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OLD 1836 MAINE SAILOR LETTERS + WABASH & ERIE CANAL INDIANA CONTENT
This INTERESTING & UNUSUAL Americana item is somewhat challenging to fully describe.
It consists of NINE (9) letters from most members of the John N. Williams family of Kennebunk, Maine, written to their son/brother at Indianapolis, IN, who was working as a surveyor on the Wabash & Erie Canal.
All nine letters (written in ink) are crowded together on 3 ½-pages front & back of an oversize piece of unlined paper, with each page measuring a large 11 x 17” in size. The bottom half on the last page is utilized as a STAMPLESS COVER with a red circle postmark for Kennebunk, ME and addressed to:
Mr. John H. Williams
Indianapolis
Indiana
Care Jesse L. Williams Esq.
Jesse L. Williams was the CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE WABASH & ERIE CANAL. He was probably an uncle of John H. Williams the letter’s addressee, who was apparently boarding in Jesse’s house and employed under him as a surveyor for the Wabash & Erie Canal.
In one of the letters, John’s father writes to his son: “The tours of YOUR SURVEYING EXPEDITIONS are pleasant to us to read, and we are doubly pleased in their being so pleasant to yourself. Probably one of these days you may furnish quite a TREATISE ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.”
Something of John’s work as a surveyor in Indiana might be surmised from what his sister Harriet writes: “I should love to visit the West, but not be pleased with the obstacles to be surmounted in frequenting those regions. SNAKES are vile looking objects and exhibit so malicious a spirit, it would be better not to venture near their coils and as for MORASSES AND SWAMPS, I dislike their exhalations, I should surely have the ‘ague,’ if not the ‘fever.’
Information within this document’s about John’s work on the State of Indiana’s Wabash & Erie Canal is quite interesting, but perhaps the most historical and informative part of this series of letters concerns the life of NEW ENGLAND SAILORS in the mid-1830s.
For instance, John’s brother Tobias writes in part: “I arrived at Boston on the twenty-first day of June after having 156 DAYS PASSAGE AND 124 DAYS OUT. IT WAS A LONG AND TEDIOUS VOYAGE. WE HAD A VERY UNPLEASANT CAPTAIN. HE WAS QUARRELLING MOST OF THE TIME; LEFT THE MATE IN ST. HELENA AND I THINK HE WILL SUFFER FOR IT. The Diantha sails well and is strong. Sailed on the 10th from Boston bound to the Havana Capt. Thompson.”
His brother Claudius, also a sailor, writes: “As I am SOON TO EMBARK ON THE OCEAN I thought I would write you a few lines. The Lima has just arrived from Trieste. She discharged her cargo in Boston and last night arrived here (I mean in Kennebunk). She will take in a CARGO OF LUMBER FOR RIO JANEIRO & from there either to some part of the United States or up the Mediterranean; same voyage she has just returned from. It is about A YEAR’S VOYAGE and will be quite a healthy voyage. She is now getting out her foremast and will soon get in a new one. She will be ready for sea in about 10 days or a fore night. I AM NOW GETTING MY THINGS READY FOR TO GO IN THE VESSEL, AS I HAVE BEEN AT HOME A GOOD WHILE. I AM MOST TIRED OF IT . . . Capt. Tobias Lord is a clever man and so I believe the mates are.”
Other interesting Americana topics are covered in the letters. Various family information and neighborhood news from Kennebunk, school-teaching, bee-keeping, and other interesting topics including PIGEON-HUNTING along the Maine coast in 1836.
Younger brother Henry writes: “I have JUST RETURNED FROM PIGEONING up on the turnpike. Got but a few. PIGEONS ARE VERY THICK NOW. Somebody makes a good haul almost every day. They shoot them off very fast. THEY KILL THEM ALMOST AS FAST AS THEY COME.
A full transcript of this series of letters follows:
“Kennebunk, July 25th (Monday) 1836
Dear brother John,
I now set down to say a few words to you of what is doing at home. We rec’d your letter Sunday night with great joy and are very much pleased to hear you are competent to the post you fill in society (civilized) and that you are amply remunerated thus for your services. And we are hoping (providence so ordering) that you may rise still higher in usefulness to mankind. I think you must task your intellect well and find plenty of exercise for your bodily power, which I hope & pray is conducive to your health. ‘The hand of the diligent shall be filled, but laziness clotheth a man with rags.’ Thus Heaven will reward you if you seek that bright world. And John you must remember YOU ARE EXPOSED (PARTICULARLY IN YOUR BUSINESS) WITH DANGER ON ALL SIDES. We know not what may be tomorrow.”
