February 20th 1908 Charles david Dobson to Margaret jane simpson nee lambert

Kendal, Westmorland to Sedgwick, Westmorland

4.9 miles

the message

"Dear Meg

It is nothing very serious will be starting on Monday. We are expecting you for the weekend all being well. Mother can go out a little now he has been to day. Hope you are keeping alright. Can't go to the dance so must excuse this time

With love

C Dobson"

the sender

Charles David Dobson (1885-1944) was the eldest child of John Dobson (1839-?) and Charlotte Ann Smith (1857-?). John worked on the railway as a signalman. Charles worked at the gunpowder works at Sedgwick. In 1911, 3 years after sending this card, Charles marries the recipient. Below is a picture of Charles and Margaret courtesy of Mary Birkett, Margaret's Great Neice.

the recipient

Margaret Jane Simpson (1880-1944) was born Margaret Jane Lambert. She was the daughter of James Lambert (1851-1929) and Elizabeth Barnes (1855-1914). She was one of 10 children. In 1904 she married Arthur Grisedale Simpson (1881-1905) but he died only a year later. Margaret also worked at the Sedgwick gunpowder works as a gunpowder packer. Details of the works can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Wood_Gunpowder_Works

In 1911, Margaret was living with her parents. Her father also worked at the gunpowder works.

Here is another picture of Margaret courtesy of Mark Birkett.

the places

Kendal

Sedgwick

what the card says to us

The picture is a curiosity. Is it meant to depict the Lake District? Is it a local joke that it is always raining? Why does it say "raining very heavy" and not "raining heaviiy"? Was that the phrasing of the time? Three exclamation marks!!!

You get the feeling that Charles David Dobson is not that comfortable with a pen in his hand. The message is written in a kind of short hand with variable punctuation. The card is obviously a response to another message. Something has happened to Charles' mother. Has she been visited by a doctor?

It is a shame that Charles can't go to the dance. Was he expecting to see his future wife there?

Interesting that Charles has addressed the card to Mrs A Simpson, using her first husband's initial, even though he had died. He is more familiar with "Dear Meg" and "With love". But he has signed it rather formally.