CIRCA 1883 HANDWRITTEN DIARY ENGLISH FAMILY MOVES TO CANADA & NEBRASKA ARCHIVE
Item History & Price
Up for auction is handwritten diary documenting a working class immigrant and his family from England moving to America circa 1883. The diary belonged to William George Denne. He was born in Maryland Hall Essex England in 1868 ( info is written on the reverse of a cabinet card).
Maylandsea, and the adjacent Mayland, are villages on the Dengie peninsula in the English county of Essex. This area is still quite rural and hardly populated the 2011 census shows only 4360 people livi...ng there.
“William George Denne was born on 10 September 1868, in Mayland, Essex, England, United Kingdom, his father, William Denne, was 34 and his mother, Ann Smyth Attenborough, was 22. He married Maude Tamizon Ellis on 19 December 1919, in Cass, Iowa, United States. He died in 1953, at the age of 85." I researched the Denne family in detail and discovered they would emigrant to Nebraska and finally settle down in Iowa.
Denne's diary records his experience in England than preparing to leave via steamship for Canada and finally by rail to America. His descriptions of the journey at sea, in Canada and Nebraska is full of adventure. His journey at sea was dangerous to say the least. He mentions massive storms and a hurricane, waves coming over the top of the ship, icebergs, heavy fog, whales etc.
Keep in mind the archive focuses on three parts of Denne's life. The first portion is in England were he documents village life in Mayland. For example hunting with his dog, dipping sheep, fetching the cows local gossip daily life mention of family relations etc. The 2nd half focuses on leaving England via steamship and arriving in Canada. His ship the" Sarnia "arrives at Port Lewis Canada on Aug 27, 1883. His family than lives with an uncle near a town called Peterloo for several months. Denne documents that time in great detail for example hunting fishing, working for his uncle, his father buying items from an estate of an English noble etc.
Finally the entire family relocates to Nebraska and they really begin to settle down. His first impression was spotting a prairie wolf near their future homestead and his father digging a basement. He mentions hunting prairie chickens a prairie fire, fishing , a wagon accident in a creek, his mother almost losing control of a wagon, preparing the land for cultivation and much more.
What's included with the archive: In total the archive contains two diaries 23 letters, 8 cabinet cards, and 3 postcards: The details : One diary focusing on England, Canada, and Nebraska contains 30 double sided pages. The 2nd diary is all about Nebraska with approx 40 pp.This diary contains a mix of info such as ledger accounts, names, address notes etc. In addition is 23 letters half of the correspondence is sent from England to Denne in the US.) and 8 cabinet cards ( all contain captions or background info about the family or Denne) plus 3 postcards.
Interestingly he wrote four different address in his diary there are :George Denne: 4 Homefield Cresent Wondbelton J.S. & Co 157 Follenham Court Rd. London.Albrion Hotel East Market Sqr Toronto, City Mills Peterloo , Filley Gage County Nebraska United States.
I transcribed several entries from one diary only. Keep in mind these are excerpts from lengthy entries and a fraction of the content. I only skimmed through the other diary, and letters. I am sure there is much more to discover and research. As always any questions feel free to ask.
Condition : The covers of both diaries are detached. diaries measures " 7 x 6 “ & " 5.5. x 5 "respectively. Internally diaries show heavy wear, staining, and smudge marks. All letters and envelopes show the same wear as the diaries photos are in better condition with no major issues.
Diary entries :
Aug 16, 1883- Leaving England
Went on ship to put luggage onboard at 4pm afternoon salted about 5 had tea at 6 saw high ships 4 houses wrote letter to moles went to bed slept well until 5 in the morning.
Aug 18, 1883
Sick in the morning I went on deck waves came over ship rolled about dreadfully went to bed again and did not get up until Sunday morning had nothing to eat all time did not get out of bed the whole time.
