Emma Briant's Letters From Australia

Bones in the Belfry home page

 Introductory Comments.

    We were recently contacted bu Michael Charter from England. He had found a bundle of letters written by the Briants from Ballarat over the period of 1854 to 1872, to Emma's mother and sister who stayed behind in England. Some research on both ends established that they must have been handed down via Emma's sister Mary Ann, who married Arthur Charter. Arthur and Mary Ann are Michael's Great Grandparents.
    Emma's spelling in general has been retained. A few changes have been made for readability The single character a seems to often be capitalised. These have been done as lower case where appropriate, as have other unusually capitalised words. Punctuation been added. Years have been added to dates when not given. Letter text is in Italics. Explanatory comments are added in red.
Note when viewing images you will need to exit with the back option to return to this page

Prologue

Emma was born in 1827 in Arrington, Cambridgeshire.
In 1851 Emma is working in nearby Ashwell as a house servant to Abraham Hail (54) farmer of  200 acres and employer of 9 labourers, and his wife Jane(aged 73)
George Briant was born in Ashwell 1n 1824
In 1851 he was living at home, and described as a Carpenter/journeyman
George and Emma married in November 1851 in Ashwell.
They were preceded to Australia by Emma's younger brother David, who left for Australia in early 1853 with his wife Ann and two children.
The two children died on the voyage, and David died of fever in Ballarat four days after Emma sailed. You would think Emma would have known about the deaths of the children.
George, Emma and George (Jnr, born 15 Sep 1852) left Southampton on 25/4/1854 on "Marshall Bennett", arrived Geelong 11/8/1854. They came out on an assisted passage (Victorian Records, spelling Bryant).

See also Postscript at the end of this document
Emma and George have their own page  which can be found via the home page link above. This also links to Gwen Smalley's book about them in Australia

The Letters

Aprial 25 1854    Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image    Page 3 Image

Dear mother Monday we saled on water 2 or 3 miles and stoped all night and we are to sale this afternoon Till we see land again I hope we shall land quite safe and I will be sure to take every opertunity to rite to you. If I cannot rite a going a long I will as soon as I can. Dear mother and Father sister and brother I ham happy to tell you that I ham not afraid of the water. We have a nice ship and a nice burth and our Captain is a teatoller. Poor Mr Carter is got a Fit and he had 3 monday. We have pickles potatoes biskets sugar tea butter pork beef coffee we have all this things so much aloud us a week. Peas suet flower raisins perserve bread and perserve milk eggs for Children only. We are about to set sale so I must say good by and may the lord bless you all Baby is quite and so are we and belive me to remain your sincere and affectionate dauter E Bryant
george and myself unites in kind to you all
ship Marshall Bennett
I can tell you that we have plenty to eat but I have bort 9 pound more of biskets and 2 small bottles of brandy. Pleas to let none see this letter as it is rote so bad. I think we shunt take no hurt.


May 21 1854    Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image

Dear mother I rite to let you know that we are all quite well at this time we have had a good voige at present present and a quick one. We have plenty to eat and that that what is good baby has 3 eggs A week and milk every day we can bake twiace a day any thing we like but if you come be sure to bring a chees. We have plenty of plums suet flower pickles and koock our oun. We have nice cakes for tea every day. We some times make our cakes lite with potaters. The ship is in view and I cannot say any more only bring with you carp oniated soder. We are now a crossing the line and we are very warm. Baby is quite well but he is wasted wasted very much so good. I still remain your sincere dauter E Briant
They say we shall get there in 3 months if we go on as we have done

