april 17th 1912 ernest tattersall to clara tattersall nee crankshaw
hanley, staffordshire to burnley, lancashire
53 miles
the message
“Dear Clara
I have done rather better today. I have sent £?? to my father to night. I will write you more fully tomorrow and also send PO if possible. Trade is very bad here. The next town don’t know what it will be like. There has been a ???? there 3 week ago. Of course there won’t have been a Comb Stand in.
From Ernest”
the sender
Ernest Tattersall (1875-1952) was born in Newchurch, Lancashire. His parents were George Tattersall (1851-1927) and Sarah Haworth (1852-1943). In the 1901 census George is described as a Smallware Shop Keeper. In 1911 he is a Gentleman’s Outfitter and Hosier. In 1881 he had been a Feet Slipper Maker.
In 1881 Ernest was living with his parents in Newchurch. By 1891 they had moved to Burnley and Ernest was working in his father’s Hosiery and Smallware business. In 1900 Ernest married Clare Crankshaw (1874-1955), the recipient of this card. In 1901 they were living in Rawtenstall and Ernest was working in a Slipper Warehouse. In 1911 they were living at the house in Burnley to which this card was sent. Ernest is now a Smallware Dealer. In the 1939 Register Ernest and Clara are still together in Burnley and he is still dealing in Smallware.
Ernest’s death is recorded in Burnley in 1952.
the recipient
Clara Tattersall nee Crankshaw (1874-1955) was born in Newchurch. Her parents were Richard Crankshaw (1828-1892) and Elizabeth Anne Butterworth (1834-1907). The tree is quite complex because Richard had two children (John Crankshaw (1854-?) and Elizabeth Alice Crankshaw (1856-1917) from a previous marriage to Elizabeth Lord (1836-1868). Elizabeth Anne Butterworth had also been married previously to Henry Taylor (1821-1864) and had two sons John Taylor (1859-?) and Samuel Taylor (1863-?) plus an illegitimate daughter Alice Ann Butterworth (1853-1938) who confusingly married a John William Taylor (1854-1894). Richard Crankshaw was a Cotton Weaver.
In 1881 Clara was living with her parents in Newchurch with her brother Herbert Crankshaw (1871-1891) and half-brother Samuel Taylor. In 1891 they are still in Newchurch but Samuel is no longer with them. Clara is a Cotton Weaver. In 1900 she married Ernest Tattersall and they remained together until his death.
Clara’s death was recorded in Burnley in 1955.
the trees
Tattersall
Crankshaw
the places
Hanley, Staffordshire to Burnley, Lancashire
Hanley, Staffordshire
Burnley, Lancashire showing St Cuthbert Street
what the card says to us
The picture shows a view of the lake in the park in Hanley which is where the card was posted.
According to the Language Of Stamps, Ernest is saying “Accept My Love” (http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/nostalgia/the-language-of-stamps/)
The message appears to be a progress report from a travelling salesman on the road. He seems to be selling, among other things, combs. He has sent some money to his dad, who is probably his employer and he is hoping to convert some money into a Postal Order to send to his wife.
Overall a glimpse of the social history of another time.