october 16th 1905 arthur james williams to louisa emily williams

dartford, kent to ightham, kent

17 miles

the message

“16/10/05

Arrived safe 10-30. Dry. Don’t forhget to let me have a line end of week

Arthur”

the sender

Arthur James Williams (1880-1947) was the eldest child of James Williams (1841-1926) and Ellen Spencer (1849-1934). James was a grocer and fruit grower.

Arthur followed his father into the grocery business. In 1908 Arthur married Ellen Eliza Caselton (1882-1959).

the recipient

Louisa Emily Williams (1883-1969) was the younger sister of Arthur James Williams. In 1910 she married George Austin Anquetil (1879-1972). George was a nurseryman by trade.

the tree

the places

Dartford, Kent

Ightham, Kent

Worthing, Sussex

what the card says to us

The picture shows the beach at Worthing and appears to have no connection to the message.

The sender, Arthur Williams, is a man of few words. He sums up the weather in one word, “dry”. The message tells his younger sister that he has arrived in Dartford. We don’t know why he has gone there. He wants he to write to him. Presumably she knows the address.

From the professions of the men in the tree, it would appear that the Williams family were closely wedded to horticulture being fruit growers, grocers and nursery men.