July 16 1855     Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image 

Dear mother and Father Friends and relations I write these few lines to you all hopeing to find you all quite well as it leaves us at present. George and myself have been very ill for a long time. I give up all hopes of my ever getting better but thanks be to God I ham restored to health and strength againe. I never was so well in my life and I never was so strong. Baby is a great fat boy* and he is quite well. Little George is quite well and I ham sure he would make you laugh if you was to see his actions and to hear him talk. I do think it very unkind of you for not riteing to to me. I have never had a letter from you yet an this makes 6 I have rote to you. I have seen William Smith. Him and is Wife come to tea with us one Sunday and he told me the news of Arrington. He told me about jim beannes shooting himself. I thought you would send a letter by him. I have been up to the depot several times to see if you was landed. I hope you will rite to let me no when you are a coming so as I can come and meet you. But without jocking send me word wether you are thinking about comeing or not. If you think about comeing, come now for I wish you was hear. The times are very bad just now through so many comeing. It makes wagers low George is getting 14 shillings a day now. We think the times will be better soon but we can live very well with 14 shillings a day. Very well and save money if George cane but keep in work. I like the country very well. I should like better if you was hear for I seem to have no other friend but you. I think George is a going to the digings when he has done is work. In a week or so he expects to be done and then I shall be left a lone. I must tell you that George is a teatoller. Pleas to give my love to granmother if she is liveing and all othere friends and kiss Mary Ann for me, and tell her I hope she will be a good girl to you, and I hope Abraham is a good boy. I have been very anxyous about you till I see William Smith and then I felt better. I hope you will send me a letter as soon as you get this to say wether you will come or not, for it you do not come we shall send the childrens likeness over, but if you come that will save us that expence now. Do not forget to rite dear mother and Father sister and brother. Though we be far from each other the lord is near to us and dear to us, and if you and I put our trust in him he has promised he will never leave us nor forsake us. So if we meet no more on earth may we meet in heaven there to be for ever happy with the lord that will be joyful and now I must say good by for I have no more news to tell you this time and believe me to remaine your sincear and Affectionate dauter Emma Briant Ashby? Geelong
Pleas to direct George P Briant Geelong Australia to be left at the Post Office till called for
Be sure and direct your letter as I have told you put George P Briant
* James David Briant born 26 August 1854 Geelong


April 8 1860 Ballarat     Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image     Bill Head Image

Dear Mother and Father Sister and Brother. I hope this letter will find you all quite well as it leaves us all at present, and I hope you will forgive me for not riting so long for I do not enjoy good helth an my little family seems to be to much for me to do for but this last 2 months. I have had a Servant now I have got a little more time, but I can asure you ever since we have been in busness I have not had time to keep my things in order, for I have got another little girl Victoria Emma.* She is twelve months old the 9 day of August and I do intend for the further to rite every 2 or 3 months. That is if I get any letters. The reason why I have been so long this time not riteing is because I thought I would send all our likenesses, but the money is wanting in the busness at present. We have got a nice home and a good busness and we are doing well and I begin to feel settled now I do not think much about comeing home for I think we can do better for our family hear. Mr Lovitt and Briant bought the bakering busyness of (Mason?) 12 months ago. We keep one man to bake. We bake from 13 to 14 hundred quarter loaves every week. Lovitt and Briant drives out the bread. We have bought 2 alotments of ground in one street. We have a shop and dwelling house on one alotment there Mr and Mrs Lovitt lives We have a post office at our shop so we shall be sure to get your letters if you send them the other alotment we live on, were we have the stable cart shead oven and Bakehouse. We keep 2 horses and 2 spring carts. We live only 3 doors of each other. I have a 4 roomed house to live in and can go out for a ride when I like. Mr Lovitt is a verry steady man and a baker by trade, and they agree very well. James and George are getting great boys now and Emily** is a little chatter box. She is like a little old woman. The boys have been out to a picnick with the school children. Next time little George will rite you a letter. I have no more news to tell you this time so I must say good by and though we be so far apart now may our souls soon be closely united together in the relms of everlasting bliss where we shalt meet to part no more but be for ever happy with the lord
Myself and husband unites in kind love to you all and I still remain your sincere and affectionate Dauter E Briant. Pleas to rite as soon as you can. I have sent you one of our bill heads
*Julia Victoria Emma Briant born 9 August 1859 Ballarat
** Emily Ann Briant born 3 December 1857 Ballarat

September 24 1860 Ballarat      Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image      

