27th august 1909 unknown to fanny townsend nee goodwin

stafford, staffordshire to stoke on trent, staffordshire

14 miles

the message

“My Dear Cousin F

I was surprised to hear you had moved into another house & i hope you will like it. I shall be pleased to have a letter from you when you get settled to hear how you are getting on.

Please don’t the few pence in as you are quite welcome to what little there was out or I shall feel quite offended.

With best love to Both

TE (?)

I have had a large one like this ?????”

the sender

Although there is a major clue to the identity of the sender, in that they addressed the card to “My Dear Cousin F”, there is nothing else that either narrows it down or indeed confirms the name of an actual cousin. The family is quite big.

the recipient

Fanny Townsend nee Goodwin (1878-1966) was the daughter of William Goodwin (1849-1924) and Elizabeth Shenton (1852-1931). William was a Farm Labourer.

Fanny was a Domestic Servant in 1891. In 1906 she married George Townsend (1881-1962). George was a Groom in 1911 and in 1939 he was a Chopper (Corn Mill).

the tree

the places

Stafford, Staffordshire to Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire

Stafford, Staffordshire

Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire

what the card says to us

The picture is a well known advertisement for Pears Soap (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles_(painting)). It does not appear to relate to the family or the message, apart from the last sentence.

The message is interesting. There seems to be some question about some money. There is surprise about a house move. The tone does not appear friendly without being aggressive. There seems to be an untold story hidden behind this card.

And what does the additional comment about a “large one like this” mean?