Aug 23, 1883
Had ? For breakfast very rough this morning Fox and Percy sick I felt bad saw icebergs 2 very near and pieces touching the sides also saw two sailing vessels my birthday had cake with tea Mrs. Black brought nuts, raisins, and apples Amy Stewart gave Pa Apples very cold.
August 24, 1883 (at sea onboard steamship heading to America off the coast of Labrador & Newfoundland)
Very calm in the morning in the straits of Bell Isle saw Bell Isle and island of Labrador and Newfoundland saw divers some saw a whale and shoal of porpoises so foggy we could not go on sounding depth being 36 fathoms first time sandy bottom second rock in after fog came on and than cleared off and than seem come on foggy again before ta and after but cleared up before I saw beautiful Canadian sunset(first one.) Had Granny’s plum pudding in afternoon Ma invited to saloon but did not go.
Aug 25, 1883Saw three ships also island of Anticosti saw lighthouse could not get an answer in afternoon came to Cosp Bay saw two lighthouses went close to land to get people to telegraph saw fisherman houses mountains and large forests some people said it was a very wild place wolfs bears and etc other side of mountains. Strange people had entertainment on deck saloon had entertainment in house room had a lecture in the afternoon upon Canada by sharecropper from Van Couver Island.
Aug 27, 1883 arrive in Canada
Ship Sarnia reached Port Lewis about 3 Roy Fox and I went onshore and saw some Pullman cars one had a nigger standing outside and he called us to come in and told us it was the Presidents car and showed us all over had breakfast onboard got in the train about 1 ‘clock started at 2’clock saw board fixed together so as a path great piles of wood saw strange boats pretty houses lots of boards so as to hind half the River St Lawrence big bank of granite saw ship children without shoes very funny church blue glass instead of white on telegraph heap of rocks and stone as piles. Alice saw monster dragonfly passed along thick wood of mostly young trees saw wide shallow stream. Saw windmill very old second station we passed was called Gray’s road train stopped Roy and Fox got out to look at pig sty and saw a white pig. Fox saw a great big butterfly red and black.
In the afternoon it began to rain I fell down when after tea rain made boards very slippery got to Toronto about 1/2 past stopped at the Albrion Hotel got in bed about half past 12 o’clock.
Sept 10, 1883
Uncle John Roy Fox and I Went fishing directly after breakfast and bought a lot of fish about 90 or 100 perch and had some for breakfast and dinner. In the afternoon went to Cousin Henry Denne’s had tea there got home about 10.
Sept 24, 1883
Went to the sale of Mr Martins an English noble Pa bought a chest of drawers did not go home until after tea and biscuits for dinner.
Sept 28, 1883
Pa took his gun and I went with him to look out for a few birds and see if we could get any wood from the forest did not see any birds Pa shot a woodpecker when we got near the house a very pretty one went out after tea to look out after ducks saw a Heron which Pa shot fell in the water but us boys got him ashore.
Feb 15, 1883 Nebraska - United States
Started from Beantree to Filley at 12:30 reached Filley 1:30 got home about 4:30 Pa Fox Roy Percy and walked and Shen road we saw a prairie wolf when we got near house.
Feb 19, 1884
Pa went to Beantree I and some of the boys roofed the other side of the cow shed went in the morning to Crocker's for some milk and got about a half a bag of corn from him.
March 5, 1884
Went after hay in the morning Fox Percy and I made a starch saw a lot of prairie chickens about 22 in a covey the nearest I have to being to them are a lot like our French birds.
March 9, 1884
Pa drove the team to school house for chapel a lot of people there ma very frightened coming home horse plunged reared a little wrote a line to Bill in Aunt Ena's letter.
March 23, 1884
Pa began to dig his cellar I led the horses down to Andrews for plow but did not get it because of him being out went out after two loads of cob from Harrison.
