Several years ago, eight old letters written between 1835 and 1849 were discovered in an old family trunk in Tasmania. They were written by Cornish relatives to the French and associated families who had emigrated to Van Diemen’s Land in 1831 and 1833.

Letter from William and Anne (nee Blake) Bound

One letter was written by William Bound and his wife Anne (nee Blake) Bound of Fowey dated 19 April 1841. It provides an insight into how hard times were in Fowey, Cornwall.

The following people are mentioned in the letter

• Roper THOMAS
• John THOMAS
• John COCK
• Tamy COCK
• William COCK
• Cristianna BLAKE who is living with Mr BENNET
• Mary Anne KESTLE

Old Letter dated 13 April 1836 by Ann Jago

Extracts and Comments by Ivan Badcock, 4 November 2017

Extract: – The letter is addressed to “Dear Son and Daughter” and signed off “From your affectionate Mother, Ann Jago.” The envelope is addressed to Mr. Francis French, Norfolk Plains, Van Diemen’s Land, near Launceston.

Comment:-  Francis and Mary French and seven children emigrated from Pelynt, Cornwall in 1831, followed in 1833 by their eldest son William and his wife Emiline (nee Blake) and two children. They soon settled at Longford where Francis resumed farming

Neither Francis or his wife, Mary (nee Oliver), were children of Ann but were well known to each other, with Ann and Mary likely to have a family connection.

Ann Jago was born at Pelynt, Cornwall in 1770 to Amos Tamblinson (1735-1798) and Mary Hendy (1736-1800) and was twice married-

• Richard Oliver (1755 died before 1804). Married at Pelynt c.1793
• John Jago (1744-1810). Married at Pelynt, Cornwall on 17 December 1804

With Francis and Mary being the youngest of their families, by 1836 their parents were long deceased-

Francis (1791-1850) son of William French (1738-1806) and Ann Reynolds (1743-1813) and

Mary (1790-1871) daughter of Charles Oliver b. 1740 and Jane Lean b. 1746. Mary’s parents were married at St. Neot, Cornwall on 13 May 1770.

Because of the loss of parents, Ann may have become Francis and Mary’s defacto mother, thus the address and sign off in the letter.

No children have been located to the Oliver marriage but at least two to John Jago-

• John Jago (1805-1886)
• Mary Jago (1808-       )

Extract:- Emigration Plans:- In the above letter, Ann writes,

“I am overjoyed to think that I shall see you again .If it please God it is the best news that I have heard since you left and am overjoyed to think that I am going to undertake such a journey if please God that I shall and as are we all.”

“I remember my love to you and Emblyn and hope I shall see you before long which I have been loning(word uncertain)  to see so long.”

“I hope I shall see you all again, all of my grandchildren from the smallest to the greatest and children and great  grandchildren and I hope I shall see you all if the Lord permits me for I am in very good heart for it now”.

“We have nothing to do but fook (fork) out for the vessel now and then to sell our little house goods, for we have not todo (uncertain) any seeds nor prepare for any potatoes and John has sold his heep of things (words heep and things uncertain).”

“I hope I shall soon see you after you receive this letter.”

Their emigration plans are confirmed from a note in the Pelynt Vestry Book, dated 26 May 1836-

“the sum of £2 was to be advanced to Nancy (Ann) Jago (otherwise Oliver) in lieu of weekly payment to be counted from the time she takes passage to Van Diemen’s Land.” Source: Robert Jago 1986.

Comment:- Why their emigration did not occur at this time is unknown and there no record of Ann ever travelling to Van Diemen’s Land. She died in Cornwall in 1855.

Her son, John, did emigrate 13 years later in 1849, together with his wife Susanna(h) (nee Wills), (1807-1888) and seven children. Four further children were born in Van Diemen’s Land. They initially settled at Longford.

Further connections with the Francis French family is evident – when John and Susannah were married at Pelynt on 18 September 1830, Ann French was a witness at the wedding, and with two of their children having  “French” incorporated in their Christian name,
1. Rebecca French Jago b. 25/9/1839
2. Francis French Jago b. 13/2/1842