Joseph Dann (1869)

Born 22 Feb 1869 in Fairlight, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Turley [send private message]

Biography

Letter transcribed by Mrs. Clifford Kimble and Mrs. Robert Hook (Daughters of Clifford Earl) from Joseph to an unknown Dann cousin in America:

Jevington, Polegate Sussex, England

10/5/19

My Dear Cousin:

It was with pleasure that I received your letter which I will try and answer to the best of my ability.

I am a son of William Dann and am still living in the village where I was born. I have four in the family, three boys and a girl. The boys have all taken part in this cruel war, but I am thankful to say all have come through allright with the exception of one being wounded in the arm. We often wondered if any of our American relatives would call on us during the war, but no one ever did.

I well remember Father talking of his sisters; Mary and Sarah and his brother Ephraim. George was the brother who stayed in England. He must have been dead close on forty years. I have heard nothing since, of his widow and family which I believe was small. Father has been dead about eight years.

I will tell you now of the rest of our family. There are eleven of us still alive, six boys and five girls. There are only two younger than I and I am fifty, so some of us are no longer young. I will give you their names and addresses so that you may write to any you may care to. I shall begin with the eldest:

Jane Dunstall, 45 Ocklynge Road, Eastbourne

Dorcas Ockendale, Ore, Hastings

Clara Pitcher, 124 Latimer Rd., Eastbourne

Mark Dann, Black Horse Inn, Eastbourne

Alfred Dann, Peak Dean, East Dean, Eastbourne

Hosea Dann, same as mine.

William Dann, The Old Meadows, West Drayton, Middlesex

Sarah Dann, Taylor

Millicent English, C.G. Station, Ballygall Cairn Cast, Ireland

Fred Dann, 29 Cavendish Ave., Eastbourne

I am afraid that you will think we are a bit numerous, but none of us have large families.

I think Clara was the last to write to some of your people over there. I think she took it on for awhile after Father gave up. I remember some potato chips being sent some years ago and we did not know what they were. Then a letter came asking how the potatoes turned out, of course we had not planted them. One thing more I remember is, we had an invitation from one Albert Dann to his wedding, he was a principal of a school and he was marrying a girl Alberta by name. I dare say you know them. I think I have told you all that may interest you so will close.

With love, from your cousin Joe.

Second letter transcribed by Mrs. Clifford Kimble and Mrs. Robert Hook (Daughters of Clifford Earl) from Joseph to an unknown Dann cousin in America:

Jevington, Polegate Sussex, England

6/6/27

Dear Cousin:

I will now try to answer your letter to the best of my ability. I must first apologize for not writing before, but I have a good deal of my time taken up in my work and do not like letter writing.

I don't know if I told you in my last letter that my wife dies 3 years ago last May. I am living with my youngest son. He got married just before she died and they lived with us, so we are still living on together. They have a son who is just beginning to chatter and get in to mischief, so we are not dull.

My other two sons are married, one had a daughter and the other a son. They are both policemen, one in London and the other in Eastbourne, 2 miles from here. London is 60 miles from here so we don't see that one very often.

My sister Clara, who used to write to some of your people, I am sorry to say died about 3 months ago, she was 76, she had not enjoyed good health for a long time, although she was better than usual for some months before she took ill and died rather suddenly. There are still 10 of us left, and only 2 younger than I, and I am 58.

I will now endeavour to answer your questions. My mother's name was Fanny Smart but I do not know what Grandmother Dann's name was. Of course I never knew them. Grandmother was dead years before I was born and Grandfather was gone to America. I remember Father telling us about his Mother dying when he was a young man. He bought his watch just before she died and when he showed it to her she told him she should want two to balance as I was so heavy. My oldest brother still has the watch.

If you wish to find out anything of our anticedents you should write to Somerset House, London. They keep all records there, but you would have to pay, I believe it is 2/6 for one inquiry, but of that I am not certain.

I should very much like to read the account of Uncle Charles trip to California. I should also like the record of the Dann Family which you speak of in your previous letter. You see I have never known any of my uncles or aunts, not even Father's brother who stayed in England.

I cannot think of anything else to tell you this time, except that my Daughter-in-law with whom I live says she would like to correspond with your daughter. Her address is Mrs. G. Dann, Willingdon Lane, Jevington, Polegate, Sussex, England.

Now I will conclude with Love to you all, I remain your loving cousin, Joe Dann

Sources

• Abbreviation: Charleen Dunn Harris Fewkes GEDCOM File. Title: "Harris Fewkes," supplied by Dunn, 21 April 2010; copy held by [RESEARCHER & CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PRIVATE USE]\. Author: compiled by Charleen Dunn [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE\,]. Note: professional family genealogist. Italicized: Y. Paranthetical: Y. Repository R1. Name: R. Steven Turley. Address: R. Steven Turley. 1481 W. 1170 North. Provo, UT 84604 United States. Phone Number: 801-377-5668. Phone Number: 801-372-1935