March 25, 1884
Fired our prairie saw Jack Rabbits qual's and chickens Fox and Percy and I fired one side. Pa the other side Mr. Long came to see us the prairie fire caught some morrow grass and got across the creek Longpaugh Gale and Pa and lots of others came with a lot of wet sacks trousers and dress Pa went rest except boys went to Filley.
Maylandsea, and the adjacent Mayland, are villages on the Dengie peninsula in the English county of Essex. This area is still quite rural and hardly populated the 2011 census shows only 4360 people livi...ng there.
“William George Denne was born on 10 September 1868, in Mayland, Essex, England, United Kingdom, his father, William Denne, was 34 and his mother, Ann Smyth Attenborough, was 22. He married Maude Tamizon Ellis on 19 December 1919, in Cass, Iowa, United States. He died in 1953, at the age of 85." I researched the Denne family in detail and discovered they would emigrant to Nebraska and finally settle down in Iowa.
Denne's diary records his experience in England than preparing to leave via steamship for Canada and finally by rail to America. His descriptions of the journey at sea, in Canada and Nebraska is full of adventure. His journey at sea was dangerous to say the least. He mentions massive storms and a hurricane, waves coming over the top of the ship, icebergs, heavy fog, whales etc.
Keep in mind the archive focuses on three parts of Denne's life. The first portion is in England were he documents village life in Mayland. For example hunting with his dog, dipping sheep, fetching the cows local gossip daily life mention of family relations etc. The 2nd half focuses on leaving England via steamship and arriving in Canada. His ship the" Sarnia "arrives at Port Lewis Canada on Aug 27, 1883. His family than lives with an uncle near a town called Peterloo for several months. Denne documents that time in great detail for example hunting fishing, working for his uncle, his father buying items from an estate of an English noble etc.
Finally the entire family relocates to Nebraska and they really begin to settle down. His first impression was spotting a prairie wolf near their future homestead and his father digging a basement. He mentions hunting prairie chickens a prairie fire, fishing , a wagon accident in a creek, his mother almost losing control of a wagon, preparing the land for cultivation and much more.
What's included with the archive: In total the archive contains two diaries 23 letters, 8 cabinet cards, and 3 postcards: The details : One diary focusing on England, Canada, and Nebraska contains 30 double sided pages. The 2nd diary is all about Nebraska with approx 40 pp.This diary contains a mix of info such as ledger accounts, names, address notes etc. In addition is 23 letters half of the correspondence is sent from England to Denne in the US.) and 8 cabinet cards ( all contain captions or background info about the family or Denne) plus 3 postcards.
Interestingly he wrote four different address in his diary there are :George Denne: 4 Homefield Cresent Wondbelton J.S. & Co 157 Follenham Court Rd. London.Albrion Hotel East Market Sqr Toronto, City Mills Peterloo , Filley Gage County Nebraska United States.
I transcribed several entries from one diary only. Keep in mind these are excerpts from lengthy entries and a fraction of the content. I only skimmed through the other diary, and letters. I am sure there is much more to discover and research. As always any questions feel free to ask.
Condition : The covers of both diaries are detached. diaries measures " 7 x 6 “ & " 5.5. x 5 "respectively. Internally diaries show heavy wear, staining, and smudge marks. All letters and envelopes show the same wear as the diaries photos are in better condition with no major issues.
Diary entries :
Aug 16, 1883- Leaving England
Went on ship to put luggage onboard at 4pm afternoon salted about 5 had tea at 6 saw high ships 4 houses wrote letter to moles went to bed slept well until 5 in the morning.
Aug 18, 1883
Sick in the morning I went on deck waves came over ship rolled about dreadfully went to bed again and did not get up until Sunday morning had nothing to eat all time did not get out of bed the whole time.
Aug 23, 1883
Had ? For breakfast very rough this morning Fox and Percy sick I felt bad saw icebergs 2 very near and pieces touching the sides also saw two sailing vessels my birthday had cake with tea Mrs. Black brought nuts, raisins, and apples Amy Stewart gave Pa Apples very cold.
