Kosminski Letter

[Robert Linford]

A guy called Tubby played the tuba.

[Anna Morris]

It could have been worse - by another twist of fate she might have been known as Rachael Trumpet Seriously, it looks to me as if the letter is referring to a proper name, whether a surname or a middle name. Although "Belle" was the more common spelling of the latter, I have found several instances where "Bell" without an "e" at the end was used as a middle name. For example:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...a-bell-muzzell

Bell could have been a family surname or if she had been married perhaps she used her maiden name as a middle name. Rachel Bell is a nice name. Belle is a more French spelling so perhaps some English writers would assume a common British spelling. Another example is Jeanette written Janette and equated with Janet in some British records. MJK has been called Mary Janet Kelly in some articles of the day. I have found this does not get us any closer to MJK.

(I see my questionable suggestion got Robert wound up.)

[Tim Atkinson]

That being the case, we need to find a Rachael Bell who died in July 1889.

Regarding points 1-3 above, only the date of death is truly relevant. A slight misspelling (and a common one, at that) of Rach(a)el needn't necessarily rule anyone out, and neither should the distance from London. I have family in New Zealand and, if something happened to one of them, I might write to another relative saying "You'll have heard about uncle ____", so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that Rachael lived and died a considerable distance away from Dott.

Sam,
It took two weeks minimum to get correspondence between the continents in the 1800's.

[Sam Flynn]

Sam,
It took two weeks minimum to get correspondence between the continents in the 1800's.

What about London to Yorkshire, say? Or London to Berlin?

What about telegraph?

[Tim Atkinson]

Bell could have been a family surname or if she had been married perhaps she used her maiden name as a middle name. Rachel Bell is a nice name. Belle is a more French spelling so perhaps some English writers would assume a common British spelling. Another example is Jeanette written Janette and equated with Janet in some British records. MJK has been called Mary Janet Kelly in some articles of the day. I have found this does not get us any closer to MJK.

(I see my questionable suggestion got Robert wound up.)

Hi Anna.
The name Racheal (with the 'A') is important. Any other spelling is irrelevant.
Tim.

[Tim Atkinson]

What about London to Yorkshire, say? Or London to Berlin?

What about telegraph?

Sam,
I see your point and I have thought about that too. Why the distance? Does it have to be Australasia?
There is no postage envelope so, It could be anywhere.
Tim.

[Sam Flynn]

Sam,
I see your point and I have thought about that too. Why the distance? Does it have to be Australasia?

I only chose my relatives in New Zealand to make an extreme point. In 1889, I see no reason why "Rachael Bell" couldn't have died in Scotland or Paris, say, whilst "Dott" lived in London.

[Tim Atkinson]

I only chose my relatives in New Zealand to make an extreme point. In 1889, I see no reason why "Rachael Bell" couldn't have died in Scotland or Paris, say, whilst "Dott" lived in London.

Yes. That makes no sense to me either Sam.
Tim.

[Tim Atkinson]

I have had news today that my cousin has got the all clear of cancer. I have cried in joy. I go for my tests 24th and on-going. My sister died of cancer ten years ago. That broke me.
Does this letter matter?
Can we not just be us?
Can we not be humans and friends?
I'm not posting anymore as, I feel I'm causing animosity.
Take care folks. Love your Kin.

Tim XxX

[Anna Morris]

I have had news today that my cousin has got the all clear of cancer. I have cried in joy. I go for my tests 24th and on-going. My sister died of cancer ten years ago. That broke me.
Does this letter matter?
Can we not just be us?
Can we not be humans and friends?
I'm not posting anymore as, I feel I'm causing animosity.
Take care folks. Love your Kin.

Tim XxX

Tim: I hope all will be well with you.

I have tried to be very careful about what I have said. A while back I dealt in antiques though I pretty much stay away from printed or paper material. It is a tough market and I personally enjoy severe probing to prove or disprove what I believe. I learn that way.

I have inherited some extremely interesting things, some going back to the 1500s. I may or may not have a Chippendale table. I have amassed the family history as good as I can but provenance always needs to be explored. (I do not plan to sell any of these items.)

Concerning your letter, you obviously found it worth owning. Many of us buy things because they have special meaning to us, thus we cherish them no matter what. Your letter is a conversation piece no matter what and it could lead to other breakthroughs in research. Thank you for sharing.

I wish you the very best always.

[Sam Flynn]

Yes. That makes no sense to me either Sam.
Tim.

Pity. It made perfect sense to me.

[Debra Arif]

Hi Anna.
The name Racheal (with the 'A') is important. Any other spelling is irrelevant.
Tim.

I don't think that can be strictly true, Tim. For example the Rachel (without an 'a' )Hannah Bell whose death was registered in Belfast in August 1889 was registered at birth as Rachael (with an 'a' )Hannah Bell.

[Howard Brown]

Thanks for pointing that out about the spelling, Debs.
Xxxxxxx

[R. J. Palmer]

It could be that Rachel Bell will be difficult to trace. On the day of the census she may have been somewhere warm, oblivious to the needs of the statisticians and the bureaucrats, strolling along the beach, arm in arm with Mrs. Ham(m)ersmith and Hermione Dudley...

Of course, my new Australian friend has already proven me wrong once, so, who knows, there could be more surprises...

[Tim Atkinson]

Found Dott.
And maybe Walter. Research on going.
Tim.