july 5th 1909 Ellen Hartnall nee andrews to mary ann ellen Mccarthy nee andrews

Paddington, London to Ilford, essex

12 miles

the message

"Dear S

Received quite safe many thanks hope you are quite rested + keeping well with much love

I remain your ??????

EH

If convenient will call on Friday week

the sender

It is a leap of faith to decide that the sender is Ellen Hartnall nee Andrews (1851-1931), the matriarch of the Hartnall family featured in the many cards sent to and kept by Daisy Hartnall (for more details go to

This is a reasonable assumption given the postmark of Paddington and the initials EH and the intention to call.

Ellen was one of seven children born to Joseph Andrews (1826-1893) and Ellen Cannon (1822-?). For more details of the Hartnall family go to this card in the Daisy Hartnall collection

For more about the Andrews family go to this card also received, like this one, by Ellen's elder sister

the recipient

For details of Mary Ann Ellen McCarthy nee Andrews follow the link above to 1906 Mary McCarthy.

the places

Paddington, London

Ilford, Essex

Brathay Bridge, Ambleside, Cumbria

what the card says to us

The picture is of Brathay Bridge, Ambleside which is a beautiful place but does not appear to have anything to do with the message or the family.

The message has some weird elements. There are two "quites" in quick succession. In closing it says "I remain your" which is an odd way to address your sister. And there is a smudged word that might be "sister". And the card looks as if it is addressed to "Dear S". Is it possible that the S refers to Sister? Because Mrs McCarthy does not have an initial of S. Or perhaps it refers to a nickname because the family does seem to like them.

The address is interesting because the 1906 card to the same person was to an address in Mile End Road. And 1906 is the year that Mary was widowed. And in 1908 she sent a card from this address to Daisy Hartnall. This is a card in which she mentions "the girl" going to Southend. See also this card