The William Hirst Letters
Between 1787 and 1798 a man named William Hirst wrote 13 letters to his parents in England. This blog explores the essential question – who was William Hirst? What were his life and his times like? And what difference does understanding this make to our lives?
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The Final Letter – #13 – Transcript – 24 July 1798
#13 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Grocer, Heptonstalll, Halifax, Yorkshire, South Britain Gibraltar 24th July 1798 Honor’d Father & Mother I once more take the opportunity of writing to you but with great concern I do assure you, for I have writ to you several times and can never receive any answer to my letters,…
Letter #12 – Transcript – 4 February 1798
#12 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Heptonstalll, Halifax, Yorkshire [Single Sheet] Gibraltar 4th February 1798 Honoured Father & Mother I once more have the opportunity of Writing to you, hoping this will find you in good health as this leaves me at present thanks be to the Almighty for it, I never received a Letter…
Gibraltar 1797 – “The worst place a soldier can lay in”
It is September, 1797. William Hirst has been stationed in Gibraltar for well over a year. He clearly hates being there. What kind of place is it really? Would it be any better with a wife at his side? Gibraltar I always thought Gibraltar was an island but it is actually an isthmus extending out…
The William Hirst Letters 1787-1798 