1848 Letter from Anne Loughlin to her sister Ellen (Ireland)

The Earl of Pembroke, Richard “Strongbow” de Clare (also FitzGilbert) led the invasion of Ireland as part of the larger Norman Conquest. Three of Robert De Valle’s sons, Gilbert De Valle, Stephen De Valle, and Hay De Valle, crossed the Irish Sea with Baron Raymond “Le Gros” FitzGerald from Pembrokeshire, Wales, in advance of Strongbow’s army.

Less is known about Samuel’s daughter, Betty, than his wife. Since the entire family was involved in Crompton’s business of cotton spinning and manufacturing, the letter assumes that Samuel Sr. kept his daughter up to date on his business affairs.

Very little is known about Crompton’s wife (there is even some argument about whether her maiden name was Pimlott or Pimbley). She was a spinstress, and the daughter of a West Indies trader, so she may have been middle class, and therefore, educated (could read and write).