1772.] TO HUMPHRY MARSHALL. ;,>;, 



dering thee any services, I can merit a continuance of thy friend- 

 ship. 



I have taken some pains to oblige thee, in endeavouring to 

 recommend thee to some seedsmen, &c, in England; but fear 1 

 have had but poor success, as yet. I shall, however, continue to 

 make inquiry, and if any should choose to employ thee, I .shall 

 immediately acquaint thee. 



In coming up to London, from Scotland, I came through Derby- 

 shire, in part to endeavour to gain some intelligence of thy fathei 

 age, as I remember to hear thee say that thee would be glad to 

 have it exactly ascertained. I made inquiry of some of the oldest 

 people in the neighbourhood of Gfratton (which was the place I 

 understood he once lived), but none of them could inform me any 

 more than one Marshall was born there, but was gone long 

 since.* But there are very few now living at the place, that can 



* The following extracts from two letters (on one sheet of paper), found among 

 the Marshall papers, will throw some light on this subject : 



JOHN MARSHALL, OF GRATTON, TO H. MARSHALL. 



Cousin Humphry : 



I not hearing of your family, of a great number of years, expected I should 

 never have heard of you more; nor had not now, but by Mr. Stores' inquiry 

 after your father's age, and whether any of his family or relations was living. I, 

 John Marshall, am all the nephew your father hath living, and live in a hamlet 

 called Gratton, in the parish of Youlgreave, and in the county of Derbyshire : 

 that is, I live in the same hamlet where my uncle Abraji was born, and all his 

 brothers. His brothers' names were Humphry, Samuel, and Jonx Marshall. 

 My father, Humphry, died when he was about sixty years of age, * 

 was a stone-cutter, or what we call a mason, and I learned the same trade with 

 my father, and still follow it. I am now in the sixty-eighth year of my age, and 

 have eight children now living, five sons and three daughters. 



* * * * Dear cousin, if these lines come safe to you, which I hope 

 they will, I beg you will be so kind, as soon as you conveniently can, as to send 

 me a few lines of the number and welfare of your family : for you see. by my age, 

 that my glass runs apace, and I must expect soon to be called hence ; but should 

 be glad, if God permit, to hear from you before I die. May the blessing of God 

 attend you, and all your family, and all your undertakings. 



This from your loving cousin, 



John Marshall. 



Gratton, August 14th, 1771. 



JOSEPH STORRS TO H. MARSHALL. 



Chesterfield, 8th month. 28th, 1771. 

 Friend Marshall : 



Thy letter to my father came duly to hand : agreeably whereto, I have made 



