Letter from Daniel Gordon to King George, 8 April 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Daniel Gordon

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Letter from Daniel Gordon to His Majesty King George asking for the monarch's help in freezing yearly hawker's licence for 2 years due to his blindness and struggle to support his family.

 National Archives of Ireland NAI/CSO/RP/1916/10955/2 https://letters1916.ie/item/4426 English Daniel Gordon 1916-04-08 Flag Lane, Ballymena, co. Antrim, Ireland King George Buckingham Palace, London, England Male Industry and Public Administration Personal Relations Country and City Life

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 To His Imperial Majesty, King George V of Great Britainand Ireland, Emperor of India. Sir, I must respectfully beg to bring before your notice my caseand to humly ask for the exercise of your royal prerogativeand clemency. Some years ago I lost my eyesight and am now totallyblind. I was, in consequence, unable to work and as I had afamily of four depending on me, there seemed to be nothingfor us but to go into the Workhouse. Some kind people subscribed and bought a pony andtrap for me and with the help of my eldest son I have beenable to earn enough to support my wife and family by selling artices delph & through the country districts. To do so,I paid five shillings for a peddlar's license, but now theCustoms and Excise authorities have notified me that I mustpay £2 yearly for a hawker's license. This I am totally unable to do, and if I cannot go outas heretofore to earn something for my wife and familythere is nothing for us but the Union Workhouse. I have alwayspaid my way fully and honestly, and now that I am blindI am earnestly seeking some consideration from the authoritiesin asking that, in the meantime, I may be allowed to follow myoccupation of hawking and so prevent sin of us becoming aburden on the public funds. In two years time I could pay a license, as then mysecond child would be old enough to go out with me in thecart, and thus release the eldest for earning money by work. The police authorities or the magistrates of this town cantestify to the truthfulness of the statements I have made here.I would, therefore humbly beg for the exercise of your royalperogative in obtaining for me at least two years' exemption froman impost that I cannot possibly pay. I have the honour to be, Your Majesty's loyal and obedient subject, Daniel Gordon , Flag Lane.Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Ireland Daniel Gordon Letter from Daniel Gordon to King George, 8 April 1916 Buckingham Palace, London, England Telegram from Samuel Davidson to Frederick Ponsonby, 11 July 1916Letter from Thomas Mercer to Arthur John Bigge, 8 June 1916Letter from Edward, Prince of Wales to John Redmond, 31 January 1916Letter from Colonel Clive Wigram to John Redmond, 3 April 1916Letter from John McDonald to King George V, 26 June 1916Letter from Daniel Gordon to King George, 8 April 1916 Flag Lane, Ballymena, co. Antrim, Ireland Letter from Daniel Gordon to King George, 8 April 1916