Tachbrooke March $y^e$ 14

Hon:d S:r

I am very glad to hear by your servant of $y^e$ abatement of your illness for the true value I have for your family makes mee wish all health & happiness to you & yours, & $y^e$ beliefe I had $y^t$ my daughter could not be placed amongst more worthy persons, made mee offer a better fortune w:th her, than I ever did designe to doe to any & I am still in $y^e$ same minde & will ingage to secure her eight thousand pounds but can not possibly give her more than foure thousand pounds during my life the other foure shee shall have at my death & my estate in case I have noe more children: If I mistake not your letter you desire $y^e$ eight thousand pounds to be paid to you as your occasions require it, $w{:}^{ch}$ I am very sorry my circumstances will not permitt mee to agree too, for if $y^e$ foure thousand I give in present w:th your changing your estate $w{:}^{th}$ foure thousand more till $y^e$ other falls be not a sufficient securitie for $y^e$ provision for your younger children I shall say noe more in it, being unwilling my daughter should be an occasion of making $y^e$ concerns of any uneasy where shee comes, if this be consistant w:th your demands if you please to let mee know by a line or two by $y^e$ post I shall be ready for a further treaty, if not I shall w:th all sinceritie imaginable wish your son a more suitable fortune & $y^t$ both hee & you may be as happy in his choice as you can wish; & I hope you & I may live to renew our former acquaintance if not on this occasion yet on any other, $y^e$ friendship of such a worthy person as your selfe will all wayes be highly valued by

the misfortune was feared $w{:}^{ch}$ I write you my last is now befallen us $y^e$ death of good S:r Tho: Samwell it occasions great affliction in my family (as well as many others) he being my wives only brother both shee & I joyne in our humble service to your selfe & good Lady &c.

Dear S:r Your devoted faithfull humble servant

Tho: Wagstaffe.

Key Takeaways

• The Deal: Thomas Wagstaffe is offering a total dowry of £8,000. However, he can only pay £4,000 upfront; the rest is promised upon his death.

• The Conflict: The recipient seems to have asked for the full amount immediately ("as your occasions require"), which Wagstaffe politely declines, suggesting that if his terms aren't met, the recipient's son should find a "more suitable fortune" elsewhere.

• The Personal Note: At the bottom, he mentions the death of Sir Thomas Samwell, his wife's only brother, which helps date the letter to around 1744 (the year of the 2nd Baronet Samwell's death).