Personal and Business Correspondence
The Ritchie Family & Business Correspondence series holds a rich collection of genealogical correspondence and documentation. Many of the letters are exchanges between James, Robert and Daniel Ritchie about the operation of Blackwood, sheep sales, and general pastoral interests, between the 1840s-1860s. During the 1890s a genealogical tree of the family’s lineage was compiled, providing a handy access point into the history of the family and its relationships.
This piece of correspondence from Daniel Ritchie in 1863 to his brother Robert in Scotland is an example of a cross letter. UMA holds many other examples of nineteenth century cross letter writing in its remit. Its main purpose was to make the most efficient use of available writing paper which was in limited supply at that time This letter was later transcribed into a typed copy revealing Daniel’s concerns about land clearing, business and the health of neighbours.