The Middleton letters (1830-1843)

On 28 June 1830, John Middleton wrote to his parents, Mr and Mrs James Middleton Senior, at the Soho Foundry, Near Birmingham.  John was writing from Calcutta, India, but he had ‘been back but a few days from a trip to China’.  He was an engineer, working to build steam engines under commission from James Watt and the Boulton and Watt company which owned the Soho Foundry.[1]  His father, James, also worked for the company.  John was to travel widely over the next few years installing steam engines. Boulton and Watt rarely produced the engine itself: it had the purchaser buy parts from a number of suppliers and then assembled the engine on-site under the supervision of a Soho engineer, such as John Middleton.

This letter is the earliest of a series between John and members of his family from 1830 to 1848 preserved by descendants of John’s brother Joseph and his wife, Marianne Cresswell.  In this letter he mourned the recent death of his wife, “yet I will try not to murmur since it is my Dear Fan’s great and Eternal gain; oh yes it is a consolation when I remember that while I am writing her happy spirit is far from a world of grief and sin.” John was a man of deep Christian belief.  

John Middleton was, too, a man with a deep commitment to his family. In this letter he sent a message to six of his younger siblings, one of whom was Charlotte, who later married John Harley and was the step-mother of Thomas Blissett Harley.  

These letters provide intimate details of daily life during the early industrial revolution in the Midlands and the experiences of one family in particular.  While many of the letters concern the courtship and marriage of Joseph Middleton and Marianne Creswell, and John Middleton’s work away from the bosom of his family, there is much more besides. This was a devout family, actively involved in the Wesleyan Church, sharing news of chapel activities, sermons, and conferences.  Indeed John and Joseph’s sister Anne married a missionary, with whom she traveled to the Gambia, where she died in childbirth, shortly after the death of their four year old son, John, leaving her husband with a newborn daughter.  

News of the Harley family is scattered throughout this correspondence.  The marriage of John and Charlotte is mentioned in a letter from Marianne’s mother, Mrs. Cresswell, who in March 1838 sent her love “to Miss C and Mr Harley; I sincerely wish them every happiness when ever it takes place.”  Some years later Charlotte was busy with her second child when John wrote, on April 9 1841,  that “Harley and me and Charlotte have been saying something about coming to Conference but how it will be I don’t know yet.  Charlotte is better and would be better still if she would leave off suckling that great stout lad of hers but she must be drove to it if she does.” 

There is much visiting back and forth between family members.  On January 14th 1843 Marianne wrote to John that “sister Mary and I paid a visit to Mrs Slater of Westbromwich and John & Mr Harley fetched us home at night”.  She was going “this morning to Birmm for a ride” with Charlotte Harley, who “is better than I expected to find her; she is getting pretty fat again”, and concludes the letter “I have not time to say more as Mrs Harley is waiting”. {This letter contains references to a Charlotte who is quite ill – this is Marianne’s daughter Charlotte, not her sister-in-law.  A later series of letters do concern the health of Charlotte Harley.}

And later as their children grow into playmates:  John and Marianne’s daughter Mary Ann “goes to Miss Nock along with Harleys and Amy Middleton as I am desirous she may read as well as Amy Harley which she cannot at present do;  but she can surpass her at sewing.  What a contrast there is between Mary Ann and Amy Fox.  MA is fond of being at home and never seems so happy as when she is.  I am to be sure and tell you that her grandfather and herself have had two tea partys with Amy Fox’s tea things and that she drank at one time ten cups of tea and another time seven cups.  She seems quite happy and at home among us she has however got a very slight cold as well as Amy Harley with running out without their bonnets. I hope she will be alright tomorrow.” 

Finally, “MA says if her father comes in three weeks she shall not have an opportunity of attending all the birth days at Harleys but she will not say he must not come.”  (Feby 17th 1844)

That same letter contained news of a more startling nature:  

“You will be sorry to hear that one of John Harleys brothers VIZ Benjamin is lost.  [H]e left here on Saturday night after having got his wages from John and proceeded to Birmm where he has of late lived and is supposed to have got in the canal, but no traces are to be found of him and this you will suppose has caused John a good deal of anxiety.”

Three years later Charlotte’s health was of much concern.  

Feb26 1847 Friday morng 9 oClk My Dr Bro & Sister I feel I must have a letter into town this morning although I am obliged to send on purpose this morning at 9 oclock to tell you Charlotte our Dear Sister [h]as had the best night last night that she has had this week and although her pulse have many times all but ceased to beat she is now rallied and Dr Chevasse one of the first men in England is her close medical attendant with our Dr Hicks to carry out his movements he has hope.  Hope is again alive with us but we are hoping and trembling.  Your affectionate brother  John Middleton

Monday March 15th 1847 My Dear Brother & Sister I find I cannot feel easy to let this post pass without writing a line just to tell you our Dear Charlotte is still in existance on this side Eternity and that is all I can say – she is going fast takes but very little and is kept alive principally by strong tonic medicines.  But she is happy and has but little pain.  Chevasse is of the opinion there is no disease whatever but a pure case of exhaustion a thorough breaking down of the whole system as there is no rallying point to be found.  I do believe all has been done that human skill and kindness can suggest – mother bears up wonderfully well all things considered.  You must not be surprised if my next tells you she has escaped to bliss where may I and you be in right good ernest about following her and those that are already landed.  [S]o prays your Affectionate Brother, John Middleton I expect everyone that comes into our house is someone coming to say she is gone.

However Charlotte survived, and a few months later there was mention of her again: 

October 25th 1847: Charlotte wishes me to tell you she has some rules for you and is waiting an opportunity of sending them how long she will have to wait I don’t know if she waits for the Foundry lot.”    And Dec 20 1847 “I would have sent the rules but J Harley could not find them Charlotte being unwell in bed of Influenza I hope however she will soon be better with all our love I must conclude.

Nov 1848: it is near twelve months since I became a member of Society, the work of God is still going on the Sabbath School.  Brothers & Sisters all join with me in kind Love to you all & also Cousin Ann I must now conclude and remain dear Uncle your Affectionate Nephew                      J Harley

Family and economy

July 6th 1843 John wrote to Joseph of something “which caused us to feel uncomfortable on behalf of Harleys. I am requested to send their kind love and to say they are much obliged to you for the £5 which I immediately handed over to them. 

July 6th 1843 The same letter contained evidence of that all was not well in Smethwick at this time, though according to John he was doing plenty of business and the Harleys were doing comparatively well.  

“[A]s far as the Iron trade goes things continue to get increasingly gloomy.  Many large works quite closed, and many others seriously contemplating as I believe it utterly impossible to manufacture Iron at remunerating prices.  At a meeting lately held at Wolverhampton, a deputation so consisting of Forster of Stourbridge, Thorneycroft of Wolverhampton, and Sharrow of Wednesbury, all great Iron Masters, it was agreed that they should wait upon Sir Robert and press on his notice the dreadful state of things in this district.  [W]hat can or will be done I am at a loss to know; we must leave events to him who orders all things well for those who put their trust in him as regards ourselves.  I can only say I am astonished at the business we do. I think we never did more, although our village has many a half starved family in it. James too has a steady trade and goes on as regular as most.  Tom and Harley are better off than their neighbours.  [I]n all we have abundant cause to thank God. Soho is not so busy as they have been but have a prospect of some Government orders for large engines I hope they will get them as already I see some of the men walking about nothing to do.”