Catalogue description Letters from James Tubb of Newhaven, mariner on the schooner Lewes Castle, to his future wife Mary Hoadly of Newhaven

For photographs of a painting and an engraving showing the launch of the Lewes Castle at Lewes on 2 March 1839, see PDC 21, 22

Documents donated 28 January 1999 (ACC 7819). The letters were found among the effects of Betty Stevenson of Brighton who, as Sister Bernadine, died at the Convent of the Holy Name, Oakwood, Derby on 24 December 1998

James, son of William Tubb, mariner, and his wife Sarah, née Duly, was baptised at Newhaven on 1 April 1821 (PAR 426 1/2/1); his parents had been married at Newhaven, with the consent of Sarah's father James Duly, on 13 July 1813 (SRS 26 428; PAR 426 1/3/1). Mary, daughter of William Hoadly, labourer, and his wife Mary was baptised at Newhaven on 28 November 1819 (PAR 426 1/2/1)

Captain William Tubb was the master of the brig Autumn, which traded between Newhaven and London, and owner of the Liberty. He died of cholera contracted in London during the epidemic of 1832-33 (Sussex Express, 4 September 1900, p3). He was buried at Newhaven, aged 45, on 4 August 1833 (PAR 426 1/5/1)

In 1841 Mary Hoadly was already living at Bridge House, Newhaven, the home of William Pettit, gate-keeper, and his wife Susannah (PRO HO 107/1112, f11, 11v - ESRO XA 19/4); James Tubb was not listed in Newhaven and was perhaps at sea. William Pettit was buried at Newhaven, aged 68, on 3 December 1844 (PAR 426 1/5/1)

The couple married at Newhaven parish church on 18 April 1843 (PAR 426 1/3/2). By 1851 James and Mary and their three children, including Susannah Pettit Tubb, were resident in Newhaven (HO 107/1643 ff 742-3). Their seven children were baptised at the Newhaven Congregational church in Meeching Rise as were those of his sister Ann Sargeant, the mother of William Tubb Sargeant, Newhaven's first Baptist minister. James Tubb was piermaster of Newhaven for 44 years, c1850-1894, and moved to Southover on his retirement. A report of the couple's golden wedding appeared in the Sussex Express of 22 April 1893 and of the presentation on his retirement in the same newspaper on 21 April 1894. He died at Southover on 30 August was buried at Lewes Cemetery on 3 September 1900 aged 78 (1 above, Sussex Express, 4 September 1900, p3; DL/B1/1/3)