{"id":228,"date":"2026-07-29T04:29:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T04:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mikecaine.im\/?page_id=228"},"modified":"2026-08-02T11:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T11:34:22","slug":"wilby-rackham-letters-synopsis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mikecaine.im\/index.php\/wilby-rackham-letters-synopsis\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilby Rackham Letters Synopsis"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"228\" class=\"elementor elementor-228\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d929f3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1d929f3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01a8450 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"01a8450\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Historical Correspondence \u2022 Letter Collection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b5f3d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7b5f3d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Wilby Rackham - His Life and Letters\n\n <span> Synopsis of Letters\n\n<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee72365 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee72365\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This synopsis provides an overview of the complete collection of Captain Wilby Rackham\u2019s 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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb481ff e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"eb481ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25597dc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"25597dc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34c3cd7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"34c3cd7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b06e629 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b06e629\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">01<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d4da72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d4da72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART ONE\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c61f64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c61f64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From the Brig \u201cHarriet Julia &#8221; of which Wilby is Captain. Wee Dick chats with his master about home affairs &#8211; Beleive me , dear Maid.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Part letter from Calloa. Wilby\u2019s proud spirit &#8211; teetotaller or moderation? &#8211; George&#8217;s ill-temper quite ineffective &#8211; Write to Jemima &#8211; not favourably impressed by Calloa.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From the Ship \u201cSt. Magnus&#8221; of which he is mate. Waiting for a favourable wind &#8211; Lamlash an out-of-the-way place Has Sarah written to Mr. Bews? You need not tell my Parants to write.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Still at Lamlash &#8211; How to make the time pass cheerfully &#8211; keep from Idle habits &#8211; he would prize some dark blue worsted stockings &#8211; Mutual comfort and prosperity. Dibden&#8217;s sea song.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Buenos Ayres &#8211; safe arrival &#8211; if only he were Master of a nice little ship &#8211; love is making him fat &#8211; will she put on weight and want to be Master?<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Her most welcome letter &#8211; go to Edinburgh no cockatoos at Buenos Ayres &#8211; will he do in a cage? &#8211; love should not make her thin &#8211; Sally has not written to Mr. Bews &#8211; dear &#8220;Willie&#8221;.<\/p><p align=\"left\">Extract of\u00a0<strong>Marriage Lines<\/strong>\u00a0inserted between Letters 2 and 3.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 7<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 She is improving in her letter writing &#8211; Why Mr. Bews did not write to Sarah &#8211; Clyde Place &#8211; A glass of your Best, Mr. Crosbie &#8211; soap is a shilling a pound.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 8<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 His last sheet of Coloured paper &#8211; loaded &amp; ready for sea &#8211; will she take a walk to the riverside? Parrots are too dear &#8211; the long race &#8211; buying soap &#8211; kisses to pay for the washing.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Notice<\/strong>. House for Sale.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f30aac5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f30aac5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbe46b0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bbe46b0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-359f3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"359f3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">02<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9cb9d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f9cb9d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART TWO\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4597b90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4597b90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Wilby now Chief Mate of Barque &#8220;Leesburg&#8221; bound for Cuba, writes to his parents-in-law &#8211; Mary to visit Hanley &#8211; the fare by steamer and Parliament train.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Another letter to his father-in-law &#8211; his torturing suspense &#8211; Is Mary iII?<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Aunt may make remarks about letters &#8211; life in London &#8211; Beware of sharpers.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Still at Rothesay &#8211; Letter sent c\/o J. Tomlinson &#8211; wishes for Christmas &#8211; look up the Herald &#8211; her allotment.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 At Matanzas &#8211; Mary complains of toothache &#8211; one set of teeth will serve two &#8211; Old Man &#8211; may go to Havana &#8211; vexed she didn&#8217;t write &#8211; she must occupy herself and not brood &#8211; My Lady &#8211; the bed to be large enough &#8211; Christmas dinner &#8211; Rum cheap.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 The long serial letter. 5000 miles away &#8211; frowns for the postman &#8211; party on board &#8211; oranges plentiful &#8211; slaves taking cargo off ship &#8211; he peeps at her portrait \u2013 Collision &#8211; climate &#8211; hurricanes &#8211; reading a novel on the Sabbath &#8211; The British Consul &#8211; a new hat &#8211; she is ailing somewhat &#8211; funny letter like old Journal.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 7<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Jemima meditates on the joys and sorrows of a sailor&#8217;s wife.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 8<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 The Battle of Leesburg &#8211; have the Yankees detained the letters? &#8211; forty two days coming &#8211; she must keep her mind easy and trust her Loving Husband to prove a kind and Affectionate Father &#8211; the Christening cake &#8211; Aunt and the Parrot.