Flint, Wales
July 27, 1849
Dear John,
I duly received your letter and newspapers for which I now thank you. I sent you a paper just last mail and one previous and I intended writing by the last post but I was so busy I omitted doing so. I shall send you a Chester Chronicle along with this letter.
It gave me great pleasure to hear from you. I had been some time in expectation of receiving a letter. I had one from T. Price about a month or 6 weeks since and he told me not to write to him until I heard from him again. If you see him or you are writing, please remember me to him kindly.
I am glad you have such a comfortable situation. I hope you may prosper. You must be patient and persevering and I hope in the distant day you may rise to be affluence. I wish that success may crown your every effort.
We are going here same as usual. I think there is no change in the mill since you left, but the same cannot be said of the neighborhood. The King of terrors has made sad ___________ since you went away. Poor Mary Williams _________ had a stroke the night you left and she died the next day. I dare say about 20 have died of the cholera in Holywell. Mr. B. fell victim to it on Sunday but I do not know any of the others. ____________ Flint died on Saturday last in Dublin, he has left a wife and 7 children. We have had no cases here. Jack ______ he had a lung attack but he has got quite well.
There was a most dreadful accident off Bryn Coch ___ on Wednesday 18th last. 7 from ______ were hurled into eternity in a moment. You will see their names in the paper now sent. David Hughes was driving the engine at the time the proper ______ was going to a funeral. Hughes is convicted of manslaughter but he is out on bail. I was in the coroner’s inquest and know all the evidence and saw all the bodies such a sight. I hope to never witness again some of ___________ in very much mangled, legs broken, arms cut off, and brains dashed out. It appears he did not know how to manage an engine properly. I believe he let it go at full speed right up to the top with the 7 men in the basket. Some no doubt were killed against the beam. It was but the work of the moment. Persons that saw it say that the basket came up like lightening and the gearing at the top prevents it being drawn over the pulleys and as a matter of course the rope broke and they were all precipitated to the bottom, a height of 582 feet. One of the 7 was alive when brought up again but he died in about an hour. _____ recollects that two of them, that Williams son of Sally ___ that used to live opposite the _________ at the back of Ishmael Jones house and Charles sn of Ret. Shibber. Your friendships may know some of the others. There was only one married man from Jones _____.
The British Archeological Society are going from Chester to Conway ________ on 1st August and they will call at Flint to see the old castle. Mr. Hayburn and myself and a few of the Flint worthies have made a subscription and we have new men employed clearing out the dirt/rubbish from the keep or round tower. It has been accumulating there for ages and we may discover something in our digging. We think there is a subterranean passage, however, we shall see in a few days.
All the men in the mill were glad to hear from you. When the first letter came from T. Price, I had them all in the office and read it to them and they were quite delighted. I hope to hear from you again soon with a further description of the country.
I have not yet said anything about eternal things. I hope I am not neglecting them. I hope you attend the means of grace. I dare say you feel lost on the Sabbath not having your flock to attend to. You stated there was not an episcopal church. I am sorry for that but you can attend the Mother Episcopal Chapel. That will nearest approach the church of your father’s.
I don’t know how Bagilt school comes on. Ours is same as usual, Miss Emma Taylor a teacher. We had a confirmation here last week. There was about 80 your people admitted then and Miss Gleave amongst the number. The bishop gave us an excellent address.
When you write again please tell me how land is sold in the neighborhood of where you live and what prospects would there me for a family of farmers. And you can let me have any other information you may think interesting.
I have nothing more to communicate in the shape of news. I have sent you what stock I have. Myself wife and daughter are all well and ___ ___ on family for which I am truly thankful and I trust this may find you in the enjoyment of that ___ blessing and with every wish for your happiness and prosperity.
Believe me Dr. John.
I remain yours, sincerely,
Thomas Gleave
I have just made inquiries from Edwin and he says they are all well at home.
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