July 6th 1905 mary to Charles Edward casson

ambleside, cumbria to Coniston, cumbria

7.7 miles

the message

"Mary holidays begins tomorrow she said she was coming to Coniston. we have not got our hay in yet but hope to do so tomorrow

love from

Mary"

the sender

There are too many Marys linked to this card. The recipient's mother is Mary. He has a sister called Mary. He has a nice called Mary. His niece, Mary Jane Knipe (1900-1984) is only 5 at the time the card was sent and so it won't be her. He lives with his mother, Mary Casson nee Shepherd (1854-1928), and so it is unlikely to be her. It might be his sister, Mary Margaret Knipe nee Casson (1877-1927) but the handwriting on another card from her in 1906 looks completely different and so it probably isn't her. Follow this link to see the other card.

The indications are that this card was sent by another unidentified Mary.

the recipient

Charles Edward Casson (1889-1948) was the son of John Ullock Casson (1846-1920) and Mary Shepherd (1854-1928) about which more can be found by following the link above. Charles, like his father, worked in the slate quarry. In 1914 he married Sarah Postlethwaite about whom no other information can be found. In the probate record of his death in 1948, it refers to him as being of the Commercial Inn, Kirkby-in-Furness.

the places

Ambleside, Cumbria

Coniston, Cumbria

what the card says to us

The picture shows three women and a man crossing a river using some stepping stones and a log when there is a perfectly good wooden bridge in the background. Is this an adventure? Written in red ink in the bottom right hand corner are some words that appear to say "... Jim". Unfortunately time has faded the text and it cannot be read. Perhaps it would have given a clue as to what is going on.

The card appears to have two postmarks on it. One for Ambleside and one for Hawkshead. Ambleside is the bigger town. Perhaps it was posted in Hawkshead and processed in Ambleside.

As has been mentioned, there are too many Marys. One is having a holiday. One is getting some hay in. So many questions.