Local history

After her Father died in 1992 Christine Biglin found a bundle of old letters in his desk. To her astonishment she discovered they were written by her Great, Great, Grandfather, John Tomlinson, who was born in Selby in 1799.

He’d written them over a period of four years, to his wife, whilst a first mate in the merchant navy, away at sea between 1851 and 1855. Christine says she was delighted to find she’d found the complete set.

“They’re damaged and there are bits missing and odd spellings, so it took quite a long time to transcribe them all. Then a story started to emerge.

He talks about the passages he has - the awful journeys.”

Christine says the letters paint vivid pictures. “You can just see him writing that and saying, ‘that’s it I’ve finished with it,’ and he talks about money and sending money.”

The letters tell of a voyage on which John Tomlinson takes with him his 14 year old daughter, Cecilia. She works as nursemaid to the Captain’s child, Kate. Christine says despite being at sea on her way to America, the letters make it clear Cecilia has the same needs as a girl on land.

“He starts to complain because while they’ve been at sea she’s grown and her frocks are up to her knees!”

In 1854, while berthed in New York, on board alone, John Tomlinson wrote another letter.

Letters written at sea 155 years ago

A year after writing that letter John Tomlinson died of Cholera.

Christine says she can get very emotional about her ancestor – the man she calls “my John.” Recently in Marseille she found the place he’s buried and his death certificate. Through her research she feels she’s done the impossible…actually got to know her Great, Great, grandfather.