Dear Mother and Father and Sister, I received your well come letter and am verry sorry to hear of my brothers death.* When I hear of it I couldnt tell you how much I felt for you. It seems wonderfull to me when I think of it, how you have lived to get through the troubles you have had. I feel very anxious to no how my brother died; wether he die happy, and what he said before he died, and wether granmother** died happy. You did not mention any thing about their souls, and you no that is of the greatest importance to me, for if they are gorn to rest do not fret, for you no they are only gorn a little wile before us. Oh may we prepare to meet death, for we no not the hour when it cometh. I am sorry to hear of Mary Ann ill health, and I cannot think how it is that she dose not rite to me. I hope you are giving her good schooling, and I hope she will be a good girl to you both, for I feel that I could not do enough for you if I was with you now. I must tell you we have had a garden planted with almost every thing in it that is usefull. We had a gardner to plant it and it is nicely laid out, that is on the ground were the shop is and the Bakery were we live The yard is full of poltery. We have 5 geese and soon expect to have young ones, 3 turkes and one of them sitting; forty fowels and some of them sitting, and a quantity of tame Pigons. We get from 50 to 80 eggs a week. When eggs are scarce they are 3 or 4 shillings a dozen Now they are 2 shillings a dozen. I have told you about my family out doors, now I must tell you about my family in doors. George and James are great boys, and they go to school. Emily is growing a great girl now. She can say any thing. She dose make us laugh to hear her talk, and Victoria is a funny little thing. She can walk up and down by the sofa and chairs, but cannot go alone yet. I have weaned her a week ago. The Children were pleased with the cards you sent them. Mr Lovitt’s been to a land sail today that was to be sold round about us, but it went up so high that he could not buy. Our allotments are valueable now for we are in Front of the Railway Termenus.*** We are very fortunate. I think I have told all the news so far. As you see we are very comfortable indeed. I wish every one was as well off. Give my love to all my Nabours? and friends. You tell me you always keep my Birthday. That is more than I do, but I always think of home that day more than any other day in the year. Pleas to give my love to Neabour Haridine**** and I hope she is quite well for she is been a good Neabour to us. If any thing was the mater it was go for Neighbour Haridine. I must tell you that we are all quite well at present and I must conclude by saying good by. My husband unites in his love to all, and believe me to remain your sincere and affectionate child
 Emma Briant Austrila
 Pleas to ritens soon as you get this letter and send a letter full of news
 I forgot to tell you. I do not know any thing about Smith. I have not heard of him this 4 years Pleas to keep this adress for it is the proper one
 Mr Geo Briant    Hope Bakery     Soldiers Hill       Ballarat Australia
* James Pateman died 22 Feb 1959 Arrington, Cambridgeshire. (He was Emma’s last surviving brother)
(Other brothers Abraham Pateman died 1858 Arrington; David Pateman died 1854 Ballarat; Jesse Pateman died 1847, Arrington)
** Grandmother Ann Jacklin died 1858 Caxton
*** Ballarat Historic Timeline “1862 Apr 11 First train from Geelong”
**** Most likely candidate is the Harradine family (John and Mary) showing up three doors away in the 1861 Census. See Previous Page Image and David and Mary's Page Image
        Mary was Mary Collins, but Harradines are also related to the Patemans by marriage (Samuel Pateman, Emma’s uncle married Mary Harradine)


Feb 21 1861 Ballarat      Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image      Page 3 image     Page 4 Image

Dear Mother + Father and Sister I received your kind and affectionate letter with the little book and Mary Ann name and do feal much obliged to you for them. At the same time verry glad to hear you are all so well. I have no news to tell you this time, only we are all quite well and we have lost verry near all our Fowls with some bad decease and I cannot tell you how much we miss the Eggs, but we shall soon have some more, I hope. We have six ducks and 3 geese 2 pigs and a quantitiy of Pigens Flying about the yard. Dear sister you said father often wonders wehter George is still a TeaToller. He is still a stanch TeaToller
Myself I do take a glass of ale now and then but no one in the house takes any thing but myself and that is not much now. I must changes the subject pleas to give my love to Aunt Charlott* and all my neighbours and enquiring friends and tell them how much I should like to see them all. I often think I would like to see you all again. I can almost see you and my sister in the garden, but after all it is only a picture in my own mind. You must excuse this short letter as this is Thursday and I have 2 pare of trowses to make for my little boys between this and Sunday, and I have no servant at present. so you may think I have plenty to do. I wish you could help me. Now I must say good by and may the Lord bless you all. George and myself unites in kind love to you all and believe me to remain your sincer and Affectionate dauter
E Briant Ballarat
Mr Geo Briant       Hope Bakery       Soldiers Hill      Ballarat
I hope you will give Mary Ann a good Education. Her ritting is not so good as I should like to see
Dear sister I have sent you a little gold, all that I have got forr I have sold thirty shillings worth, an pleas to rite and tell me if you get it all (safen?) Good buy E Briant Ballarat
* Charlotte Goats (nee Moule) Arrington


