October 20th 1908 jack to Mary emma morris

Dorrington, Shropshire to ellesmere, Shropshire

26 miles

the message

"Longnor Hall

Many Thanks for letter. I was wondering where you had got to. You had a long holiday and I should think that you enjoyed yourself. Hope all are well.

with love from Jack"

the sender

There are no definite clues as to who Jack was. The 1911 census for Longnor Hall lists a chauffeur called John Richards who could be Jack, but there is nothing to substantiate that idea. Alternatively, there is a romantic possibility that it could be a man called Jack Bates. This is a really far-fetched possibility. See below for the theory.

the recipient

The recipient was Mary Emma Morris (1887-?). Mary was the eldest of four children. Her parents were Arthur Morris (1862-?) and Emma Walker (1857-?). The siblings were Arthur John (1889-?), George Charles (1891-?) and Adelaide Victoria (1897-1986). Arthur was a police officer. In 1908 the family were at the Police Station in Ellesmere having previously been in Wellington in 1901 and Market Drayton in 1891. Mary was born in Market Drayton. By 1911 Arthur had retired and the family were living at a property in Ellesmere called "Cremorne". Mary was an Elementary School teacher as was her brother Arthur John.

What happened to Mary after 1911 is difficult to trace. Mary Morris is a fairly common name and there are a number of deaths and marriages that could apply and there is little evidence to pick the right ones. However, here is a romantic theory with no real evidence to support it. In 1914, a Mary E Morris married James E Clowes (1888-1919) in Wellington, Shropshire. James died in 1919 after they had had a daughter in 1916. Mary Clowes nee Morris married Jack Bates (1889-1975) in Wellington in 1938. Jack's first wife having died in 1936. There is no evidence to prove this story.

the places

Longnor Hall, Dorrington, Shropshire

Ellesmere, Shropshire

Brierly Hill, West Midlands

what the card says to us

The picture on the card shows the interior of the parish church at Brierley Hill. There does not seem to be anything relevant about that church or that location.

The use of Salop in the address is interesting and reveals some of the history of the county. Over time it has flip flopped between Salop and Shropshire.

The text of the message is a bit stilted. How well does Jack know Mary? She was a teacher and is it a long summer school holiday that he is referring to? Is he friend or family?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the card is the mention of Longnor Hall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longnor,_Shropshire

Longnor Hall dates back to 1670. In 1908 it was owned by Henry Cobbett, whose family had originally built the house. In 1907 is was rented by Herbert Rushton Sykes for 10 years at an annual rent of a massive £260. For Jack, the writer of the card, to have been living at the Hall in 1908, he would have to have been a servant as Herbert's children were only small.