As stated in the letters, George and Richard Cumberland needed to have their Aunt Man declare herself a widow in order to have the money in stocks held on trust released to them. This letter is from John Man (Jnr.) in response to an inquiry from George as to the whereabouts of John's father. John gets his dates muddled he writes 1760 when he means 1770. This letter should be read in conjunction with one John wrote to his brother James some years later. John Man searches for his father and discovers what happened to him after he had disappeared.

John Man – Geo Cumberland about 1775/6

Transcript

It is with the utmost pleasure and satisfaction dear sir that I now set down to answer you last obliging letter which I received a few day ago and would have answered soon had I had the opportunity. Since my brother has referred you to me I shall enform you of what I know concerning my father.

In December 1769 I went to him at (?Knighton?) and after that I received one letter from him or I believe two but cannot say for certain at this distance of time. But whether it was one or more I can safely assert I never received any from him or have heard of him by any other means since Easter 1760 [John means 1770]. I am very certain of the time because in the last that I received I was ordered to go to him for the rent of the houses there and I think it was 1^st of May that I went however I am very sure it was sometime before I came to Reading and I came hear in June that year. This is all I know of the affair and I am pretty certain none of the family have heard of him since.

If I can be of any service to your mother I beg she acquaint me in what manner and be assured I shall exert myself to the utmost to delight her. I am very glad to hear that your brother is going to Driffielde because you give me reason to hope that the road through Reading will not be much out of the way. I flatter myself I should be welcome else should not presume to offer to attend you. We are naturally fond of pleasure so it is no wonder if I catch at every opportunity that offers to gratify a passion which I inherit from my nature, if I can conveniently accommodate the journey to the beginning of our Whit Sun Holidays I shall be very happy to join you on the journey at Reading. I can then accommodate you with a bed which though none of the finest I can promise you shall be wholesome and better than travellers usually meet with at Inns. And we set off with the Sun and get to the vicarage by the time a fine little pig will be put to the spit. Since you say the west has attractive powers as well as the North I think I may be certain of seeing you in summer whether we go the journey or no therefore I shall use no arguments to persuade you to favour one with a visit which I think you have favoured on these 6 years but never yet fulfilled. But now I expect you in good earnest so take care you don’t disappoint me. When your brother was here I engaged to write to him but alas! Never thought to ask for his address whence it comes. I have not fulfilled my promise. Do you make m compliments to him and beg him to use the power of the keys (which in spite of the Pope I believe was given to him) in behalf of a poor persistent sinner who like other (?pxrittents?) is determined to transgress again – until the next time. You and I George are now laymen and have nothing to do with religions dispute. We believed before Gibbons attacked our faith and I dare say were not staggered with his objections so stood in no need of Dr Watsons vindication’s. One of the Fathers [no matter which] said he believed in the Trinity because it was impossible but I believe in Christianity because it was founded by a divine power grew up and flourished in opposition to principalities and powers and by its own internal evidence has withstood the attacks of (?Deistoltsheists?) and unbelievers. Compliments to your mother brother & C

from your affectionate cousin

Jno Man

Addressed to
Mr. Cumberland
Secretary’s Office at the Exchange Assurance Office
London.

The letter below is from John to his bother James. John discovers that his father is indeed dead.

John Man’s letter to James Man July 12th 1787

Now my dear James our search is over - I am just arrived at Newport after a very dangerous passage and a disagreeable wet journey of 15 miles in a Post Chaise from the Black Rock where we landed. As soon as I got over I ask’d the waiter at the Inn if he knew Mr.__. After some recollection he said he remembered such a person about a twelve month past being at Chepstow. I was so elated at the news that I immediately ordered a chaise for this place.

It being set for rain how did I please myself with the hope that in a few   days, if not a few hours I should take the poor wanderer by the hand, but we are born for disappointments and must submit. My landlady a very communicative old woman has just brought me in my Salmon. I put the question to her. Yes sure do I, Never never was there a better man on the Earth, many a time have I converse with him, a sober, honest, quiet, humane, good natured, worthy man as ever lived. Gentle and simple, all loved him in this country. Where did he live? At Cardiff for many years and was reckoned a very ingenious Architect and was employed and respected by all the Gentlemen. Do you know where he is now? In a better place I hope. What! Is he dead? Yes, poor man he died about three years ago and is buried at Cardiff but I don’t hear he has left any children. Such was the dialogue between the old woman and myself which so affected me that I could ask no more questions - how happy would it have been if we had set about this enquiry sooner it is now too late, however as I am within 12 miles of Cardiff, if tomorrow is fine, I will shed one tear over his grave. I forgot to tell you she described him so minutely, even to his dress that there can be no doubt of his being the person we want, my hand shakes so I can hardly write and the pen is such a stump it is past mending, however if you can read it it is enough. As the post don’t go from this place ‘till tomorrow evening, I shall not send this away ‘till I have been at Cardiff.

