Charlotte Bronte | Autograph note, and 5 related items

Brontë family

A small collection, comprising:

i) Charlotte Brontë. Autograph note, written in the third person, to Miss Rushworth, sending her compliments to her and Mrs Appleyard and confirming that "she would be happy to see them to tea on Friday afternoon", 1 page, 12mo (115 x 95mm.), [Haworth], "Wednesday morning", integral autograph address leaf, seal tears not affecting text, spotting

ii) Rev. Patrick Brontë. Autograph letter signed, to Mr Rushworth, inviting him to attend a meeting called by the church wardens "in order to devise some plan - in lieu of a church rate, for keeping the church &c in repair", 1 pages, 8vo (192 x 115mm.), integral address leaf, Haworth, 14 September 1840, some staining to address leaf

iii) Rev. Patrick Brontë, printed in memoriam card, black edges, 76 x 115mm., with envelope addressed to William Rushworth and postmarked 15 September 1864

iv) Charlotte Brontë, carte-de-visite photograph of George Richmond's portrait of her, 105 x 65mm.

v) Carte-de-visite photograph of Haworth church, 63 x 105mm.

RELICS OF HAWORTH FROM THE TIME OF THE BRONTE FAMILY. The Rushworth family of Mouldgreave was one of the leading families in Haworth (there are some 50 Ruthworths buried at Haworth churchyard). The head of the family, Joseph Rushworth (1784-1870), was one of the trustees of Haworth church. In 1832 Hannah Rushworth (1806-1873) had married Samuel Appleyard, from another long-established Haworth family, and she is the "Mrs Appleyard" mentioned in Charlotte Brontë's note. "Miss Ruthworth" is one of her unmarried sisters, probably Mary (1816-1886), whilst William Rushworth was the elder brother of both Hannah and Mary.

Charlotte Brontë's note dates from the 1840s, when she was living at the parsonage and was heavily involved in local affairs.

PROVENANCE:

By family descent from Samuel and Hannah Appleyard of Haworth