August 24, 1883 (at sea onboard steamship heading to America off the coast of Labrador & Newfoundland)
Very calm in the morning in the straits of Bell Isle saw Bell Isle and island of Labrador and Newfoundland saw divers some saw a whale and shoal of porpoises so foggy we could not go on sounding depth being 36 fathoms first time sandy bottom second rock in after fog came on and than cleared off and than seem come on foggy again before ta and after but cleared up before I saw beautiful Canadian sunset(first one.) Had Granny’s plum pudding in afternoon Ma invited to saloon but did not go.
Aug 25, 1883Saw three ships also island of Anticosti saw lighthouse could not get an answer in afternoon came to Cosp Bay saw two lighthouses went close to land to get people to telegraph saw fisherman houses mountains and large forests some people said it was a very wild place wolfs bears and etc other side of mountains. Strange people had entertainment on deck saloon had entertainment in house room had a lecture in the afternoon upon Canada by sharecropper from Van Couver Island.
Aug 27, 1883 arrive in Canada
Ship Sarnia reached Port Lewis about 3 Roy Fox and I went onshore and saw some Pullman cars one had a nigger standing outside and he called us to come in and told us it was the Presidents car and showed us all over had breakfast onboard got in the train about 1 ‘clock started at 2’clock saw board fixed together so as a path great piles of wood saw strange boats pretty houses lots of boards so as to hind half the River St Lawrence big bank of granite saw ship children without shoes very funny church blue glass instead of white on telegraph heap of rocks and stone as piles. Alice saw monster dragonfly passed along thick wood of mostly young trees saw wide shallow stream. Saw windmill very old second station we passed was called Gray’s road train stopped Roy and Fox got out to look at pig sty and saw a white pig. Fox saw a great big butterfly red and black.
In the afternoon it began to rain I fell down when after tea rain made boards very slippery got to Toronto about 1/2 past stopped at the Albrion Hotel got in bed about half past 12 o’clock.
Sept 10, 1883
Uncle John Roy Fox and I Went fishing directly after breakfast and bought a lot of fish about 90 or 100 perch and had some for breakfast and dinner. In the afternoon went to Cousin Henry Denne’s had tea there got home about 10.
Sept 24, 1883
Went to the sale of Mr Martins an English noble Pa bought a chest of drawers did not go home until after tea and biscuits for dinner.
Sept 28, 1883
Pa took his gun and I went with him to look out for a few birds and see if we could get any wood from the forest did not see any birds Pa shot a woodpecker when we got near the house a very pretty one went out after tea to look out after ducks saw a Heron which Pa shot fell in the water but us boys got him ashore.
Feb 15, 1883 Nebraska - United States
Started from Beantree to Filley at 12:30 reached Filley 1:30 got home about 4:30 Pa Fox Roy Percy and walked and Shen road we saw a prairie wolf when we got near house.
Feb 19, 1884
Pa went to Beantree I and some of the boys roofed the other side of the cow shed went in the morning to Crocker's for some milk and got about a half a bag of corn from him.
March 5, 1884
Went after hay in the morning Fox Percy and I made a starch saw a lot of prairie chickens about 22 in a covey the nearest I have to being to them are a lot like our French birds.
March 9, 1884
Pa drove the team to school house for chapel a lot of people there ma very frightened coming home horse plunged reared a little wrote a line to Bill in Aunt Ena's letter.
March 23, 1884
Pa began to dig his cellar I led the horses down to Andrews for plow but did not get it because of him being out went out after two loads of cob from Harrison.
March 25, 1884
Fired our prairie saw Jack Rabbits qual's and chickens Fox and Percy and I fired one side. Pa the other side Mr. Long came to see us the prairie fire caught some morrow grass and got across the creek Longpaugh Gale and Pa and lots of others came with a lot of wet sacks trousers and dress Pa went rest except boys went to Filley.
