Transcription of letter from William Allen Picknett (1863-1954) to son Sidney

                                                                                                                   Feb 27 1950

Dear Sid

          We were interested in your account of the treatment you are undergoing; it must be pretty strenuous. Take hope it will have the desired effect.

          I am glad you are interested in the origins of your family and I am sending you particulars so far as I know them, including the Indentures of the John Picknett who came from Whitechapel to Marske in 1776 at the age of 11 years.  I tried to type copies of the Indentures.  I have only one copy left - the others I gave to some other members of the family in Redcar, who seemed also interested, so please take great care of these.

          We know that he became a Master Mariner himself and traded in a schooner between Aberdeen and Whitby.  His sons were John and Richard, & it seems that they were chased by a press-gang from an English frigate, but escaped after a very hard row to shore.  Richard was so exhausted that he drank a deep draught of cold water which caused his death.  John was married & had 5 sons John, William Allen (my father who died in 1903), Charles, Richard & Thomas (were coxswains of the Free Gardeners lifeboat in Redcar).  Uncle Tom died a few years ago over 90 years old.

          I have never heard of any nerve trouble in our family; my father died from a duodenal ulcer, and my mother died at 95 yrs of age of old age.

          My grandfather John Picknett died about (writing unclear) yr of a cancer in the breast.  I remember seeing him in bed just before he died when I was a youngster about 7 yrs old.  I have been told that had a younger brother Richard Picknett, that they were both out fishing together when they saw a boat lowered from a frigate & start towards them, evidently a press-gang.  They managed to escape by hard rowing, but Richard was so exhausted he took a deep draught of cold water & died at once.

          I could give you various yarns of my boy-hood at Redcar, & will send you more if you would like them especially about the wrecks we had.  There was one furious gale when 12 ships were wrecked in the space of 10 miles in one night - one going through Redcar pier & 2 going through Coatham pier, but I shall have to dry up for the present.

          I hope your treatment will be successful & that you send me better news soon.

          Doctor was in last night & he says I am keeping on the right side, and no complications at present.

          With best wishes to all.

                                                                                                           Yours

                                                                                                                Dad