We have received digital copies of a bundle of letters and transcriptions from David Jackson in America which had been written between 1837 and 1844 mainly by his 3x great-grandmother Mary Jackson, a resident of Redlingfield to her son William Jackson who had emigrated to America in about 1835-36. These letters give an interesting insight into the life and conditions for the farm workers at that time.
After a bit of searching on the Internet we discovered that in fact Mary Jackson together with her husband and family had already been to Canada and had a daughter Ann born in Toronto in 1821. It would seem likely that her husband had died in Canada and so she had brought the family back home to Redlingfield. Her eldest son William had married Martha Pulford in Redlingfield in 1829 and then taken his wife and four children to America in about 1835.
Her second son Charles went with his brother but came back again to Redlingfield in November 1836. One letter tells us that he got shipwrecked near Plymouth on the way home and had to pawn his coat in order to pay his fare back to Redlingfield. The letters also suggest that he came home to find his sweetheart Susan Boon who he married in about 1837. Other letters say that he is happy working for Mr Platfoot at Hill Farm and is allowed to keep a cow for his own use, however “his heart is still in America". His fourth child was born in Redlingfield in 1846, but by 1850 the American census shows him to have a small farm in Illinois which was nowhere near his brother William in Westmoreland, New York.
The letters describe general life in Redlingfield, listing who had died who had married and who was in prison. At one point William's grandfather Charles had broken his leg on the way to collect his wages (at the age of about 84!) and had to leave Redlingfield for a while to stay with his son David in Southolt. He was later able to return to the same house in Redlingfield. Research shows that despite his badly broken leg he didn't die until 1847 at the age of 91 leaving a widow Mary who died at the age of 92 in 1851.
There were other letters in the bundle that had been written by the Whittons, who lived in Lilac Cottage as it is known today, to their two sons. One of these mentions them learning the trade of boot making in America saying, “if you had been at home, you would not have the chance to learn a trade”. And from David Pulford the brother of William Jackson's wife and one from a young Harriot Fellingham whose parents had left her behind in Redlingfield as maidservant to Robert Bolton the wheelwright. One letter tells of snow that lay seven feet deep against Mr Bean’s shop. This was one of the two wheelwright premises in the village situated very close to the site of the old school.    
David Pulford wrote “Mary and John would come (to America) but the parish will not send them as the expense would be too much”. He also tells of burying “our poor weak boy John” and “my wife was delivered of another son last week, she is very finely but the child a poor thing, we think it will not live long”. In January 1840 Mary says that the price of letters is being dropped to 8d coming to her and 1s going out to William. A letter dated March 1841 tells of Rookery farmhouse being “quite pulled down and a new one built”. There was also news of several deaths in the Cracknell family.
Some of these letters described how terrible the conditions were in England with the rich having everything and the poor having nothing. They seemed to think that the parish should pay for them to go to America because it was not possible for people to save enough money to pay their own fare.
William Jackson did in fact improve his prospects in America and made enough money on his farm to be able to pay for his two sons to go to law school. Something that would not have happened if he had stayed in Redlingfield. His younger brother Charles did not prosper quite so well and although on the 1850 Illinois census he was listed as a farmer, by the 1860 census he was a labourer. A previous article featured young David Jackson who tried to set light to a barn at Rookery Farm in 1844. He was William’s cousin.
Research for this piece was carried out by Stephen Ling. Below are the full transcripts.
Linda Hudson

Transcription of letters to America
These letters were written by residents of Redlingfield between 1837 and 1844 to their relatives who had emigrated to America in about 1835-36. The majority of the letters were from Mary Jackson to her son William. Other letters in the bundle had been written by:
William’s brother Charles, 
Henry and Maria Whitton to their two sons,
David Pulford of Wickham Skeith, the brother of William Jackson's wife Martha.
Harriot Fellingham whose parents had left her behind in Redlingfield. She later joined her parents in America.
Charles Pyett who seems to have written several letters on behalf of other people but has added his own notes as well.

All the letters were addressed to William Jackson leaving him to distribute them to the appropriate person.

These letters give an interesting insight into the life and conditions for the farm workers at that time.