April 21 1861 Ballarat    Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image

Dear Mother and Father and Sister,
I received your nice letter with the (lard of Georg – ham-) and I am happy to hear you are all quite well at the same time –sorry to hear of the seavear Winter you have had.* I think if I had a been their I Should have been ...... up with the cold for now I can stand the heat better than the cold. I ham happy to (say?) we are all quite well at present. I have no news to tell you this time, only we are doing very well in our buisness. We have bought 50 Fifty Tons of Flour for the winter at 19 Pounds per ton and we have got a tin van making (cciD?). We have bought a paire of young horses to drive in the van. They are bracking in the horses. Now we have 4 horses but we think of selling one. I think the (van?) and harness for horses cost Eighty Pounds. I do not no what the horses will cost us exactly, but I know it will be a nice turn out
I hope you got the letter that I sent the little gold in. Pleas to answer every letter I send you. I rite every 2 months. I hope you will do the same if it is only a line (hole in paper) to give my love to Aunt Charlott an (hole in paper) enquiring friends and neighbours and tell them how much I should like to see you and them all again, but I think I never shall in this world but I hope we shall meet in a better world above so I must say good buy. Pleas to give my love to Father and tell him I should like to see him again. Dear sister I hope you will be kind and affectionate to your dear Mother and Father. I cannot do anything for them myself. I wish I could but you must do for (Ma?). I hope you do not let Mother work at all for she has done enough. I have no more to say this time, so good buy. My husband and myself unites in kind love to you all and believe me to remaine Your Sincear and Affectionate daughter E Briant Ballarat
*On reading comment that last years weather was the worst since 1860, Merrill Googled it, and found a report in The Times. There is other good stuff - have a look
  

June 26 1861    Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image

Dear Mother and Father I write these few lines to you hopeing they will find you all quite well, as we are all well at this time except Emily. She been verry ill this six weeks. At first she had a gathering under her chin.* As she was getting better of that she fell down on a hot bar of Iron and burnt her leg, and before that got well, she fell sick with the measles and that made her leg worse. She is getting quite well now and can walk about. James and Victoria has had the measles to and they are quite well. I hope you will excus this short letter as I have no news to tell you this time
only I have got no letter this mail. Pleas to rite and tell me whether you got the letter I sent you with the little gold in. I must tell you that out buisness is about the same. I cannot say any more to day as my time is short so good by and believe me to remain you sincear and affectionate daughter
E Briant    Ballarat
George and myself unites in Kind love to all Enquireing Friends
I am happy to tell you I have got my old servant back again
* a friend knowledgeable in medical history says this is an old term for a soft tissue swelling, usually an abscess

