| Description | 1. 2 Dec 1716 apologising for not answering his letters but "Beelzebal is often in my head"; refers to a £600 payment to a handmaid by a local man, and the promise of a husband: the whole parish is in a state about it as it was not the husband's "first fault". Refers to her "sweet Talbot".
2. 18 May 1717 addressing Henry Davenport as "my good dear Beelzebub"; wants Henry to tell "my Lady" that she wants to make a complaint about her charge, Sister Ivory, who cannot be trusted out of her sight as she went a few days before to a friend's house for Mary but talked to a man outside the door for a long time. Asks "whether it is not proper to shut her up in Cloysters to tame her a little".
3. Undated, answered 9 Jul 1717 with family news and greetings; gives details of a recent nearby wedding of Sir William Hannam and Mary Norris, daughter of William Norris of Nonsuch.
4. 12 Mar 1718 giving updates on the health of her son John Talbot who has a problem with his teeth and has previously been very ill; wants to see Henry Davenport soon; says that if she does not hear from him soon "I may reasonably think the whole world is fallen out with me" and that her son is a good diversion.
5. Undated letter asking for news of Harry Davenport who has been ill.
6. Undated letter possibly to Mrs Davenport about Harry Davenport who has been ill again; she hopes he will be well soon; updates on her daughter who is also ill and they may send her to Bath hoping she will benefit. Tells of the eviction of Mrs Rolt by Mr Rolt of Spye Park who is in London with Madam Noon: provides much social gossip.
7. Undated letter apologising for not writing sooner; recounts how busy she is with her family and updates that many people in the village are ill.
8. Jul 1717 talking about Henry's wife's illness.
9. May 1718 thanking him for his advice "but I had rather go out of the house then suffer a box on the ear from such a slut, tho' she suckles my babe..."; concerned about the condition of her mother in Bath.
Detailed transcriptions of these letters can be found on the Lacock Unlocked website: www.wshc.eu/lacock |