This synopsis provides an overview of the complete collection of Captain Wilby Rackham’s letters, arranged into eight chronological parts. Spanning his maritime career, family life, overseas voyages, and the uncertainty following his disappearance in 1868, it serves as a guide to the personal correspondence and historical events documented throughout the collection.
01
Letter 1 – From the Brig “Harriet Julia ” of which Wilby is Captain. Wee Dick chats with his master about home affairs – Beleive me , dear Maid.
Letter 2 – Part letter from Calloa. Wilby’s proud spirit – teetotaller or moderation? – George’s ill-temper quite ineffective – Write to Jemima – not favourably impressed by Calloa.
Letter 3 – From the Ship “St. Magnus” of which he is mate. Waiting for a favourable wind – Lamlash an out-of-the-way place Has Sarah written to Mr. Bews? You need not tell my Parants to write.
Letter 4 – Still at Lamlash – How to make the time pass cheerfully – keep from Idle habits – he would prize some dark blue worsted stockings – Mutual comfort and prosperity. Dibden’s sea song.
Letter 5 – Buenos Ayres – safe arrival – if only he were Master of a nice little ship – love is making him fat – will she put on weight and want to be Master?
Letter 6 – Her most welcome letter – go to Edinburgh no cockatoos at Buenos Ayres – will he do in a cage? – love should not make her thin – Sally has not written to Mr. Bews – dear “Willie”.
Extract of Marriage Lines inserted between Letters 2 and 3.
Letter 7 – She is improving in her letter writing – Why Mr. Bews did not write to Sarah – Clyde Place – A glass of your Best, Mr. Crosbie – soap is a shilling a pound.
Letter 8 – His last sheet of Coloured paper – loaded & ready for sea – will she take a walk to the riverside? Parrots are too dear – the long race – buying soap – kisses to pay for the washing.
Notice. House for Sale.
02
Letter 1 – Wilby now Chief Mate of Barque “Leesburg” bound for Cuba, writes to his parents-in-law – Mary to visit Hanley – the fare by steamer and Parliament train.
Letter 2 – Another letter to his father-in-law – his torturing suspense – Is Mary iII?
Letter 3 – Aunt may make remarks about letters – life in London – Beware of sharpers.
Letter 4 – Still at Rothesay – Letter sent c/o J. Tomlinson – wishes for Christmas – look up the Herald – her allotment.
Letter 5 – At Matanzas – Mary complains of toothache – one set of teeth will serve two – Old Man – may go to Havana – vexed she didn’t write – she must occupy herself and not brood – My Lady – the bed to be large enough – Christmas dinner – Rum cheap.
Letter 6 – The long serial letter. 5000 miles away – frowns for the postman – party on board – oranges plentiful – slaves taking cargo off ship – he peeps at her portrait – Collision – climate – hurricanes – reading a novel on the Sabbath – The British Consul – a new hat – she is ailing somewhat – funny letter like old Journal.
Letter 7 – Jemima meditates on the joys and sorrows of a sailor’s wife.
Letter 8 – The Battle of Leesburg – have the Yankees detained the letters? – forty two days coming – she must keep her mind easy and trust her Loving Husband to prove a kind and Affectionate Father – the Christening cake – Aunt and the Parrot.
Letter 9 – From New York – no letter – will the Post Office clerks think him a madman?- horrid dreams – pushed about from port to port – lodgings at a shilling a night – proof against the temptation that befel the Dark-eyed Sailor.
03
Letter 1 – From Mrs. Crosbie telling of the health of Mary and the little one.
Letter 2 – Wilby at Lowestoft.
Letter 3 – Wilby at Gisleham – Edward intends to come to London.
Letter 4 – From Edward. What happened in the tunnel?
Letter 5 – Another from Edward
Letter 6 – The Blessing
Letter 7 – A short note from Cardiff.
Letter 8 – How Whitehaven gets its weather.
Letter 9 – Wilby anxious – call in Dr. Weekes – he hopes to get from Southampton.
Letter 10 – What a disappointment! Ship goes to Liverpool instead.
Letter 11 – At Cardiff – will she come to see him?
Letter 12 – From Portland Bay – little Polly has a cough.
Letter 13 – A letter from a landlady.
04
Letter 1 – July 20. 1863. Ship “Lord Elgin” at anchor in the St. Lawrence. Calms, contrary winds and fogs – one must take the weather as one’s Beloved, for better for worse – Little Polly’s birthday day dreams. No fruit in Quebec – Fruit pies and green peas, please.
Letter 2 – From Newport to his Parents in law. The female child.