September 24 1861     Page 1 Image    Page 2 Image     Page 3 image      Image of Van
Number one
Dear Mother and Father Sister. I received your letters and I am glad to hear that you got the little gold I sent you, and I will send you a peace more someday to make enough for a ring. I have not rote this last three months for I have been confined with another daughter* on the 21 of July. I had a good doctor and a good nurse and I have got quite Strong again. Dear Friends I have sent you the likeness of our van but it is not a good one for they had the cart horse in it the morning it was takeing, and you see he is (too tired?) to look well, but at that time the 2 young ones to (uther?) were to (Frisk?) and would not stand still. The gentleman that took it is .... going to send it to the exhibition as it is the grandest turnout of any baker known in the colonly. I have no news to tell you this time – only we are all quite well and baby is a fine child. We expect anlot of gosslens and ducks and Chickings this week.  I will tell you all about them nexst time and I will send a list of the childrens names next time - our buisness is better and we are doing well. You must excuse this short letter as my girl is  going home for a weeks holoday,  She is a good girl to me. She (dode snt?) let me do much. She is strong and willing. I pay her ... seven shillings a week. So I must conclude by saying good by and may the lord bless you all please to give my love to all friends and neighbour Harradine. I am glad to hear you keep my birthday and I hope you will live to keep it for many years to come, Mr Briant and myself unites in kind love to you all and believe me to remain your sincere and affectionate daughter
Emma Briant      Ballarat
I have numbered this letter and plese to send the number of this letter back that I may no if you get all my letters. This is number one, the next will be number two, and so on. Good by good by
* Louisa Jane Born 21 Jul 1861 Ballarat

October 24th (1862 from Emma’s letter numbering)    Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image     Page 3 Image      Page 4 Image
Number five
This letter was the most difficult to read. Thanks to Fred Mitchell for enhancing images for us
Dear Mother & Father and Sister I write these few lines to you hopeing to find you all well as it leaves us at present except Mr Briant. He is very poorly. He was out one evening with the young horse and it took fright and over threw them. One of the men was with him at the time. The man escaped unhurt but Mr Briant got a seaver blacking, but I am thankful he is getting better now. I must tell you we have got the buisness to ourselves now: Lovitt is going to take a grocers shop. We are to give him five hundred and fifty pounds. All together we have got to to pay eight hundred and fifty pounds. I tell you this that you may form some idear what our business is worth. We have got 4 horses we keep 2 bakers and a man to do the horses and fetch in wood the head baker we give 3 10 a week, the other 1 10 and board and the man that dose the horses 1 00 and board. That is six pounds a week for wages besides the servants. We have let the shop for a pound a week now I must change the subject. I received your letter with no number on it please to send me the number you have had from me. I have no more news to tell you this time. I hope Mary Ann is not in service but I hope she is getting a good education
I must tell you I have got 12 goslings and three gees and I do not no how many hens ducks and pigens but this I know they are all my own. Baby* is such a dear little thing she begins to talk so pretty. Emily is  quite a great girl and George and James are great boys and full of fun. Now I must say good by giveing up all hopes of ever seeing any of you again but I hope we shall all meet in that ....... home ware we shall part no more. Do not forget to notic the numbers of the letters and believe us we remain your affection son and daughter G+E Briant
I have received ........ three letters from you since I numbered them.
* Louisa
No mention of Victoria, who died 19 April 1862 from Scarlatina (or Scarlet Fever)

April 24 1863     Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image     Emma and George Photograph
Letter Number Seven
Dear Mother & Father and sister I write these few lines to you hopeing to find you all quite well, as we are well at present. I must tell you we have a nice brick room just finished and we are about to build another shop. Our buisness is about the same. We are verry well at present.  I should like you to see out van. It has been freash done up and it is like a loocking glass. You can see your face in it now. I must change the subject. I must tell you I have sent you my likeness, and as soon as we can we will send the childrens. I hope you will not think me unkind for not riting but I will endever to rite oftener
Dear Friends I have no more news to tell you this time as it is getting near bedtime and I am verry tired. I must tell you that my likeness is not a verry good one for I was takeing in a black silk dress. The man told me it was too glossey to loock well, so you must take it as it is and ta(hole) it for me
Wishing you all good night and believe me to remain the same Emma. George and myself unites in kind love to you all to all enquiering friends. I must tell you I received your letter Number 5 pleas not to forget the Nombers

Nov 25 1863   Ballarat       Page 1 Image      Page 2 Image  
Number 8
Dear Friends I rite these few lines to you hopeing to find you all quite well as it leaves us all at present. I beg you will excuse me for not writeing to you so long, but you will see on the little peace of news paper I have put in this letter that I have had an increase of family and I have not had time to tell you about it. His name is Charles Joseph.*  He is a fine little fellow. I hope you will loook over this short letter for we are all verry buissey and the baby is crying.
So good buy.. I will rite a long letter next mail. You must loook over my bad writeing for it is a verry hot morning and I am trembleing. I can hardly gide the pen. Now I must conclude. Still remaining your sinceare daughter  Emma Briant   Ballarat
* Charles Joseph Briant born 17 December 1863


