february 7th 1917 emma workman nee wilkinson to miss workman

unknown to york, yorkshire

unknown miles

the message

"I am just going to the station to meet Lillie. If I post this she will have arrived safe and well.

Love to all

Mother"

the sender

Emma Workman nee Wilkinson (1859-1945) was the daughter of John Bardon Wilkinson (1834-1918) and Harriet Micklethwaite (1840-1907). John was a draper by trade. The card was sent to John Wilkinson's address in York.

In 1883 Emma married John William Workman (1858-1898), also a draper. After her husband's death, Emma continued as a draper herself.

the recipient

There are five possible recipients. John and Emma had five daughters, none of whom married. They were Mary Harriet (1884-1975), Annie (1886-1960), Elsie (1888-1965), Margaret Lillian (1891-1925), and Evelyn Gladys (1893-1986). They also had a son, Sydney Shaw (1887-1887) who died in infancy.

Assuming that the recipient is not Margaret Lillian as she appears to be referred to in the message as Lillie, then it could have been any of the other four. Only Mary Harriet seems to have had a profession, being a music teacher. Evelyn was a first aider in the ARP during WWII. In 1939 all five of the girls were living with their mother in Scarborough, Yorkshire.

the tree

the places

York, Yorkshire

Mark Ash Wood, Hampshire

what the card says to us

At first glance the picture looks as if it is a painting of some giant beeches by an artist called Mark Ash. However, in this case, Mark Ash is a wood in Hampshire that has some giant beeches. Who painted it is a mystery as is the destination and purpose of the man carrying a big stick on his shoulder.

Sadly the postmark is smudged and it is not possible to say where it originated. In 1911 the family were living not far from the destination address.

There is a nice period formality in the way that Emma has addressed her daughter as Miss Workman. The purpose of the card is to reassure Miss Workman that Lillian has arrived safely. I wonder what would have happened to the card if she had not.

That none of the girls ever married may be the consequence of the shortage of available men following WWI.