Wincobank Hall

Rotherham

July 18, 1865

My dear Friend

Our dear Miss Amé DrazAmé-Draz, Rosine

A Swiss national, Rosine Amé-Draz (c. 1816–?) first arrived in England on 11 July 1838, listing her profession as teacher. In 1841 she was teaching and living in the parish of Egg Buckland, Devonshire. After spending an undetermined length of time back in Switzerland, she returned to England in July 1848, this time listing her profession as governess. According to the 1861 English Census (where she was recorded as “Rosine Ann Davy,” a native of Neufchatel, Switzerland), she was staying in the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Read of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. By 1871 she was serving as governess to the children of George S. Kemp, a wealthy Lancashire manufacturer. 1841 England Census, Devonshire, Egg Buckland, 11; 1861 England Census, Yorkshire, Ecclesfield, 56; 1871 England Census, Lancashire, Castleton, 1; “England, Alien Arrivals, 1810–1811, 1826–1869,” Ancestry.com. tells me she shall have room for a scrap of mine in the letter she is sending you. What a true faithful friend she is—I am so much enjoying having her with us for a few weeks, and I have been glad to hear of you from her.

I have often thought of you during all these dreadful, sanguinary times in America, and have sympathised in your anxieties and your dear Daughter's, in having those so dear to you exposed to such fearful dangers—But all that is over now,—and I trust you will soon all meet and rejoice together in what your Heavenly Father has done for you and for your race—It is, indeed, the Lord's doing—marvellous in our eyes—I had expected Slavery to come to an end by a much slower process, starved out by the growth of Free Cotton—but the pride & presumption of the Slaveholders has been overruled by God to bring it to a more speedy termination—Of course, there will be much suffering while they are in this transition state, and it will be long before either side thoroughly understand their position, their duties & their rights—But still they are Free & what a joyful

sound! What a mercy that however they may suffer they can never again be Slaves —"goods & chattel"—I believe they will be helped through the difficulties—I am so sorry you wrote, discouraging efforts in this country. It is such a pleasure to be able to send little offerings of christian love. M^r L. Haynes addressed our people here, and they were so much interested and the women & girls were delighted to make garments for their dear freed people, and the men & boys made knives & forks, so that we had a nice package to send them.

Will you give my kind regards to M^rs Douglass & your Daughter and believe me,

Very truly yours.

M. A. RawsonRawson, Mary Anne