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 9<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From New York &#8211; no letter &#8211; will the Post Office clerks think him a madman?- horrid dreams &#8211; pushed about from port to port &#8211; lodgings at a shilling a night &#8211; proof against the temptation that befel the Dark-eyed Sailor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41be523 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"41be523\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f242f15 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f242f15\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3a1d21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d3a1d21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">03<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2675ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d2675ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART THREE\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b9efd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b9efd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; From Mrs. Crosbie telling of the health of Mary and the little one.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Wilby at Lowestoft.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Wilby at Gisleham &#8211; Edward intends to come to London.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Edward. What happened in the tunnel?<\/p><p><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Another from Edward<\/p><p><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 The Blessing<\/p><p><strong>Letter 7<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 A short note from Cardiff.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 8<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 How Whitehaven gets its weather.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 9<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Wilby anxious &#8211; call in Dr. Weekes &#8211; he hopes to get from Southampton.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 10<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 What a disappointment! Ship goes to Liverpool instead.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 11<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 At Cardiff &#8211; will she come to see him?<\/p><p><strong>Letter 12<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Portland Bay &#8211; little Polly has a cough.<\/p><p><strong>Letter 13<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; A letter from a landlady.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0e1a07 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d0e1a07\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08eeb1f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"08eeb1f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-712934a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"712934a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">04<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6305190 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6305190\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART FOUR\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28e4d5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"28e4d5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 July 20. 1863. Ship &#8220;Lord Elgin\u201d at anchor in the St. Lawrence. Calms, contrary winds and fogs &#8211; one must take the weather as one&#8217;s Beloved, for better for worse &#8211; Little Polly&#8217;s birthday day dreams. No fruit in Quebec &#8211; Fruit pies and green peas, please.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Newport to his Parents in law. The female child.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 To the same.\u00a0\u00a0 Meet Mary at Paddington &#8211; the Parrot &#8211; the Ship Cygnet.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 A short note per the Pilot.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 To Cousin James. Winter conditions in New Brunswick &#8211; frozen meat for the Northern Army in the U.S.A.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Testimonial<\/strong>. Jan. 13. 1864.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Letter written from the Ship W.D. Dinsmore at St John, New Brunswick and dated January 20<sup>th<\/sup>.\u00a0 [1864].\u00a0\u00a0 [Nance had omitted this letter from her Synopsis].<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f5ca9a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f5ca9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b13fc5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5b13fc5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ccd041 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8ccd041\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">05<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fea768b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fea768b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART FIVE\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bfd29c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bfd29c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Wilby is now under steam. S.S.Northumberland. From Sunderland. Domestic Economy &#8211; a bit of stake.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Dunkirk, a nice little town &#8211; will Mary make the trip? &#8211; cargo Iron and Silver ore.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 The Sabbath at Santandar &#8211; wasting kisses on St. Sebastian.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 A short [note] from Victoria Docks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b437ff e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8b437ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74af671 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"74af671\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebea35f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ebea35f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">06<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0578701 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0578701\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART SIX\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18bdf9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18bdf9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>[VARIOUS PAPERS RELATING TO THE \u201cEMERALD ISLE\u201d]<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Barque &#8220;Emerald Isle&#8221;. Capt. Wilby Rackham. First impressions of ship and crew &#8211; waiting for a fair wind &#8211; off Dungeness &#8211; hopes of winning a new hat.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 A real chatty one -equinoctial gales &#8211; War on Bugs &#8211; Satan sends cooks &#8211; a good-looking Stewardess required, one child not objected to &#8211; the Captain&#8217;s concertina.<\/p><p align=\"left\">(<strong>Personal reminiscences<\/strong>\u00a0inserted here,)<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From the River Essiquibo.\u00a0\u00a0 Why go to Glasgow? the Capt. practises diplomacy &#8211; parrots are plentiful &#8211; Londonderry not London.