Extracts of the letters of
Mary Ann Alderman to her brother Joseph Alderman
concerning Eliza and John Cleverly her sister and brother-in-law

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Joseph's descendents in Canada hold letters which were sent from England by his sister Mary Ann Alderman who lived with her father Philip.  We wish to record our thanks to Mary Isabell Alderman - the daughter of Charles Leonard Alderman - for providing the information on this page.
A summary of some of these letters follows:-

1874  Family doing well.  Mary Jane (John’s daughter from first marriage) now in service and his other daughter Annie may go to help Mary Ann in the shop when she gets it.  Eliza is very strict and harsh with them.
1875  Eliza had another girl recently (making 8 children).  They were all well.
21st Feb 1876  John has bought cows towards stocking farm.  He and Eliza moving to farm after James and Elizabeth move to Folly Farm – Both he and James will sell milk to the Chippenham milk factory.
14th May 1877  John and Eliza – milking cows.  Mary Ann says she gets along well with them and they are always willing to help her with the shop.
14th Aug 1877  Eliza and John and family are all well.
18th Apr 1878  Eliza and John doing well.  John’s two eldest girls (his own daughters) now in service.  There six children under 11 are at home.
8th May 1879  Eliza and John and 6 children well.  Eliza bakes bread for Mary Ann’s shop and she is selling lots of it.
11th Nov 1879  John and Eliza pretty well – will be giving up farming – both will make bread for sale.  Mary Ann sells about 60 gallons of milk for them a week.  They have also commenced selling coal.
1882  Eliza not at all well – very ailing for 15 months with consumption.
1883  Eliza died Sep 23 1883 of consumption.
1884  George (Eliza and John’s oldest son) went to US and working for Jim Cleverly.
6th Nov 1894  John quite well but too fat – daughter Edith married Nov 10th 1894 living in Warner’s NY.
4th Feb 1895  John doing good in business – had Eliza been spared they could have retired.
1896  Daughter Emily’s intended husband is Mr Maidment.  Father promised he would give up business in March 96.  Daughter’s Emily and Agnes both want homes of their own.  Emily is 28 and Agnes 21.  John is quite an old man and not fit for much work – he has a fatty heart – he will live with Emily – her intended is a carpenter with some capital.  Emily and Agnes have helped Mary Ann with the shop.
1st May 1901  Howard and wife sent Mary Ann a picture.  He is doing very well.
14th Dec 1901  Howard wrote to aunt Meribah – all well.  He and Marion have a son, Donald Howard, born Sep 24 1901.  Edith is living near Warner’s – has a little girl born Aug31 1901. (Note Meribah was Joseph’s wife who died in 1918)
27th Apr 1902  Ernest is still with Jennie – working farm.
30 Jan 1903  Emily has 2 boys and 2 girls.  Agnes has no family.
20 Oct 1903  Edith has 3 boys and 2 girls.  (letter from Annie(?) – Will Alderman’s widow – to Rachel Alderman)
14th Feb 1904  Edith and family have left Warner’s and moved to Hudson NY   (letter from Jennie Cleverly to Joseph Alderman)
19th Jan 1905  Howard and Marion had daughter Nov 22 1904.  Agnes had a son born Sep 1904.  Emily expecting child – will make 6 – and eldest not 8 years old until end of March.  Husband Godfrey Maidment does well farming – has a lot of pigs and makes the most of his garden – also is carpenter.
December 1906  Emily has 7 children.  Clara Cleverly came to England for her late sister’s daughter and they have adopted her – have no family of their own.  Annie (Will’s wife) Alderman came with her.
December 1908  Eliza’s step daughter, Mary Jane, died of heart disease in May 1908 – other step daughter, Annie, lived in Bath, age 47, has internal cancer – two operations, but will never be well – is living with Agnes.
22 Jan 1912  Emily has 10 children – moved to larger house as their former home bought to enlarge cemetery – now have 6 bedrooms, 4 living rooms and kitchen and scullery.  Mary Ann lives with her since July 1911.  Has bed sitting room and they bring meals to her as she cannot move much – has to be helped in and out of bed and to dress.
20 Jan 1914  Emily’s oldest child 17 and baby boy is 3.  Mary Ann is very comfortable living with them.
23 Aug 1914  Letter from Ernest and Clara to Bill and Charlie Alderman in answer to their letter after honeymoon thanking them for pictures.  Ernest is quite well – also busy and cousin Frank.

Page updated 16/10/2010