january 9th 1916 isabel wrathall to Emily bargh wrathall nee dickenson

Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire to skerton, Lancaster, lancashire

20 miles

the message

"Dear Aunt Emily

Just a card to wish a very happy birthday. Hope you like the card. It is Wills' choice. Hope you are keeping better

With love from your niece

Isabel"

the sender

Isabel Wrathall (1903-1980) was the daughter of Albert Edward Wrathall (1872-1931) and Mary Ellen Lawson (1878-1952). Albert was a butcher in Blackburn. He was also the brother-in-law of the card's recipient.

Isabel was 13 when she sent this card to her aunt. She did not marry until 1949, when she was 46. She married Fred Haydock (1904-1960) and then after he died she married Henry Wild Shorrock (1898-1982) in 1966 at the age of 63. She was still living in Blackburn when she died.

the recipient

Emily Bargh Wrathall nee Dickenson (1851-1923) was the daughter of John Dickenson (1798-?) and Emma Bargh (1805-?). There is some confusion of Emily's maiden name which is sometimes recorded as Dickinson with an "I". John was a farmer.

Emily was a servant in 1871 and in 1878 she married James Wrathall (1850-1931). James was also a farmer.

the places

Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire

Skerton, Lancaster, Lancashire

what the card says to us

By today's standards, the picture on the card is a bit creepy, but this was 1916.

The card is a combined birthday and get well card from a 13 year old girl to her 57 year old aunt. It feels a bit superfluous to address her as aunt and then to sign off as niece.

There is no direct indication as to who Wills is, the person who chose the card, although there are Williams in the extended family. The most likely candidate being Isabel's cousin William Thomas Parker (1893-?), the son of William Parker (1866-?) and Dorothy Wrathall (1866-?), Albert Edward's youngest sister.