May 25th 1865 Ballarat     Page 1 Image     Page 2 image    Page 3 image     Page 4 Image
Number 14
My Dear Mother and Father and Sister I received your kind letters. One with Mary Anns likeness in and the other with news to say you received the childrens likenss. I am happy to say I received my sisters the same as you did .........? From saila? I Am glad to hear you are all quite well as it leaves us all at present. I am verry buisy. I must tell you we are about to open a confections shop. We have just been building a new brick one joining the sitting room. I must tell you that we are backing 4 tons of flour a week and we expect to bake 5 verry soon. You must excuse this short letter for I cannot rite. I am all of a tremble. I will rite a long letter next time so good by and believe me ever to remain Your sincere daughter Emma Briant
Please to give my kindest love to Neighbour Haridine and tell her when I come to England again we will have a nice cup of tea together and please to give my love to all enquireing Friends and except the same your selves good by I am in hast and believe me ever to remain Your sincere daughter Emma Briant 

Dec 25th 1865 Ballarat     Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image      Page 3 Image       Page 4 Image
No 16
Dear Grand mama & Grand Papa
Mama received your kind letter with the portrait and she is very much pleased withe them. Indeed she says they are something like yourselves. We are all quite well except Mama and she has got a little son* he was borne on the 18th Dec 1865 and mama will write to you a long letter next mail if she is able. Dear Friends mama & Papa send their kindest love to you all. Believe me to remain your affectionate Grandson
G.P. Briant
Feb 23 1866 (Part of the same mail as letter from grandson George)
Dear Friends I take the opportunity to send you this letter that George wrote 2 months ago. He wrote it when I was not able so I hope you will excuse me not writing so long.I should have written last mail buI was so buisey whith the shop that I quite forgot to write. I must tell you we are all quite well and baby is such a dear little pretty child. His name is Alfred Henry. George posted this letter when he wrote it and put it in the wrong box and so it was returned to me again. I beg you will look over this short letter. I am afraind it will be too late so I must bid you all good bye. Mr Bryant and my self unites in kind love to you all and be leive to remain your sincear Daughter Emma Briant   Ballarat    Australia
You see I was two late with my letter
* Alfred Henry born 18 Dec 1865

Mar 24 1866 Ballarat     Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image     Page 3 Image
Number 17
My Dear Parents I write few lines to let you no we are all quite well but we are so buissey we do not no whitch a way to turn ourselves. We are building 2 new ovens. Our buisness is as good as ever but the baby makes me so very buisey with the shop I don’t no what to do. You must excuse my this short letter for I am in hast so good buy. I will endeavour to write a long letter next time. You have time to write every mail but you no I have not. Please to give my (.......) kindest love to all enquireing friends and believe me to remaine your Sincear Daughter Emma Briant
You see all though you did not get a letter from me you was not forgot

July 27 1866  Ballarat     Page 1 Image       Page 2 Image     Bakery Picture 
Nom 18
My Dear mother I write these few to you hopeing to find you all quite well as it leaves us at present. Baby is growing such a dear little fellow and so is Charles and he has got such a pretty (Taung?). George and James are still going to school. Emily is growing a big girl now and will soon be usefull. I must tell you we keep a cow for our use and I make the butter and we have plenty of milk. We kiled the calf and it weighed 90 lbs. Our buisness is about the same. I cannot tell you any more news this tim as I am in hast. Pleas give my kindest love to all enquiring friends to father and Mary Ann. I think it unkind of her not writing as she has plenty of time. She is not like me. I have sent you a photograph of our place shop and parlour. Now I must say good by. I am sorry to say I have no more time but I will write more news next time. George and myself unites in kind love to you all. Still remaining Your sincere daughter Emma Briant

