Following is a letter from Nicolas Preston to his daughters prospective husband Robert Bray dated April 28th 1896.
Mr Rbt Bray Burton Upon Stather,
New Crofton Doncaster.
Wakefield 28th April 1896.
Dear Mr Bray,
Your kind letter of the 12th January to hand duly on the 14th January. I have felt it very keenly
this losing my daughter but I hope my loss will be your gain. You will think me very unkind in not
answering yours sooner but I felt I could not bear the thought when it enters my mind it seems to
unstring me altogether. As you say they seem too young to launch on the ocean of life. I would
have liked them to stay a year or two longer but they seem to have made up their minds and I do
not want to interfere with them to mar their love and happiness. As far as the union is concerned
I have no objection by what I have seen and know of your son George I think him a very steady
and quiet young man and I think he will make Edith a good husband.
I suppose by your letter they are thinking of living with you for a short time, I hope you will all
agree and Edith I hope will be to you as she has been to me a good daughter which I shall miss
very much when gone. Though I must say I believe in one family in one house it sometimes is
unpleasant and perhaps disputes arise in families which would not arise if the families was
distinct in habitations but I trust such will never be the case with you and George and Edith.
My sincere wish is that they may be healthy and happy and a joy and pleasure both to you and to
me and if we live to be old we shall be able to look on them with pride and admiration.
I shall be coming over to see you sometime this summer if all be well then I hope to see you and
yours well and have a look round the pits. Should very much like Mr Allen to come and see the
brick plant he has said he would like to come and look around.
Give my kind regards to Mrs Bray
and family and Harry and receive
the same yourself
From yours faithfully
Nicholas Preston