The William Marshall Letters

William Marshall was the second son of John Marshall and Sarah Lawrence, born at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in October 1830. These letters were kept by his niece, my Great Grandmother Helen Urquhart (ms Marshall). – Ruairidh Greig

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The William MARSHALL Letters - Letter 3

Written from Portsmouth July 1853 - Again we are ignorant as to what ship William was aboard but note the reference to "four dozen with the catt"

Transcribed by Ruairidh Greig

William Marshall Correspondence – Letter 3

William Marshall was the second son of John Marshall and Sarah Lawrence, born at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in October 1830. The following letters were kept by his niece, my Great Grandmother Helen Urquhart (ms Marshall). According to Jessie Urquhart, her daughter, William was a whaler who returned to the Arctic and married an Eskimo. Auntie Sissie (Sarah Urquhart) met him on a visit to Peterhead and said that in his hand knitted vest and long pants, he looked to her like a polar bear. – Ruairidh Greig

William Marshall Letter 3 - Page 1

William Marshall Letter 3 Page 2

Letter 3

Portsmouth July 1853

Dear Brother

I reiceved your letter yesterday and was sorry to hear of your loseing your ship[1] and clothes but I hope you will get over that as for clothes never mind that for if any of mine will do you take them and when I come back we can settle about that but I expect that will be a while yet you told me in your letter that sandy was going to calcatte but I am for the diggins when I get clear of this big [boat?] for you must keep yours eyes open here for there is nothing lese then four dozen with the catt if you speak a woard I have been in this harbour 10 day and don’t know what going to be done with the ship she is in dock and will be there this month yet she rotten all over we are going to lift the foremast to morrow and I hope that is the last time I have to go on board her we are on board the hake hulk and has been since she went into dock I hope you will send my sundy clothes to London and never mind the rest I am very sorry to hear of my mother but I knew long agoe gi- my father my best respects [and] tell him if he had taken my advice it would not have been as it is but she is all right now I hope give my best respects to all enquiring feinds

No More at present

But Reaimens your

Loving Brother

William Marshall

Give my respects to

Margret and my bother and sister



[1] John Marshall survived the loss on the 20th March of the Joseph Green on a voyage to the Greenland seal and whale fishery in 1852. A letter from Robert Arbuthnot in the family collection, confirms that the survivors had to abandon ship and get upon the ice, without any of their clothes or possessions. After 2 days and nights they were rescued and taken aboard the Mazinthien.



Owner/SourceRuairidh Greig
Date26 Nov 2008
Linked toWilliam MARSHALL
AlbumsThe William Marshall Letters

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