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On the 30th of April 1837, Anne and Ann have an argument.
Starts with Ann going to their room and Anne following her, only to find George, Oddy, and Cookson 'crying and all wrong' and Cookson 'impertinent the latter tho worst'.
Then, things escalate.
#AnneListerCodeBreaker
1/17
Starts with Ann going to their room and Anne following her, only to find George, Oddy, and Cookson 'crying and all wrong' and Cookson 'impertinent the latter tho worst'.
Then, things escalate.
#AnneListerCodeBreaker
1/17
Ann is very upset and issues what is essentially a bit of an ultimatum:
"A-[Ann]s health could not stand it I must choose between her and Cookson whom A-[Ann] said I had said I would not turn away"
Anne is silent for about 1/2 hour while Ann makes her displeasure known.
2/17
"A-[Ann]s health could not stand it I must choose between her and Cookson whom A-[Ann] said I had said I would not turn away"
Anne is silent for about 1/2 hour while Ann makes her displeasure known.
2/17
Then, Anne tries to de-escalate the situation:
"said turn them all away and quietly talked to that
purpose said what I could unoffensively for Cookson"
3/17
"said turn them all away and quietly talked to that
purpose said what I could unoffensively for Cookson"
3/17
"That I wished A-[Ann] had someone in view but she must
please herself it is indeed melancholy we shall see not be able to get and if we do get shall
never keep a good servant"
That night, Anne stays with Ann until 11 1/2.
The problem, though, is far from solved.
4/17
please herself it is indeed melancholy we shall see not be able to get and if we do get shall
never keep a good servant"
That night, Anne stays with Ann until 11 1/2.
The problem, though, is far from solved.
4/17
On the 1st of May, the argument continues:
"A little while again with A[Ann]what a temper! She now throws the Cookson business all on me and repeated the alternative of my choosing between saying how ill I had behaved in saying I would not turn C[Cookson] away"
5/17
"A little while again with A[Ann]what a temper! She now throws the Cookson business all on me and repeated the alternative of my choosing between saying how ill I had behaved in saying I would not turn C[Cookson] away"
5/17
"I said as last night I had not said exactly that however I with perfect temper told A[Ann]to do as she liked but I thought as I had done before it would be foolish to do so on the present grounds"
6/17
6/17
"A[Ann] had a pother and cried and dressed herself I told her C[Cookson] would not understand all this &c. &c. Till A[Ann]told me she was too ill to bear more lecturing and I walked off"
7/17
7/17
Things are still polite the next day, but there's still tension:
"I went upstairs at 10 1/2 and found her on the sofa – looking tired – she said she was very poorly – but did not want me – begged me to leave her quiet –"
8/17
"I went upstairs at 10 1/2 and found her on the sofa – looking tired – she said she was very poorly – but did not want me – begged me to leave her quiet –"
8/17
"hearing A-[Ann] go to her room (in about 10 mins not more) – went to the door – but locked and no possibility of admission –"
Anne isn't buying the sudden illness:
"A[Ann]s illness a regular bad temper for I know not what –"
9/17
Anne isn't buying the sudden illness:
"A[Ann]s illness a regular bad temper for I know not what –"
9/17
On the 3rd of May, it seems Anne and Ann are on the path to making ammends:
"went to bed to A[Ann] (...) she came to me and would have been fondling but I was too sleepy and tired"
Things stay pretty normal for a few days.
10/17
"went to bed to A[Ann] (...) she came to me and would have been fondling but I was too sleepy and tired"
Things stay pretty normal for a few days.
10/17
Then, on the 8th of May, something unusual happens:
"sat at table till 9 when A-[Ann] went off to bed, and on my going to her door at 9 1/2 found it locked – she had letter from her sister this afternoon – disappeared –"
Similar stuff:
11/17
"sat at table till 9 when A-[Ann] went off to bed, and on my going to her door at 9 1/2 found it locked – she had letter from her sister this afternoon – disappeared –"
Similar stuff:
11/17
Things go back to normal for a few days and there are even the cuddles I mentioned in another tweet.
But Ann is still locking herself.
On the 12th of May:
"(A-‘s [Ann’s] door locked so did not see her)"
12/17
But Ann is still locking herself.
On the 12th of May:
"(A-‘s [Ann’s] door locked so did not see her)"
12/17
Ann is once again in a bad mood that day, but Anne plays it cool.
Then, she wonders how she can 'do with her in society'.
Anne muses if Ann's temper is due to pride and wonders if she will be rid of Ann once Aunt Ann Walker dies.
But: 'I must do the best I can.'
13/17
Then, she wonders how she can 'do with her in society'.
Anne muses if Ann's temper is due to pride and wonders if she will be rid of Ann once Aunt Ann Walker dies.
But: 'I must do the best I can.'
13/17
Things cool off over the next few days, but then the matter resurfaces on the 17th of May:
"She would have nothing to do with Cookson"
14/17
"She would have nothing to do with Cookson"
14/17
But then, finally, Anne relents:
"Very well look out for another but advised getting a better before she parted with C-[Cookson] poor A[Ann] what a miserable temper"
After this, Ann wasn't in a bad mood anymore.
15/17
"Very well look out for another but advised getting a better before she parted with C-[Cookson] poor A[Ann] what a miserable temper"
After this, Ann wasn't in a bad mood anymore.
15/17
These arguments seem to be the climax of little problems with the servants that have snowballed.
Linda has a great thread here:
This happens months before and is probably the event that gets the ball rolling until the argument in Apr/May 1837.
16/17
Linda has a great thread here:
This happens months before and is probably the event that gets the ball rolling until the argument in Apr/May 1837.
16/17
This thread focuses solely on the major events until the matter with Cookson is apparently solved.
In 1836, Anne had received references from Cookson that alerted her to possible problems, but she apparently overlooked that in favour of Cookson's skills.
17/17
In 1836, Anne had received references from Cookson that alerted her to possible problems, but she apparently overlooked that in favour of Cookson's skills.
17/17
After reviewing the page that contains this passage, I have an correction to make:
Ann was the one 'crying and all wrong'.
The servants were all impertinent, but Cookson was the worst of all 3.
Ann was the one 'crying and all wrong'.
The servants were all impertinent, but Cookson was the worst of all 3.