All the family at home of course. I am for one not gaining ahead very fast but this of mine is in truth an old story. All things are ordered by providence altho the wicked often flourish, those who cannot succeed in this world have no excuse for not gaining that bright world above. The ‘wayfaring man tho a fool need not err,’ doth not the potter have power over the clay? Be making one result(?) for honor, another for dishonor. All things are ordered of Heaven.
As for your home it looks in every form & feature the same as when you left. Poor place this for making money. We have had thus far a cold summer, rather a cool unpleasant (?) this. Should like to get a paper when convenient. I will leave all the news for the children & give way for them by wishing & praying for your health & prosperity.
Love,
William
Dear Brother,
I arrived at Boston on the twenty-first day of June after having 156 days passage and 124 days out. It was a long and tedious voyage. WE HAD A VERY UNPLEASANT CAPTAIN. He was quarrelling most of the time; LEFT THE MATE IN ST. HELENA and I think he will suffer for it. The Diantha sails well and is strong. Sailed on the 10th from Boston bound to the Havana Capt. Thompson.
I have concluded myself to rest this summer. It was very hot in Batavia and sickly. I was in the hospital 10 days sick with fever and most of the Crew. I FELL FROM THE FOREYARD IN BATAVIA: cut my lip a little but soon was able to work. Our cargo was coffee, sugar, and block tin. On our passage home we experienced a very heavy gale of wind off the Island of Madagascar. LOST OUR QUARTER BOAT AND SPRUNG OUR MAIN SPENCER HAFT BUT WE RODE IT OUT. We were on an allowance of water: 3 pints a man until we arrived at St. Helena and supplied with water and a few potatoes.
I have been reading some of your letters and am glad to hear you are doing so well and so well contented. I should be very glad to see you but we know not how soon. You must write to me all the news. THE PIGEONS ARE QUITE THICK. WE HAVE KILLED ABOUT 200. The bees have swarmed three times and things have taking a fresh start. Goodbye.
Your brother Tobias L. Williams
Kennebunk, July 25th 1836
Dear brother John,
This summer has been unusually cold, not much more so than last summer. Vegetation is very slow in its progress; we have not as yet seen any green peas, apples, or peaches. They are rare articles in Kennebunk. Strawberries have been very abundant. We had a large party, consisting of about seventy; the place of rendezvous was ‘Day’s Field.’ We had (after we had collected our sufficiency) an agreeable refreshment of cakes.
Father and Mother went to Portland last Thursday, and attended the funeral of our cousin Catherine Williams. She has been in a consumption for a number of months, but was only confined to her room four days. Unexpectedly, she was called from time into Eternity. How brief is our existence! In the morning ‘it growth up, but in the evening it is cut down and withered.’ Such admonitions are necessary to remind us of our mortality, and constant repetition scarcely makes the impression permanent that we are frail beings, liable to death at any moment.
I am glad you are succeeding in your affairs; you are certainly quite a traveler. It is extremely pleasant to explore new scenes and prospects. The mind is continually on the stretch, not wearied with one continued sameness, but entertained and instructed by the many varieties, which are constantly unfolding. I should love to visit the West, but not be pleased with the obstacles to be surmounted in frequenting those regions. SNAKES are vile looking objects and exhibit so malicious a spirit, it would be better not to venture near their coils and as for MORASSES AND SWAMPS, I dislike their exhalations, I should surely have the ‘ague,’ if not the ‘fever.’
We should have been surprised, but pleased to have seen Mr. & Mrs. Williams from Ohio, then we could have learned all the particulars respecting yourself, but I trust we shall yet be favored with a visit when it is convenient for them to journey East. Marion Watterston is here, from Boston, she is younger than Lucy. Dr. & Mrs. Lillie have left us- Campbell is to board at Deacon Garland’s one year. John is to remain with Capt. Hatch during haying season. Edwin is teaching school in the northeast extremity of Maine, I do not recollect the town. His elder brother became very intemperate and has lately died. I hope, dear John, you are of sufficient age to consider your habits. Be careful not to contract any which are vicious.
Harriet
Dear Brother John
As I am soon to embark on the ocean I thought I would write you a few lines. THE LIMA HAS JUST ARRIVED FROM TRIESTE. She discharged her cargo in Boston and last night arrived here (I mean in Kennebunk). She will take in a cargo of lumber for Rio Janeiro & from there either to some part of the United States or up the Mediterranean; same voyage she has just returned from. It is about a year’s voyage and will be quite a healthy voyage. SHE IS NOW GETTING OUT HER FOREMAST AND WILL SOON GET IN A NEW ONE. She will be ready for sea in about 10 days or a fore night. I am now getting my things ready for to go in the vessel, as I have been at home a good while. I am most tired of it.
