june 25th 1916 agnes moore to wilfred silverwood
moorgart hall, ingleton, yorkshire to leeds, yorkshire
52 miles
the message
"Moorgarth Hall
Ingleton
Dear Little Wilf
How are you getting on. Are you saving up your pennys up to come at August. Tell mother I am sorry I did not send her hat but Ethel was out when I went & she said she would give it to Renny. Hope Lenny got home safe. I have written to your Dad this afternoon. Tell Ellen I will try & write to her tomorrow & I will write to Reggie & mother this week. Glad Baby is getting his teeth he will be able to bite you now
Best love from Aggie xxxxxx
Hope you will like this P.C. It is like major"
the sender
Agnes Moore (1890-1962) was the daughter of William Stephen Moore (1856-1915) and Margaret Woods (1858-1897). William was a railway engine driver. In 1911 William, then a widower, was living with the recipient of this card, being his grandfather. Agnes meanwhile was in service in 1911, working as cook at Moorgarth Hall, from where the card was sent, for Oscar Greenwood (1877-1960), a gentleman living on his own means, and his wife Emily Beatrice Bolling Greenwood nee Padgett nee Tankard (1873-1960).
In 1926 Agnes married Harry Lord (1895-1939), also a servant.
In 1939, Agnes was a Sub Postmistress in Settle, Yorkshire.
the recipient
Wilfred Silverwood (1911-1988) was the son of Herbert Silverwood (1887-1917) and Elizabeth Moore (1889-1967). Herbert was a house painter who was sadly killed in WWI a year after this card was sent. Elizabeth was the elder sister of Agnes, who sent the card. She had married Herbert in 1910. Wilfred was born just before the 1911 census was taken and he is recorded in that census not as Wilfred, but as Clarence. Obviously his parents changed the name before the birth was registered.
Wilfred married Madge Temperton (1920-2000) in 1944.
the places
Moorgarth Hall, Ingleton, Yorkshire
Leeds, Yorkshire
what the card says to us
The picture is three horses. It appears to have been chosen because Agnes thinks one of them looks like Major who is presumably a horse known to Wilfred.
The message is a news update. Although it was written to Wilfred, he was only 5 years old at the time and may not have been able to read. The message was for his mother and the key element appears to be the apology for not sending the hat.
There are other people mentioned in the message.
Mother is Elizabeth, Wilfred's mother and Agnes's sister.
The identity of Ethel is a mystery as is her connection to the hat.
Renny may be Lenny written badly. Lenny was probably Agnes and Elizabeth's younger brother Leonard (1892-1966).
Reggie is Wilfred's half brother, William Reginald Moore (1905-1978). Elizabeth was his mother. The identity of his father is not known.
Baby is Leonard Silverwood (1915-1984).
There is quite a bit of news and family history packed into this one card.