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This collection contains 18 letters, a musical score, and a poem related to the Fitch family of Hornchurch, England, and their temporary move to the United States in the early 19th century. Sarah and Eliza Jane Fitch wrote to their English relatives about the misfortunes they encountered while living in North America, and family members provided news from England.

This collection (20 items) contains 18 letters, a musical score, and a poem related to the Fitch family of Hornchurch, England, and their temporary move to the United States in the early 19th century. Sarah and Eliza Jane Fitch wrote to their English relatives about the misfortunes they encountered while living in North America, and family members provided news from England.

Sarah and Eliza Jane Fitch corresponded with Sarah's sister, Jane Bonus of Hornchurch, England, about their difficulties in Maryland and Massachusetts. They discussed family deaths, local epidemics, and news, such as the mutiny on the Globe (January 4, 1825). Other correspondence includes a letter Frederick Charles Fitch received from his mother while he sailed on the Weymouth (May 25, 1826), and a letter he wrote to her from Bonavista (now Boa Vista), Cape Verde Islands, describing local scenery and his sailing experiences (August 5, [1826]). Eliza Jane also received 2 letters from Jane Bonus, who reported news of Eliza's cousins and provided other updates from Hornchurch. Another relative of the Fitch family, Charles Cove, wrote 3 letters to Sarah Fitch in 1828 and 1829, in which he urged her to return to England. The collection also contains a letter that a Fitch family member wrote to a friend about a voyage from North America to England (September 1829).

The collection's additional items are 2 letters that Charles Cove and John Pytches Revett exchanged regarding Cove's desire to marry Revett's daughter (1843), a letter Jane Bonus wrote to Emily Fitch about local news (September 26, 1845), an undated poem commemorating Horatio Nelson's military victories, and an undated manuscript score for a song entitled "The Dove," written by B. Orme and T. Colkin of the 84th Regiment.

The bulk of this volume is made up of 15 military/navy songs, many of them variants of published versions. One song, beginning "In a mouldering cave" laments the death of General James Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham (pages 57-63). The volume also contains accounts and an inventory of clothes of General Harry Burrard, 1st Baronet of Lymington, and was likely kept either by him or by one of his close circle.

The volume was apparently rebound sometime in the 20th century with a 15th century manuscript cover.

• Harry Burrard/J. L. Nixon Account, June 4, 1798 (pages 2-5, 9)
• 1. Hunting Song, by Chas. Pawlett (pages 11-19)
• 2. Joe's Lamentation, by Chas. Pawlett (pages 20-33)
• 3. The Soldiers Adieu, by Dibden (pages 34-41)
• 4. The Sailors Adieu, by Dibden (pages 41-47)
• 5. Song, beginning "Vulcan contrive me such a cup" (pages 47-51)
• 6. Song, beginning "Come my lads time parts away" (pages 51-55)
• 7. Song, beginning "In a mouldering cave, where the wretched reside" (pages 57-63)
• 8. Song, by Sheridan, beginning "When twas night, and the mid watch was called" (pages 63-67)
• 9. Song, beginning "If gold cou'd lengthen life I swear" (pages 67-71)
• 10. Song, beginning "Bid me when forty winters more" (pages 71-77)
• 11. Song, by R. Cumbd. Esqr., beginning "What do I see before mine eyes" (pages 77-79)
• 12. Song, beginning "Then farewell my trim built wherry" (pages 81-83)
• 13. Hunting Song, by Chas. Pawlett (pages 83-97)
• 14. Song, beginning "Round duthers gay table some wish to be gambling (pages 99-103)
• 15. [Untitled], beginning "Dear Tom this brown Jug which now foams with mild ale" (pages 105-109)
• Accounting (pages 112-113)
• Acct. of General Burrards Cloaths (pages 117-118)