Case 6135

The father of this child has been a very unnatural parent for many years. I believe that when quite a young man, owning to his intelligence, & the fact that his father was condemned in a [?] friends he got into comparing about his station & was as led away. The mother died 8 years ago : and the father married again & has now two children by the 2nd wife. I have seen the father [?]: but he was more like a madman anything else. His wife had left him & the children to live with her husband's sister -- for protection. They sent for me to persuade him to go away, when he came over to annoy her. The grandparents are very estimable people. His father was coachmen for about 20 years with the Revd. W, the Late Vicar of Wardle, on Rochdale. The grandparents have practically brought all the children up : and been very good to them But as for the the children seem to have shown but little gratitude. The eldest M was married as soon as she was 21, and when she ought to have stayed a little longer with her grandparents to help to support them. She now refuses to do anything for her younger brothers. The next girl M has also been persuaded to leave her grandparents within the last few months. The others cannot keep themselves. Of the Aunts, the eldest -- is one of the best daughters I ever met with ; & also one of the best personal helpers I ever had. The second M has heart disease & never works long at once. She has not worked for fifteen weeks now. The third E is not very strong, does not seem on average ways. The grandparents have [?] to endless expense through the evil doings of this boy's father and they are quite unable to do any more. If they cannot get this boy in some situation they will be obliged to send him back to his father. I have asked Dr. C of Butterworth Hall Milarow to furnish the medical certificate.
Signed W
2/4/97