Short history of the Jackson family
Records show that Mary Jackson’s husband, William (Senior) had joined the Royal African Corps in 1806, a year after the birth of their first son William. He was discharged in 1813 and returned to Redlingfield where their second son Charles was born in1816. The Jackson family then emigrated to Canada and had a daughter Ann born in Toronto in 1821.It would seem likely that William senior had died in Canada and so Mary had brought the family back home to Redlingfield. Her eldest son William had married in Redlingfield in 1829 and then taken his wife and four children to America in about 1835.

Her second son Charles went with his brother but came back again to Redlingfield in 1836. One letter tells us that he got shipwrecked near Plymouth on the way home, and had to pawn his coat in order to pay his fare back to Redlingfield. The letters also suggest that he came home to find his sweetheart Susan Boon who he married in about 1837. Other letters say that he is happy working for Mr Platfoot at Hill farm and is allowed to keep a cow for his own use, however " his heart is still in America". His fourth child was born Redlingfield in 1846, but by 1850 the American census shows him to have a small farm in Illinois which was nowhere near his brother William in Westmoreland, New York.

William did in fact improve his prospects in America and made enough money on his farm to be able to pay for his sons to go to law school. Something that would not have happened if he had stayed in Redlingfield. His younger brother Charles did not prosper quite so well and although on the 1850 Illinois census he was listed as a farmer, by the 1860 census he was merely a labourer.

William (senior) the son of Charles and Mary Jackson was baptised in Redlingfield in 1761 One of the letters recounted that Charles had broken his leg on the way to collect his wages (at the age of about 84!) and had to leave Redlingfield for a while to stay with his son David in Southolt. However. he was later able to return to the same house in Redlingfield. Despite his badly broken leg he lived until 1847 when he died at the age of 91 leaving a widow Martha who died in 1851 at the age of 92.

(Letter addressed to)  William Jackson, Oriskany, near Utica, Oneida County, New York State, North America
24 Feb 1837
Redlingfield Feb 24, 1837 England
(To William & Robert Whitton from their parents)

Dear William and Robert, this comes with our kind love to you hoping to find you in good health as it leaves us all at present.  Thanks be to God for it.  Dear sons, we received your letter Feb 18th with the greatest of pleasure.  We were glad to hear you were well and getting on well and like the country.  I hope you will keep yourselves steady and take all the care you can and keep yourselves from bad company. And I hope you will not forget finding a place of worship. And I hope you will remember your creator in the days of your youth.  Why I write this was if you recollect what trouble you got yourselves in by not attending a place of worship along with me as I would a [have] had you. 

Your grandfather and grandmother desire their kind love to you and are glad to hear you are getting on well.  Your uncle and aunt send their kind love and are well.  Dear sons, we cannot think of coming this spring. We wish for you to continue in the county. As, our minds are still inclined as we cannot see any prospect here at present.  We think of coming in another year if it can be convenient. We wish you to mind and learn your business so as you can make me a pair of boots when we come.  And we are glad to hear you have an opportunity of learning the trade.  We esteemed it a favor of William Jackson and we hope you do the same.  For, if you had been at home, you would not have the chance of learning a trade. For, if you had been at home and had happened the misfortune, you must come under the Poor Law now. We hope you will not forget to recompence William Jackson for being a friend to you for writing, and house, and home.  I hope you would not forget what little learning you have got.  Dear William and Robert, we think much about you.  So, we must conclude saying we remain your affectionate, Father and Mother.   [Mr. and Mrs. Whitton or Witton]

(Neighbours of the Jacksons living in the “Blue House”)

(To William & Martha Jackson from Mary Jackson}

From your mother: Dear son, I received your letter February 18 (1837) with great satisfaction in hearing you are all well, as through much mercy we are the same.  Dear son, your brother Charles got home November 29 – that was on the Tuesday (1836) and he got work on the Thursday at Mr. Creasy at Horham at 7 shillings per week.  My dear son, your brother had a very rough passage for the ship was wretched and they were forced to lay up in Portsmouth. And when he came to London, he was forced to lay his frock and waistcoat in pawn to get home with and has not yet redeemed them yet. Believe me, I felt myself very much surprised to see him when he came home, for I was in hopes he would remain there and been a friend to me.  As he and you know that [this] island is in a great need of it. My dear son, I find it hard to get a living, for things got worse instead of better. My dear son, I can truly say that I have not been happy since you left. And, I feel persuaded that I shall not be till I be near you, which is out of my power to come without assistance from you.  And what you cannot assist me in, I must do endeavor to beg if the Lord should spare me till another spring.  And my dear young Mr. George Cracknell saw the letter and when he got to that part concerning my going, he said I was well in for that.  For I feel, I fear I should not have anything from the harvest. I was informed by Mr. Noble that went from Soham as he is over from Canada, that your wife’s sister and husband are living at Little York [current day Toronto]. and doing very well.  Dear Son, Thomas Pyett is well and sends his love you. Thomas Pyett writer -------

