Writing letters has always been an important part of my life so I was delighted to work on this project for Seventeen Nineteen, combining my love of letter writing, vintage handwriting and history.
I’ve been a keen letter writer since I moved to London in my early 20’s, I must have sent hundreds of letters over the years to family and friends. Having studied history at university I have a particular interest in vintage handwriting, especially handwritten letters.
In February 2022 I went along to Holy Trinity Church in Sunderland to meet with Lily Daniels, Participation and Engagement Officer at Seventeen Nineteen, to discuss projects we might work on together.
Holy Trinity is a beautiful Georgian church which has recently undergone a £5 million renovation, sensitively restoring the original features whilst creating a stunning event space and cultural venue for heritage crafts, Seventeen Nineteen.
As soon as I saw William Elliott’s poignant letter I knew I wanted to do something based around this wonderful, handwritten note. Dated August 1897 the letter was found hidden under a pew during the recent renovations. Written on the back of a faded Order of Service by the 13 year old William Elliott, it addresses the reader as the “Dear Friend” who may find it and asks to be remembered as “the leading voice” of the choir.
Researchers at Seventeen Nineteen discovered that William lived at Sunderland Orphan Asylum (which can be seen from the church, just across the Town Moor) and sang in the choir at Holy Trinity. He was due to leave the orphanage to join the Navy, something he would have dreaded as his own father, chief officer Thomas Duncan Elliott, was lost at sea in 1887.
William was due to be discharged from the Orphanage just a couple of months after he wrote his note expressing his fears for the future. Although most boys from the orphanage were destined for a life at sea, William luckily found a job with a local solicitor, Mr Herbert. Sadly we don't know what became of William after 1901 as no more records could be found.
Coincidentally, during research for this project I discovered that my great uncle and his twin brother lived at the orphanage in the 1940’s, the same place William Elliott called home all those years ago.
Inspired by the history of Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1719, I decided to make Georgian style hand folded letters, using beautiful Colorplan paper made in the English Lake District.
Envelopes were not widely used in England until after the 1840’s, before then a letter was a single sheet of paper, written on, folded and sealed with wax.
If you’d like to take part in the Dear Friend project, please contact Lily Daniels including your postal address at 17nineteen@thecct.org.uk or call 0191 560 0288.
You’ll receive a letter telling you about the project and a hand folded letter sheet with a wax seal so you can write back.
UPDATE June 2022
I'm delighted to say that after much hard work by genealogists, both professional and amateur, we now know what became of William.
1883
William is born in Sunderland on 29th October to Thomas Duncan Elliott and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Barker), one of four children. Thomas is a Chief Officer in the Mercantile Marine (a forerunner of the Merchant Navy).
1887
On 9th December Thomas is sailing on the merchant vessel Skyros, carrying a cargo of wood from Sundsvall in Sweden to Dordt in Germany. Battered by a violent storm and overloaded with more lumber than she could safely carry, the ship dipped sharply into a wave and Thomas is washed overboard and drowned.
1891
William's mother, struggling to provide for him and his two surviving sisters, reluctantly places him in the Sunderland Orphan Asylum, which cares for the sons of dead or injured mariners. Funded by sailors at the port city, the orphanage provides a decent education including seafaring skills.
1897
William, aged 13, writes his “Dear Friend “note and hides it under a pew at Holy Trinity church where he sings in the choir. In October, when he turns 14, he leaves the orphanage where records show that his conduct throughout the years had been "very good”.
1901
On the census, William is working as a clerk for a local solicitor and living with his mother, Sarah.
A young William Elliott (Image: Erin Barrett)
1903
On 3rd March William sails from Glasgow to New York on the steamship Columbia, giving his occupation as 'clerk'. He is travelling to join his older sister, Edith, who had married California-born Alexander Stuart and travelled to America in 1900.
When he arrives in America 20 days later, with just $25 in his pocket, William moves to Newport, Rhode Island - a sailing mecca. With the seafaring skills he has learned at the orphanage, he enlists in the US Navy on 26th October, just three days before his 20th birthday.
1908
William marries American born Dora MacIntire on 3rd August and they go on to have two children, William Jr. and Edith. Records show he is stationed at Boston, Massachusetts, where he rose to the rank of Chief Yeoman.
1916
William becomes a US citizen and is honourably discharged from the navy.
As a young US Navy officer (Image: Erin Barrett)
1918
At the outbreak of the First World War William re-enlists in the US Navy and is assigned to the pay corps. By 1920 he has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
US records show that in 1923 William's sister Edith, aged 43, accompanied by her daughter Louise, 21, sails aboard the Cunard steamship Scythia from Florida to England to visit her mother in Sunderland.
1936
Dora, William’s wife, dies aged 52 years.
1939
William retires from the navy and settles in San Diego California.
1941
When America joins the Second World War, William reenlists
working as a supply officer and reaching the rank of Commander before retiring again at the end of the war.
During his naval career William has served on supply ships, submarine tenders, destroyer tenders, the repair ship Vestal, at the Cristobal submarine base in Panama, and at the Boston Navy Yard, before commanding the supply department at the Naval Training Centre in San Diego.
He has an active social life in retirement belonging to officers' clubs, military associations, a Masonic Lodge and a men's club. In 1962 he marries again to Boston-born Mabel Frances, who dies in 1962 and finally weds a third time to Florence, who survives him.
1968
William dies in a San Diego retirement home on 27th April, aged 84, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his second wife, Florence, his daughter Edith, son William Jr, sister and eight grandchildren. He was cremated and interred in Arlington National Cemetery alongside his first wife Dora.
William Elliott’s headstone in Arlington National Cemetery (Image: Arlington National Ceremony)
To end the project I decided to write a letter to William, telling him how his story was of great interest to many people, inspiring them to write their own letters in response.
Dear William,
125 years ago you sat here in a pew at Holy Trinity, just across the Town Moor from your home at Sunderland Orphan Asylum, and wrote a heartfelt letter to an unknown Dear Friend who you hoped would remember you. A 13 year old choir boy you had lost your father and been placed in an orphanage by your mother to give you an education and the best start in life she could; you were fearful of what the future would hold for you out in the world.
Little could you know as that uncertain young boy what adventures lay ahead for you, a life across the ocean in America; a career in the US Navy, retiring at the rank of Commander and a family who today number dozens of great-great grandchildren who are only now uncovering your story.
The discovery of your letter was of great interest to people in Sunderland and beyond (as far away as America!) and they wanted to know what had become of you, hoping your life had been a happy one. As a local calligraphy artist, I was very touched by your letter and working with the Seventeen Nineteen team at Holy Trinity, we sent out letters to anyone who requested one telling them your story and hoping we would receive some replies. Many people took the time to write addressing their letters to you, sharing their experiences of being lonely and uncertain or with memories of Sunderland and Holy Trinity church.
This letter is to thank you for your intriguing note, penned all those years ago and hidden beneath a pew for more than a century, which has brought people together sharing their stories and experiences. We are so delighted that your story had a happy ending and we want you to know that you are remembered, dear friend, and will be for many years to come.
With warmest wishes,
Jules Eachus, calligrapher for the Dear Friend project
& the team at Seventeen Nineteen, Holy Trinity.
p.s. the enclosed pressed daisies are from the churchyard at Holy Trinity, in remembrance of your home town.