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From the same place &#8211; no meat or fowl for the Christmas mess &#8211; an adventure on a sandbank &#8211; the Black captain &#8211; fever &#8211; Wilby needs new white shirts.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 At Havana &#8211; the Captn. has quite a family party this voyage, his wife and daughter and young brother-in-law. Charles, however disgraces himself.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 To Edward Rackham telling of domestic details and of money investments &#8211; Mary and the little girl are first-rate sailors kisses for dear Miranda from Wilby and Mary.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6af84a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a6af84a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0339936 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0339936\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0162d02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0162d02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">07<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47ca263 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47ca263\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART SEVEN\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a03a7bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a03a7bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 To George Crosbie. Glasgow memories &#8211; changes at Langside &#8211; Mary is sad at the sight of her old home.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Lagos New Year 1867. Mary is full of fear regarding the approaching event \u2013 Wilby\u2019s admonishings will arrive too late &#8211; He wishes he could be Doctor &#8211; another order to be given if the present is of the right kind &#8211; Lagos pleasanter than Havana or Nuevitas &#8211; mosquitoes, sandflies, parrots. Toasts for New Year&#8217;s Eve &#8211; Mr. Fisher&#8217;s kisses &#8211; the only white women here &#8211; Mary has not followed instructions regarding Sarah&#8217;s affair &#8211; Wilby is displeased.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Liverpool. Preparations for the voyage.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Accra. Trading in Ivory, Mahogany etc. at Cape Coast Castle. Trading in houses in London &#8211; Mary&#8217;s education. Wilby plans to live ashore so that they may not always be separated &#8211; love and happiness. The \u201cyoung Captain&#8217;s&#8221; first birthday may be the occasion for a wee drap but &#8220;Dinna be aye dram drinking\u201d.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4. P.S<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 All these moralisings caused Wilby to forget to endorse the draft.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 He has made a record passage so wins a new hat \u2013 Mary must superintend her daughter&#8217;s lessons &#8211; Willie must be schoolmaster too. Connolly has not got his Mate&#8217;s ticket.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; From Lagos. He has been very ill but is recovered &#8211; disappointed at receiving no letter by last Mail.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 7<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Lagos. Connolly and Sarah &#8211; did she deceive him?\u00a0\u00a0 Little Charlie is teething &#8211; tea without milk is better than Brandy for a sick stomach, it is less expensive too &#8211; Wilby has had another attack of malaria &#8211; if only she could have nursed him &#8211; his cheerfulness and natural buoyancy &#8211; the plug and the \u00a325 &#8211; trade is not too good &#8211; the washerwoman &#8211; Battersea v. Bucknall House &#8211; hopes to be home for New Year &#8211; New Year of seven years ago.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 8<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 Christmas morning at sea.\u00a0 \u201cMy Darling\u201d.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 9<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From William Crosbie &#8211; business matters.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 10<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Mary to Wilby- very domestic &#8211; they have sat for their likeness. &#8220;The Blessing&#8221;.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cForget me not&#8221;.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-851d337 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"851d337\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17a899d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"17a899d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5f52d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d5f52d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">08<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9480e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9480e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PART EIGHT  -  SUSPENSE\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2d03c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2d03c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 1<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Edward and Miranda. Sept 27. 1868.\u00a0 Wilby may be aboard a foreign ship.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 2<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Miranda. Aunt Ward had hoped to see Wilby.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 3<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Miranda. Depend on me and edward.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 4<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Jemima.\u00a0\u00a0 I trust the Lord will comfort and soport you.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 5<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 From Edward and Miranda.\u00a0 Dec. 23<sup>rd<\/sup>. The Christmas Hamper.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>Letter 6<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; From Miranda. She will meet Mary and the children at Lowestoft.<\/p><p align=\"left\"><strong>A Letter<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; dated 1929 and not included in the original synopsis, from the daughters of Edward Rackham to Mary Jordan Rackham.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Historical Correspondence \u2022 Letter Collection Wilby Rackham &#8211; His Life and Letters Synopsis of Letters This synopsis provides an overview of the complete collection of Captain Wilby Rackham\u2019s 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-228","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wilby Rackham Letters Synopsis - Mike&#039;s Test Page<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mikecaine.im\/index.php\/wilby-rackham-letters-synopsis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wilby Rackham Letters Synopsis - Mike&#039;s Test Page\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Historical Correspondence \u2022 Letter Collection Wilby Rackham &#8211; His Life and Letters Synopsis of Letters This synopsis provides an overview of the complete collection of Captain Wilby Rackham\u2019s letters, arranged into eight chronological parts. 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