Letter 3 – To the same. Meet Mary at Paddington – the Parrot – the Ship Cygnet.
Letter 4 – A short note per the Pilot.
Letter 5 – To Cousin James. Winter conditions in New Brunswick – frozen meat for the Northern Army in the U.S.A.
Testimonial. Jan. 13. 1864.
Letter 6 – Letter written from the Ship W.D. Dinsmore at St John, New Brunswick and dated January 20th. [1864]. [Nance had omitted this letter from her Synopsis].
05
Letter 1 – Wilby is now under steam. S.S.Northumberland. From Sunderland. Domestic Economy – a bit of stake.
Letter 2 – From Dunkirk, a nice little town – will Mary make the trip? – cargo Iron and Silver ore.
Letter 3 – The Sabbath at Santandar – wasting kisses on St. Sebastian.
Letter 4 – A short [note] from Victoria Docks.
06
[VARIOUS PAPERS RELATING TO THE “EMERALD ISLE”]
Letter 1 – Barque “Emerald Isle”. Capt. Wilby Rackham. First impressions of ship and crew – waiting for a fair wind – off Dungeness – hopes of winning a new hat.
Letter 2 – A real chatty one -equinoctial gales – War on Bugs – Satan sends cooks – a good-looking Stewardess required, one child not objected to – the Captain’s concertina.
(Personal reminiscences inserted here,)
Letter 3 – From the River Essiquibo. Why go to Glasgow? the Capt. practises diplomacy – parrots are plentiful – Londonderry not London.
Letter 4 – From the same place – no meat or fowl for the Christmas mess – an adventure on a sandbank – the Black captain – fever – Wilby needs new white shirts.
Letter 5 – At Havana – the Captn. has quite a family party this voyage, his wife and daughter and young brother-in-law. Charles, however disgraces himself.
Letter 6 – To Edward Rackham telling of domestic details and of money investments – Mary and the little girl are first-rate sailors kisses for dear Miranda from Wilby and Mary.
07
Letter 1 – To George Crosbie. Glasgow memories – changes at Langside – Mary is sad at the sight of her old home.
Letter 2 – From Lagos New Year 1867. Mary is full of fear regarding the approaching event – Wilby’s admonishings will arrive too late – He wishes he could be Doctor – another order to be given if the present is of the right kind – Lagos pleasanter than Havana or Nuevitas – mosquitoes, sandflies, parrots. Toasts for New Year’s Eve – Mr. Fisher’s kisses – the only white women here – Mary has not followed instructions regarding Sarah’s affair – Wilby is displeased.
Letter 3 – From Liverpool. Preparations for the voyage.
Letter 4 – From Accra. Trading in Ivory, Mahogany etc. at Cape Coast Castle. Trading in houses in London – Mary’s education. Wilby plans to live ashore so that they may not always be separated – love and happiness. The “young Captain’s” first birthday may be the occasion for a wee drap but “Dinna be aye dram drinking”.
Letter 4. P.S – All these moralisings caused Wilby to forget to endorse the draft.
Letter 5 – He has made a record passage so wins a new hat – Mary must superintend her daughter’s lessons – Willie must be schoolmaster too. Connolly has not got his Mate’s ticket.
Letter 6 – From Lagos. He has been very ill but is recovered – disappointed at receiving no letter by last Mail.
Letter 7 – From Lagos. Connolly and Sarah – did she deceive him? Little Charlie is teething – tea without milk is better than Brandy for a sick stomach, it is less expensive too – Wilby has had another attack of malaria – if only she could have nursed him – his cheerfulness and natural buoyancy – the plug and the £25 – trade is not too good – the washerwoman – Battersea v. Bucknall House – hopes to be home for New Year – New Year of seven years ago.
Letter 8 – Christmas morning at sea. “My Darling”.
Letter 9 – From William Crosbie – business matters.
Letter 10 – From Mary to Wilby- very domestic – they have sat for their likeness. “The Blessing”. “Forget me not”.
08
Letter 1 – From Edward and Miranda. Sept 27. 1868. Wilby may be aboard a foreign ship.
Letter 2 – From Miranda. Aunt Ward had hoped to see Wilby.
Letter 3 – From Miranda. Depend on me and edward.
Letter 4 – From Jemima. I trust the Lord will comfort and soport you.
Letter 5 – From Edward and Miranda. Dec. 23rd. The Christmas Hamper.
Letter 6 – From Miranda. She will meet Mary and the children at Lowestoft.
A Letter – dated 1929 and not included in the original synopsis, from the daughters of Edward Rackham to Mary Jordan Rackham.