over it. Will you please answer my letter before Christmas as I cannot remain here any longer I will thank you just as a Mother would who apeals [sic] for her dyeing [sic] child. Mrs. M. Fortier 2474 Western Ave. Seattle Wash.

Seattle Wash Dec 11 1901 Mrs Leland Stanford Dear Madam I am at a loss to know how to begin my letter. I have been wanting to write to you for some time and then again I would say what is the use the Lady does not know me and perhaps she gets letters like this every day.

inform you in all faithfulness and truth [a] correct account of my heartbreaking trouble and all my statements shall be made as in the presence of Almighty God, and I pray you may accept them as truth and in order that you may be able to form something like an accurate idea of what has led up to my present difficulties it will not I hope be troublesome to you if I give details of my history. From childhood I was brought up by my uncle, the late Admiral Edward Chappell, R.N. who had an only child - a daughter and at her father's death naturally inherited the small property he left, whilst he bequeathed to me sufficient furniture for a family sized house which has been very useful though expensive in removal. I received my early education at Winchester and very fortunately, my College expenses had been provided for and after passing terms at Corpus Cambridge I was ordained in 1865 by the late Bishop Consulate of Lichfield, to the curacy of [Alfreton ?], Derbyshire.

where I remained two years. From there I [removed ?] to [ ?] Yorkshire, and upon the vicar's resignation of this [ ?] I undertook the curacy of St Saviour's parish, Bath and whilst [ ?] there in 1874 the small [ ?] of Newchurch [ ?] with the hamlet of [ ?] [ ?] was offered me which I accepted and held close upon seven years and in 1881 the late Lord Selborne, who was then Lord Chancellor, kindly gave me the [ ?] of Penbridge, Dorsetshire, and in 1884 his Lordship, who was still in office, presented me to this post of duty where I hoped my [ ?] position would somewhat improve - the [ ?] however, has been my experience, for every year this emolument, which is solely derived from tithe averages has decreased, whilst the local taxations has annually increased. Soon after my ordination in 1865 a [ ?] aunt - my mother's sister -

left me a legacy of #300 and in 1871 a distant relative a Mr William who was there farming a holding in [Gloucestershire ?] anxious to increase his stock and pay off a small balance he owed for valuation on taking the place & he asked me if I would become responsible for him for #300, as that was nearly my all - I had saved a few pounds only - and fearing the dangers of [ ? ship] I hesitated, but upon his further [earnest ?] [ ?] and desirous, if possible, to do him a kindness I at length yielded and for years I had reason to believe he was prospering in his undertaking. In 1896, however, I was informed he had failed in business, and so it proved, and I had to discharge my responsibility for him, he having kept up the payment of the interest upon the money lent. After his failure he went to West Australia to join a friend and upon his arrival there caught fever from the effects of which he died a fortnight after the attack. In 1874 the decease of my dear father

[written near top of page] Not knowing your correct address I have directed this to the university California, asking it to be forwarded ??

Morningthorpe Rectory Long Stratton Norfolk, England Dec 19th 1901 Mrs Stanford, Dear Madam, It is with much delicacy that I venture to intrude upon your attention and trust you will forgive me for so doing. Some months ago I read of your great generosity and I wondered if I took the liberty to lay before you full particulars of my sore adversity whether you would communicate with and help me. But then came the difficulty - the fact of presenting one's own cause and that of a clegyman in the face of so many instances of deception that came so frequently before one's notice, and my being an entire stranger to you and [ ?] by many hundreds of [wishes ?] - Still, after much deliberation I am bringing my mind to

upon me I had not the means of meeting it and was compelled to borrow the money and that is an extortionate interest and when the time arrived for repayment of the loan I was powerless to do so and obliged to renew the same which meant further ruinous [intent ?] and that went on I regret to say for nearly three years until I became absolutely crushed and there was no other course open to me than to place my unfortunate affairs in the hands of two respectable solicitors of Norwich Messrs Watson & [Ever ?], who, seeing the [ ?] hopelessness of my position advised me to file my petition in the Court of bankruptcy and with an aching heart I did so on the 19th of April 1900 when all my belongings became under the control of the Official

[ ?] in bankruptcy as Trustee and throughout he has treated me with the greatest consideration and kindness. The preliminary meetings were held by the creditors and eventually the O. R. asked the solicitors [ referred ?] to if the debtor had a friend or friends who would privately purchase from him the O.R. the whole of the estate, and just when I was every hour fearing my home would be broken up a parishioner of my late parish, Penbridge, Mr S. T. Barker, now residing at 24 Paragon, Bath, at considerable sacrifice to himself, for he had to mortgage some property to do so, very kindly came forward and privately purchased from the O.R. the whole estate consisting of houses, barn furniture [ ? ?] and other effects for the sum of #302.10.0 for the benefit of my creditors and thus rescuing my home from