Sarah Bracher to Henry Hastings Hall, 14 April 1858

File: George_Bracher_1858_04_14.doc

File:George_Bracher_1858_04_14.pdf

2009 August 4: typed by IB and checked against MS

Transcription

Sandhurst

April 14/58

Dear Henry

I am sorry to inform you of the Death of your Dear Mother your Father has sent me a Letter which this morning came to hand & I send you a Copy verbatim

Woongong

March 10^th/58

Dear Sir

It is my very painful duty to inform and my dear Sarah¹ of the death of my dear Wife which took place at 8 o’clock on Wednesday evening the 17^th of Feb’y I sincerely hope you may get this yourself as the shock would be too much of my dear child if it came so unexpectedly after receiving my last Letter in which I informed her that her Mama was so much better than she had been for some time indeed that she was in excellent health and spirits and had spent a fortnight in a visit to Perth and Mrs Bickley on the Canning.

She received an injury from the Sun on the Thursday and complained of a Headache on the Friday she was affected with repeated sickness and slight fever which on Saturday gave way to the Medicine she took on the Sunday she was well enough to get up for several hours on the Monday she remained as well as on the Sunday but complained of heat very much (it was a very hot day our glass in the shade stood at 98) she very imprudently got out of Bed frequently tho’ I cautioned her not on Tu she was taken with inflammation of the lungs on Wed noon she appeared to be recovering but sunk in the Evening without a sigh or the least apparent pain her Head was on my arm and tho’ my eyes were fixed upon her I was not conscious when the spirit fled to its Almighty Creator.

I shall if I am spared write a long Letter to my dear Sarah with sincere prayers for you and your familys temporal and eternal happiness.

I remain

Yours very sincerely

H E Hall

Sarah is very much cut up at the sad news she says she supposes on [sic] of you will return to the Swan how little we know when the unwelcome visitor Death will come, I was 7 weeks ago travelling on the road coming from W Rogers between Mitchels & Fryneton when I was suddenly seized with a Paralitic stroke but however I laid by the roadside till I recovered & the same night I had several attacks whilst laying under the shafts of the Dray & each time it took away my senses & I did not know one minute from another that I should not wake up in eternity but at length I got to Sawpit Gully & posted of [sic] a boy on Horseback to Forest Creek for a Doctor where I laid up for 2 days & he blistered me at the back of the neck but I must tell you that I was to all appearance in perfect health when I was taken & had I died all that would have been known of me was my name on the Dray for I was all alone the whole time & when I returned Dr Barnett said if I attempted to go again I should cause a relapse & that would be my Death so I sold the whole turnout for 40£ to a perfect stranger without reference to be paid by weekly instalments & he paid up like a Brick since that I have been to Fryneton & laid in a stock of Hay & Corn & opened a Store, but it won’t do, so I am giving that up & must try something else & as my paper is nearly filled up I must come to a close, Sarah & the dear children desire to be kindly remembered to you all. Little Jack Turner has been here for a fortnight but is gone back to Fred Esters²

Yours sincerely

G Bracher

Sarah has written to Shake

1 This phrase should probably read ‘inform you and my dear Sarah’

2 George is probably referring to Frederick Hester