[[1]]
April 19/[18]80
Dearest Hyacinth *1
I could not get this off in time to meet you on your birthday with my fondest
wishes for many of them, & may this find you stronger than you now are -- for
indeed you make me very anxious. Many many happy returns & a thousand
kisses to you.
We left Torquay at 9.20 this morning, the irrepressible Mr Newman turning up
& travelling with us to Exeter when I get out, Bentham going
[[2]] on. At Exeter I made (through Mr Newman who knows everybody),
acquaintance with a Mr Dymond, a good acquaintance, who has kindly
promised to follow up the Baring connection. We went to Heavitree (where my
grandfather was born) & I went over all the Births deaths & marriages for 1600--1760
with little success. I found the marriage of a Miss Hooker of Exeter with a
Loveing. Also the baptism of various Dodds. Probably my great grandfather
married a Dod[d], who seem to have been Heavitree people.
I saw the House in "Paradise place Exeter", where Rebecca Hooker died, a
pokey place,
[[3]] but the House where she lived was in very nice quarter & must have been
very genteel in its day. Did I tell you that [2 words crossed out, illeg.] Newman
found through Mr Dymond that a Mr "Hucker" was hung at Heavitree by Judge
Jeffreys, for taking part in the Monmouth Rebellion -- this (if Hucker is Hooker)
tallies[?] with what my grandfather told me of his grandfather. Possibly his
property was seized & hence my grandfather's poverty.
I left Bessy [Elizabeth Evans--Lombe née Hooker] in bed with bad neuralgia -I was not sorry to leave Torquay I got quite miserable thinking of my mother &
passing
[[4]] the house so often daily. I want you most truly on such occasions.
I left Exeter at 3:50 & arrived in London at 8:20 & here 9:30[.] Willy [William
Henslow Hooker] came in soon after from dining at Dyer's & I have had tea and a
chat.
There is a letter to Fitch *2 in my care from the Treasury -- I hope it contains
his pension warrant.
I am to sleep in the spare room.
Ever Your Affe[ctionate] | J D Hooker [signature]
P.S. How shall I go down on the Friday?
Fitch has a pension of £100 a year.
Love to all & to Gracie [Grace Ellen Hooker] in particular
ENDNOTES
1. Lady Hyacinth Hooker née Symonds later Jardine (1843--1921). Joseph
Hooker's second wife, they married in 1876.
2. Walter Hood Fitch (1817--1892), botanical illustrator, left Kew in 1877
following a pay dispute.
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