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The letter as we have it is evidently a copy, made by someone who had difficulty reading some of the words. When the copyist couldn't read a word, he or she put a dash instead. The end of the letter is lost, but it is impossible to say whether it was missing from the original when the copy was made or whether the end of the copy is missing. WMW refers to this letter in the interview with JWW3 (p.7); that is the source of the name of the writer.
The writer refers to his son William having married last Dec. 5 (1804). According to the IGI, a certain William Wheatley married Sarah Swindell in Greasley parish, 5 Dec. 1804. Two children of William and Sarah Wheatley were baptised in Greasley, both named Thomas (presumably the first died young): one on 17 Jan. 1814 and one on 1 Jan. 1815. Another William Wheatley in the area was a farmer at Kimberley Knoll who died intestate in 1806, leaving his wife Sarah. The writer of this letter refers to another person, perhaps another of his children, who is married with three children and lives at Kimberley Knoll, and to a certain John, again possibly his son, who lives in London and works for Lloyds.
Whatnoll, Jan. 12 - 1805
Dear Bro. & Sister,
I have wrote to you several times and I expect you never received them, my reason for thinking so is because I did not pay the Inland Postage. I hope you will receive this safe and all our loves to you and family when I received your last you said you had let your farm and had almost built a house in North'd in order to begin on your business which I hope answers your expectations, I expect you know that I have removed to Clarks old house and the day but one after I moved into it Mrs Harrison the owner died which was in May - - - - it came to her children and in divid - following - - - to sell it and share the money, I bot the house - - - and 5 acres. for 650 lbs - I bt 8 acres - for 245 lbs. and the - for 410 lbs - I have now rebuilt the house - manner which does credit as its the best on the - and we have a very good business to it, my son William is home with us and is married the 5th of Dec. last - married and has three children, lives at Kimberly Noll. - house Wm Walker lived in <p.2> and the malt looms we gave boot for the whole they have a very good trade there, sells more Ale than we as its got so populous since you was here. John is in London and has been 7 Yr or more, he is not married, is in the corn trade and failed about 2 yrs since - has not been able to get his certificate again yet he is not doing business on his own acct - He lives on Tower Hill, has a large house and takes in boarders and lodgings - get a very good living now - has a situation at Loyd's in the Insurance line, I bought 54 Lpiy(?) at Kimberley of Mr Boune(?) all the Tythe of Corn - Hay and gather it in, - I have a Lease of for 16 yrs to come - Have 21 acres of Land of Clays farm there, so that in the whole we have 100 acres. I do not do anything at my own business - as I have plenty else, I inspect the weights and balances for the county for 55 towns on the south of Trent district & a deal of other business besides for the county I generally go to London 7 or 8 times a yr on their business I am now going to Newcastle in Northd. and the weather is intensely cold, I cannot set off until after next Tuesday as I must attend Derby Assions. and Monday [rest of line blank]