April 24 1869   Ballarat      Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image
Dear Father & Mother
Dear sister I receive your letter and was glad to hear that you was all well. We are all quite well at present but so busy that I have no time to write. So you must excuse me this time. I will endevour to write you a long letter this next mail. Give my Love to all enquiring Friends and beleave me to reamin Your Sincear daughter Emma Briant



June 18 1872 Ballarat       Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image      Page 3 Image

Dear Mother and Father I received your kind and affectionate letter. I am glad to hear you are all well and am very pleased to hear my sister is living with you for she will be company for you. I must tell you we are all quite well. Our business is about the same. You want to know if Mr Briant is a Teatoller. He is and and every one in the house but myself and I might as well be for all I take. You said you were pleased with the good looking portrait I sent you but I do not know whose it was. Please to right and tell me. Give my kindest love to all enquireing friends and except the same yourself and believe to remain Your Sincear Daughter E Briant
Some of the family will next mail as i am in A very great hurry
Do not forget to write for you have more time than I have

Pdf 24

Undated letters, parts of letters, and papers

Page Image
My Dear Grand Ma and Pa Ma quite forgot to tell you what she christened the land;  Mr Briant Cambridge Park Boort
Please address our letters the same as before Hope Bakery Ballarat Australia
Louisa Briant
This  letter must date after 1873 when George Briant and his two sons (George and James) applied for a License for land at Boort, probably 1874 when their applications were approved.

Page Image
Please tell Mary Ann to write and tell me all the news. I hope she will be good and kind to poor mother and do all she can for her. You have had a lot of trouble in your time. I feel very sorrey for you and sorrey I cannot do for you now. I have enclosed our adress on an envelope for you to write back love from all to all and believe me to remain your ever Loveing and Affectionat
Dauter E Briant

Page Image

Pleas to rite by the next mail and I will endever to send you 2 letters in a year if you will send me 2 in a year. I rite when I receive one from you

Page 1 Image     Page 2 Image
Dear Mother I must tell you since I have wrote this letter baby has run alone and I must tell you that one of our alotments of land that we bought for twenty 7 pounds we have been bid two hundred and twenty pounds for it and we will not sell it
I rite this to let you know that our property is of value but it will be worth more yet
This letter should not be later than 1871. The last child (Julia) was born in 1870

Page Image
Dear Granmama
George Pateman Briant
Dear Granmah. I must write to you to ler you know I can write
This is little Geotges letter. He says I must rite a letter to my granmah

Bakery Advertisement Image

Bakery Card Image

Birth Notice Alfred Henry Briant

Postscript

Emma's Parents
In the 1881 Census they are still living in what seems to be the same hose in Arrington, aged in their mid 70s. It looks as if Mary died in 1883. and David died in 1886.
Emma's Siblings
David died in Ballarat in 1854 from fever. His two children died on the voyage out. His wife Ann lived with George and Emma after their arrival, and remarried in 1865 to Joseph Pateman (source Gwen Smalley's book)
The next four children died young.
    Jane (aged 12)
    James Pateman (aged 24)
    Jesse Pateman (aged 10)
    Abraham Pateman (aged 18)
    James and Abraham died after Emma left for Australia. To the best of our knowledge Emma never saw her English family again
Mary Ann married Arthur Charter in 1869, and seems to have lived near her parents all her life (1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 Censuses).
    Her husband was a blacksmith in the 1871 census.
    In 1881 he is a farmer with 308 acres, 3 men and 2 boys, and they have 3 children and a housekeeper.
    In 1891 it looks as if she is a widow. She is living with three sons and a lodger
    In 1901 it looks as if she is a widow. She is living with one son and a boarder
Emma's Children
    It looks as if Emma made a good call going to Australia. In contrast with Emma's generation, her family did well. The first Julia died aged three, but the rest lived into their seventies or eighties.
        George (76), James (89), Emily (86), Louisa (84), Charles (84), Alfred (75), Julia (89).
Alexander Charter
    Was one of Mary Ann's children. He was an agricultural engineer and inventor who became quite wealthy. This presumably is part of the reason the letters came to us through Michael, his descendant

        Page last updated - 28 Sep 2012