february 1908 nellie deborah benney nee noble to jessie blanche noble

ipswich, suffolk to kensington, london

69.5 miles

the message

“Dear J

I hope this will find you quite well. Albert started again last Wed. I hope he will be in longer this time. Are you going to buy Fred a Birthday present? He was down last evening. I ask him what he would like. He said a penknife or a pipe. I thought you would like to get the other ?????

love from

XX N XX”

the sender

Nellie Deborah Benney nee Noble (1878-1971) was the daughter of Henry Noble (1845-1902) and Mary Elizabeth Durrant (1845-1884). Henry was a harness maker. Nellie was one of six children. Two of them (Jessie and Fred) are mentioned in this postcard.

In 1901, Nellie was looking after her widowed father. In 1911, now married, Nellie is listed as a confectioner.

In 1905 Nellie married Albert Edward Benney (1877-1958). Albert, also mentioned in the message, was a carpenter born in Cornwall. His parents were John Rouse Benney (1845-1931 and Maria Ann Friggens (1851-1935). John worked for the Post Office on telegraphy.

the recipient

Jessie Blanche Noble (1875-1938) was the sister of Nellie Deborah. In both 1901 and 1911 she was working as a domestic servant for a spinster named Evelyn M Nicholl who lived on her own means in Kensington. Jessie did not marry. She had returned to Ipswich before she died.

the tree

the places

Ipswich to Kensington

Ipswich, Suffolk

Kensington, London

Liverpool, Lancashire

what the card says to us

The picture is a rather gloomy view of Lime Street in Liverpool. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_Street,_Liverpool) It does not appear to have any connection to the family or the message.

Jessie Noble is living away from home in London. This is a card from her sister, back in Ipswich, which is keeping her in touch with the goings on in the family. Nellie’s husband of 3 years has started again. Is this a new job? Has he had trouble finding or holding down jobs as a carpenter in 1908 Ipswich. Jessie and Nellie’s brother Frederick Henry Noble (1871-1943) has a birthday coming up (February 21st) and he would like a penknife or a pipe. There is a final comment on this subject which unfortunately cannot be read. Later that year Frederick would marry Alice Mason (1871-1945). Frederick worked as an Engineering Clerk. Alice was an upholstress.

The family seems very close.