I am very glad to hear of your good luck in getting such a good place. We received your letter a few days ago so I suppose that will be the last I shall hear from you again before I go away. WH & I have wrote all the news in K(ennebunk). I believe I must stop. CAPT. TOBIAS LORD IS A CLEVER MAN AND SO I BELIEVE THE MATES ARE. There is not much going on in K. Isaac Furbish is building him a new house. The rest will write all the news. Goodbye,
Claudius
(You must excuse me for I had a very bad pen.)
Dear John,
Henry, Francis, and I go to school to Harriet N. Williams.
Albert
Dear brother,
I am glad you are in such good business. I HAVE BEEN UPON THE PLAINS ONCE THIS YEAR AND WE GOT 11 PIGEONS. I hope to get a great many pigeons this year. Goodbye.
Francis F. W.
Dear brother,
I have just returned from pigeoning up on the turnpike. Got but a few. PIGEONS ARE VERY THICK NOW. Somebody makes a good haul almost every day. They shoot them off very fast. THEY KILL THEM ALMOST AS FAST AS THEY COME. I attend school at home this summer. I go up on the plains now and then pigeoning. I am well.
Your bees have swarmed. The first swarm have built a great deal of comb. The 2nd swarm we sold to Dr. Fisher for 8 shillings. It was a small swarm. Dr. is going to take it up next fall for the honey.
I am doing no business. I am the same old sixpence year after year. I believe I must close as I have no more news to tell you & as CLAUDIUS IS A RIGGING OUT TO SEA. You must write and tell all about your travels.
Your brother, Henry
Dear Son,
Your letter of the 5th was received with pleasure, & your continued health was to us a source of great satisfaction. Altho I believe not particularly wrote(?) to in yours, & we hope you will duly appreciate the importance of the blessing, & let your thanks ascend to him, who hath sickness & health, life & death, in his hands. Your diligence & advancement in your calling, your contentment & satisfaction, are a great pleasure to us. What language can express the feelings of a parent, in hearing of a child abroad finding (under God) a kind employer & friends to administer relief & supply the place of parents; this to us is a great consolation & a source of joy not easily to be expressed. The tours of your SURVEYING EXPEDITIONS are pleasant to us to read, and we are doubly pleased in their being so pleasant to yourself. Probably one of these days you may furnish quite a TREATISE ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Apply in all circumstances & situations in life to Him who is able to keep us from falling & to prevent faultless(?). Dear son watch & pray. Temptations are thick around, shun vicious & fascinating companions who would esteem it an honor to lead you astray, ever bearing in mind no one is out of danger while in life. Therefore or consequently, we are commanded to watch, & if it applies to all, how much more to the young. May the Lord help & keep you from every evil.
Give our best respects to Mr. & Mrs. Williams. Thank them for us. Let us often hear from you, your letters to us are important & we highly appreciate your attention & willingness to communicate & your letters are quite in demand.
Your affectionate father,
J. N or M(?) Williams
Dear John,
Mr. Owen Burnham died a month ago, sick only a week. He was coming from Bridgeton to preach for us but (?) would that week Thus life. Dr(?) John hangs on a thread.
Mother desires me to say she is very glad to hear such good news from you and wishes me to say (as she cannot write) you must be circumspect of your walk and be sure not walk with evil doers &c &c. John I have new confidence that you will take heed of the evils of wicked &c &c. I don’t know for my part what I shall do. It looks now like an empty bread trough with me.
Charles stays at home awhile longer as his Barque proceeded the 10th July for Savannah & declined the voyage. Tobias has been [on] a long cruise came from St. Helen as chief mate when they discharged the other mate. Did such treatment befall all, it would be fine going to sea. TOBIAS HAS HAD A HARD VOYAGE & A GREAT RASCAL FOR A COMPANION. Charles meant to write but as he is not here. He must write at another time. No one more anxious for you than he. Tobias is quite surprised at your getting such pay. Your letters are good & all are surprised at your success & office in the far West. Henry Lord broke his leg at Cincinnati, has just left here. Says he is sick of going to sea & wanted me to go, again, to “far West” & buy land. Dull music here John, dull enough. But I live in hopes.
Abigail sends love &c &c she is now quite well & all are pretty well. The Academy don’t prosper well. It is a great bone(?) &c. We heard Edwin was keeping school with Mr. Lettfield(?) in Bangor by Mrs. John Frost(?) who was up. Mentioned your letters, &c. She was much affected & went to see poor Augustus’ bedroom. I will write by & by John. Do excuse the bad penmanship & prize it none the less. Goodbye John as I must hasten to the office with, don’t delay again so long. Write soon.
Papers(?) shall go
William”
This old document has some age stains and a few small holes at the intersection of the fold lines. There is a tear at the site of the old wax seal. Overall, the letter is in quite good condition on old paper of great rag content. This great compilation of letters from a Maine seafaring family to their son working as surveyor on the Indiana Wabash & Erie Canal merits comprehensive further research.
Price= $550.00
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