july 15th 1909 Agnes lambert nee moore to Margaret jane simpson nee lambert

sedbusk, Yorkshire to Sedgwick, westmorland

33 miles

the message

"Sedbusk

July 15th 1909

Dear Maggie

Jim was going to write yesterday to answer all the important questions but he forgot. they have started hay today and he thought they would be too busy to write. I have to tell you we shall not be off tupping in August if you could manage to get off for the week-end or whenever you can. The photos very good ones.

Love from Agnes

Hoping all are well as all are here. Willie asked him if he had got you to black one side of his face for him when the picture was taken."

the sender

Agnes Lambert nee Moore (1886-1953) was the daughter of Simon Moore (1853-1920) and Ann Tennant (1855-1935). Simon was a stone mason. In 1907 Agnes married James Emery Lambert (1885-1962) the brother of the recipient. James was a shepherd. They had 8 children.

Here is a picture of Agnes and James courtesy of Mary Birkett, their Grand Daughter.

the recipient

For details of Margaret Jane Simpson nee Lambert go to

1908 February 20 Margaret Jane Simpson nee Lambert

Here is a picture of Margaret courtesy of Mary Birkett.

the places

Sedbusk, Yorkshire

Sedgwick, Westmorland (now Cumbria)

what the card says to us

The picture is of the church in Hawes, Yorkshire which was where the card was posted. Sedbusk is nearby.

If only the photographs referred to were available as they might make some of the message more understandable. The Willie mentioned is probably William Moore (1893-1917), Agnes' brother. He was a farmer and was killed in France in WWI. He was 16 at the time when the card was sent.

The Jim referred to is probably Agnes' husband although Agnes did have another brother called Jim Moore (1888-1919). He was a fence and wall builder.

Whichever it was, he had some important questions to answer. It would be great to know what they were.

The word "tupping" refers to sheep breeding and this makes sense as James is a shepherd. Or it could be "supping" which would not really make any sense. However, whichever it is, the message about not doing it in August doesn't really make sense unless you know what is normal.