William Marshall Correspondence - Letter 6
William Marshall was the second son of John Marshall and
Sarah Lawrence, born at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in October 1830. The
following letters were kept by his niece, my Great Grandmother Helen Urquhart
(ms Marshall). According to Jessie Urquhart, her daughter, William was a whaler
who returned to the Arctic and married an Eskimo. Auntie Sissie (Sarah
Urquhart) met him on a visit to Peterhead and said that in his hand knitted
vest and long pants, he looked to her like a polar bear. – Ruairidh Greig
There is a transcription of this letter following the images.
Letter 6
Dear Sister
I write you thes few lines to let you know that I am geting
better and soon be out of the hospital dear sister I hope this will find you
and your family all well and John come home with a good voage I received your
letter on the 23 and was happy to hear you was all well I got the half
soveringn all right you mention about my father going to winter in davis
straits in a whaler poor man I wish him suxces and safe back
>[1]
if John is arived let him write and give me the news for I should like to hear
how they all get on there now I have nothing strange to tell you I expect to be
out of the hospital on the 9 of September and I shall go to london I shall
write you from their and give you the derictions wher to write and for I do not
think I will come down to Peterhead this time for the winter is coming on and I
do not want to be in Peterhead the whole winter for I know it to well for that
give my respects to your mother and sister and all inquiring friends write tell
me how my mother and brother and sister gets on and if you se her tell her I am
getting better thank god for it write to hospital
No More at present but
Reaimans your loveing
William Marshall
[1]<
His Father, John Marshall had previous experience over-wintering in
the Arctic as Mate with the Lady Franklin, in the Franklin
Rescue Expedition of 1850/1851.