Wednesday evening.

Cardiff July 12. 87

I told you last night I intended going to Cardiff this morning. It was cloudy when I got up, but on the strength of a N. W. wind I set out about 8 o’clock and had a very pleasant walk. Almost all the way in sight of King Road and the Shiping, at 12 I got safe here - my first object was to visit the church yard which I did without success. I then enquired of a little girl where the Sexton dwelt, but her direction was so obscure I could not find him, so I looked about for an Inn and with difficulty found that I am now in for notwithstanding Mr Carey’s description of this place I see little difference between this and the other towns in Wales. Having ordered a lamb chop for my dinner I began my enquiry with my landlady who could give me no other information than that she knew such a person, that he died about 4 years ago and was buried by a  Mr. Priest who was a principal creditor and took to all his effects. As she could give me no other information except that Mr. Priest too was since dead, I beg’d a direction to the Sexton. She said the Clerk was the properest person to enquire of so I went to him. The man was very civil told me the Parson had taken the register out of his hands, but if I pleased he would go with me to him. I asked him if he knew the person? He said very well. I told him I was sorry not to see any stone over him in the church yard. He said he was sure there was one and went with me to shew me where I found a black slatey stone laid upon which he informed me had been used before for the same purpose and the old writing partly erased on this was written --- Here lieth the body of Thomas Roberts of this town Architect who departed this life April 7th 1783 aged 70 years. On our return I asked him where he had lodged. He said he had a house to himself. Who was his housekeeper? A Mrs Page. Was she living? He could not tell, but if she was, it was at the farther end of the town. There I went and seeing an old woman at a little Public House door, I asked for Mrs Page. She was gone from those parts she knew not where but would ask her daughter who informed me I might hear of her at Robert Francis, Plumber, at Bristol. I told her my business. She said she knew Mr. R. very well, that he lived at the opposite house [ a large handsome one, for the country ] had always paid his men [ the old woman said he had always walked with God ] that she sat up with him a week before he died and was with him when he died, that he was not ill to keep his bed more than a week, was very composed and calm and died without a groan. That Mr. & Mrs. Page had lived with him long, he as his foreman she his housekeeper, that he never had any wife, that Mr Page died before him after which he kept his house about 3 years. That he never was distressed but had always been imposed upon by the villains who worked for him, that he left what he had, when all his debts were paid, to Mrs Page but that Mr Priest had taken all and the old woman was never the better. That she never heard him say anything about his family (but heard from Mrs Page he often talked of a son he had [ Oh James, that cursed letter broke his heart, but say nothing to Harry about it for I sure he never meant it ] as this is all information I am likely to get here I shall set off immediately on my return to Bristol and if I can see Mrs Page I will give you another letter from Reading. This melancholy business so distresses me I hardly know what I write as you will see by my blunders. This life has few comforts for me and I am walking fast after the poor old man. May my latter end be like his. We have been too remiss. May God forgive us. My best respects attend all my good friends who are kinder to me than I deserve. Tell your wife I heartily wish her and her sister better health. May Mr. Humphrey do well. Tell Harry I long to hear a good account of his health and spirits and his wife that I heartily thank her for the kindness shewed to me and my boy whom I would wish her to send home as I am sure he must be an additional trouble to her considering her own family. I write this with tears in my eyes and have been longer perhaps than I need but as I know your temper I am sure you will not grudge the double postage of this. I have been often in great distress and my present circumstances are not very flattering but the distress of this day is the greatest of all to lose such a father and in such a way is too much for one. May heaven shower down his blessings upon you and yours is the earnest prayer of your unhappy brother.

John Man

Cardiff July 12th 1787

My Grandfather died April 7th 1783 aged 70.