Letter from Prudence Hackworth, Aycliffe railway station to Thomas Greener

Aycliffe Decr 4th/55

My dear Mr Greener
I am sorry to trouble you again with one of my untidy scrawls, but really I am becoming concerned about our affairs remaining so long unsettled & cannot learn from either of my brothers (John I saw yesterday) why they are so both of whom say they have rendered in all their accounts & appear most anxious that the business should without further delay be brought to a close. It seems a thousand pities that we should so long be living upon & losing the interest the principal of our money instead of having it invested if matters are not soon arranged I do not know what we shall do, at present I am in great perplexity having drawn to pay family bills the whole amount the Bankers will allow me to take up & still there are parties to whom we are indebted, & who are really requiring their money – Besides I cannot but fear dear Tim is sinking fast & I dread the consequences if he were to be removed whilst things are in their present position – Forgive me please writing in the strain I am doing in her circumstances Lizzie has left us (of course she could not well do otherwise), I may say me to attend to the settlement of all matters that do not come under the eyes of the executors & what with dear Tim’s increasing illness & instability, Mrs Ambler’s future whereabouts seeing after &c I feel a little worried. I shall be glad to hear from you soon I will thank you to give my love to dear Mrs Greener, & be kind enough to burn this as soon as read – I am writing this in the Aycliffe Railway Station on my way to the bank (to take up money in sister Hannah’s name) It is just upon train time therefore in haste I remain dear Mr G.

Yours Affectionately

P. Hackworth