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 #8 – Transcript – 24 April 1796

#8 Address Panel missing Hirst Letter #8 - 24 April 1796 - Detail. Private Collection. Poole 24th April 1796 Honoured Father & Mother I Writ to you some time ago but never received any answer, whether the Letter miscarried or not I cannot tell, Hirst Letter #8 - 24 April 1796 - Page 1. Private...

Letter #5 – Transcript – 2 July 1795

After 19 months with no word from their errant soldier son, Henry and Lydia receive THIS news. 225 years later we wonder - how did they respond? What went through their minds - and hearts?

Poor William Hirst – Sick and alone in the General Hospital of Tournay, 1793

In today's post, we look back from 2020, where we are in the midst of a pandemic crisis ourselves, to 1793 only to find our poor Private William Hirst sick and alone in the General Hospital of Tournay. https://www.statnews.com/2017/10/18/health-care-politics-aca/ I have been 6 Weeks in the General Hospital in this Town in the Fever and...

Letter #4 – 24 November 1793 – Transcript

The saga continues! Letter #4 in which our new soldier finds that the 18th century has its own version of covid-19 ...

Helveotsluys – A Tale of Two Soldiers – 200 Years Apart

... we set sail from Leith on the 19th March bound for Helveotsluys, and when we got there we was ordered from there to Bergenopzoom, and from Bergenopzoom to Antwerp, at which place we landed on the 12th April after a pleasant passage, and marched through the Country to this place, which is the finest...

You’re in the Army now, Mr Hirst!

Today's post is written by Douglas Fyfe, longtime friend and colleague, in response to William Hirst's Letter 2 - 12 March 1793. The more we know, the more we want to know - with the biggest question being why would he ever join? Mary Tivy’s useful link to the Flanders campaign does point to the...

Give my love to … my Wife and Child

It’s a bit like a movie, isn’t it? As our man embarks on the sailing ship that will take him from 1787 New York to the West Indies, the screen fades to black … and then the image of Edinburgh Castle appears with the words ... Alexander Nasmyth (1758-1840). Edinburgh Castle and the Nor' Loch...

Letter #2 – 12 March 1793 – Transcript

#2 Addressed to Mr. Henry Hirst, Heptonstall near Halifax, Yorkshire, South Britain Hirst Letter #2 - 12 March 1793 - Envelope Fold. Private Collection Edinburgh Castle 12th March 1793 Honour’d Father & Mother This comes with my duty to you hoping this will find you in good health as it leaves me at present thanks...