Shep's Place Family Tree

Edmund's older brother, a teacher at Lowcester, died when only twenty years old. Their father died two weeks later, leaving Ann and Edmund to fend for themselves. Edmund was given one of the free school scholarships by his village. When he was 24 he married Elizabeth Wells, and Grandmother Carey henceforth made her home with Edmund and Elizabeth. Their first child was named William. He became the grandmother's special care....As soon as the boy was old enough he took charge of his father's garden.

According to Polly, Edmund, her father was reserved and slow to praise his children.

Edmund's response when William wrote to tell him that he was going to Bengal was, "Is he mad?"

"Carey's schooling came to an end in 1775 when he was fourteen, and his future employment had then to be decided. He was short, heavyset, and strong, and would have done well on a farm had he not suffered from a skin allergy which outdoor work aggravated." He became an apprentice to a shoemaker at Hackleton.

May 1816
Letter from Mary Carey to William: 'Mother ‎(i.e. stepmother)‎ is likely to live but a short time. Ann wishes to have our dear father with us, if mother dies, and if he can make up his mind to leave the old spot. All our children desire it. But we dare not press it. I know old people seldom like to move.'

June 1816 'Sister has gone to fetch our dear father. He says, "Like Jacob, I will spend my days with my children."

'Dear Son and Daughter,
We received your letter date May 3, 1810, on Nov. 28 following, and are glad to hear that after your illness you are so bravely recovered again. We hope the Lord will preserve and bless you both together for many years to come. We have been comfortably provided for by the blessing of the Almighty and by both your kindnesses, for which we return our grateful thanks. For my own part I have been blessed with extraordinary good health for the whole year. Your mother is tolerable well in health, only very lame and helpless. We are glad to hear of your success in the Mission, and that the translation of the Scriptures into the Oriental languages goes so rapidly on. We are glad to hear that Felix is likely to do well in the Burmah empire. Give our kind loves to him. We must include in one letter our loves to them all. They are all young. We should be glad to be favoured with a letter from each of them at any opportunity. We are glad to hear of William's escape from the danger you mentioned ‎[the wild buffalo]‎. Our kind loves to him and his wife. We are glad to hear of the proficiency Jabez and Jonathan make in the languages. We are glad Peter ‎[Thomas' son]‎ is well, and that he is steady and careful. Poor boy, he must be among great temptations in the soldier-line. Eustache makes great progress in his studies at Mr. Sutcliff's. He often preaches at one place or another in the neighbourhood. Mr. John Hands, son of Mr. Charles Hands of Roade, who is lately arrived at Madras as a missionary, we read in the Evangelical Magazine, was at Rangoon with Felix and Mr. Chater. You don't mention his being at Serampore.
We conclude with our kind loves to you both,
Your affectionate father and mother
Edmund and Frances Carey"