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06 Mar 2016

The archive is full of emotive letters writen by sons aboard distant ships to their mothers. This Mother's Day we're sharing a few.

One of the earliest in the collection dates from 1681 from a young Rear Admiral Robert Fairfax (RMG Item ID: FFX/6/1/6). 

Katherine - Archives Assistant

Most are concerned to hear of their mother’s welfare and write of their own health and hopes of coming home. However, one particular collection relates to a young George James Perceval (later the 6th Earl of Egmont), the son of Charles Perceval, 2nd Baron Arden, by his second wife Catherine, Baroness Arden. 
 
He was commissioned into the Royal Navy at a young age and in 1805, aged eleven, he fought in the H. M. S. Orion in the Battle of Trafalgar. The Caird Library and Archive are fortunate to hold a number of letters he wrote to his mother during these early years. One of these refers to him drinking to his family’s’ health, a pastime he seemed to fall into very easily away from his parents influence, the results of his deteriorating handwriting amid festivities are testament to this. 
 
 
George to his parents, Lord and Lady Arden:
My Dear Papa and Dear Mama, 
I take this opportunity of writing to you to inform you that I shall go on board the Sabrina the first opportunity that offers itself. Mamma, I assure you that I did not forget the promise that I made for I eat some Christmas Pye and drunk all your health and wished you all a long, happy and merry life this letter besides contains my best love and a kiss to all well fare you all well a thousand times and good bye 
I remain your dutiful son, 
Charles Percival 
Portsmouth, Dec 25th 1806

Sonia - Library Assistant

The library item I have chosen for Mother’s Day is a very melancholic song entitled ‘My own, my gentle mother', part of the Library’s music collection (RMG Item ID: PBF5722). 
 
 
The song, published in 1853 as part of an anthology of six songs, is based on Susan Warmer’s novel The Wide, Wide World. The collection of songs tells the story of Ellen Montgomery, a little girl who is forced to leave home to go to Europe for, possibly, a better life. The song ‘My own, my gentle mother’ written by W. H. Bellamy (music by Chas. W. Glover) depicts the moment when Ellen is on board of a ship, on her own and in company of unfriendly strangers. While gazing ‘upon dancing waves’ on 'a busy deck’ surrounded by ‘busy crowds’ passing by, she invokes her mother and her gentle, ‘sweet word’ hoping that her mother’s memory will ‘kiss away’ her tears. 
 
The sadness of the story is very striking. I can’t read music, unfortunately … but I imagine the rhythm of the song also reflecting the nostalgic tone of the lyrics. 
 
The items listed can be seen in the Caird Library’s reading room. Find out how to access our collections