Letters to William Hey from his sister, Lucy Gray Hey (1813-26)

Some of the matters described in these letters are also contained in letters written by their father (HEY/1) and other members of the family. Apart from HEY/5/4 and HEY/5/6, these were written at Ockbrook, and all were sent to William Hey at Silk Willoughby Rectory. All give in great detail accounts of church services and other ecclesiastical affairs, plus family and social news. Lucy was only eleven when she started writing to her brother. Their father has added a P.S. to HEY/5/4, which Lucy wrote at Ilkley when accompanied by Fanny (the nurse) and her brother Samuel, two years her junior. The P.S. conveys anxiety about their mother's illness; she died at the end of the following January. The journey to Ilkley is described by Lucy and an excursion to Leeds to see Aunt Rebecca and other relations there; also the visit from Grandpapa (Gray) and Aunt Mary (Mrs. Jonathan Gray). The William at Malton mentioned in the P.S. is the famous missionary, William Jowett (1787-1855) - see DNB, a brother of Rev. Joseph Jowett of Silk Willoughby. HEY/5/6 emanated from Quorndon (or Quorn) near Loughborough, where some of the children had gone for their health, Lucy preferring Kedleston water to Chalybeate(?). Owing to the cross-writing, much of this last letter is very difficult to read. Lucy was said to be suffering from cholera morbus. This child died on 27th Nov 1826, aged 13.

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