And Charles sends his kind love to you. The first day we set sail we got our bulwarks knocked in. When we land at Portsmouth, cast 1 anchors, 2 anchors, 150 chain cable fathoms, we was blown back 3 miles and the ship ran aground and almost in pieces so as that she could not come to London.

You wished to know if I had heard from your brother James. I have not [heard] of him, only what your brother Charles inquired when he came home.  But he could not get any intelligence about him.  Your brother gave me the letter as soon as he came home.  He informed me of what you heard of your brother, but I trust it is not true.  Charles, he quarters at William Muddork. He sleeps on the same room he did when you were here. Mr. and Mrs. Thorndyk send their love to you.  And I am glad to hear you great mentioned them.  We were very sorry to hear they turned out as they did.  As he, Charles, said he would write to you. When he writes to you, I wish you to write to me and I will be at the experience of it. I wish you would be so kind as to send me word [of] how his spirits were when he left last, whether he did not repent.  We were very sorry to say that we have never heard nothing about John.  Mr. and Mrs. Fellingham send their kind love to you.  They hope you would let their sons know they are very well and the reason they did not send answer before is because they are under an expectation of going this spring. They will write as soon as they know whether they be a going or not. Your Grandfather and grandmother are well and send their kind love to you. And John and Mary Muddork send their kind love to you and are well.  Charles Pyett sends his kind love to you and are glad to hear you are well.  We have had a long, cold winter with large falls of snow. The snow lay against Mr. Bean’s shop 7 foot deep.  There was 25 men a fortnight clearing the road.  We have had a wonderful [terrible] sickness throughout the kingdom, 2 to 3 thousand buried in 1 week in London.  They were taken by the influensa.  So we must conclude by saying we hope you well as now as possible. So we remain you affectionate mother and brother, and neighbours.    [Pyett]                                                                            

To Jackson Whitestown, Oneida County, New York State, North America
May 14, 1837
To the care of Mr Pole
American Packet Office, __________,  London
[The envelope also has written on it May 14, 1837, Pulfords.]
(David Pulford the brother of William Jackson’s wife Martha. The Pulford family have connections in Southolt)

Dear sister and brother.  It is now over twelve months since we saw you but have had the privilege of hearing from you and are glad the good hand of Providence conveyed you all safe to your desired earthly haven.  Since you left England, many changes have taken place – but not for the better. The rich men are making a prey of the poor and crushing industry down to the ground –I think there is a great woe hanging over England  –  for the Lord will flay the wicked and break in pieces the oppressor  –  we are all in a land of plenty and good laws are established  –  but the new Poor Law in its operation is very bad and the farmers who should be the poor man’s friends are his worst enemies – this you have witnessed when in England you felt some of the hardships which we are now laboring under –   we have had a very long cold winter and spring up to the present time – thousands of poor souls have been half starved and almost naked,  and it is an increasing evil -- we had a heavy fall of snow on the 29th October  so that may say that seven months out of twelve has been winter  – but the crops are promising well and is likely to  be a fruitful summer except the very early fruit and they __ signify but little to us ---- The farmers has had a good year their crops yielded well and sold pretty high --______ has been selling from 25 to 34 shillings per coomb – Barley 20 shillings per coomb –beans 16 __ and wheat is rather dropping.  This time flour is now selling about 2 shilling / per stone. It has been up to 2 shilling/9 pence – Pork is about 7 shillings per stone, Beef 8 shillings, Mutton 7.  These we get but little of.   _____ and potatoes is our principle diet among the town.   The rich are filled with pride and their eyes stand ____ with fatness.  They have more than hearts can desire.  But one thing we are privileged with – which is the Bread of Life ---- men have endeavored to steal this away but they could not because they could not find room enough to bestow it – Therefore, that which they could find, would cease. Readily let us take – and it prories a Blessing --- no doubt ____ you have got this precious bread in America.  Bread supplies the needs of all God’s people at one the same time whether in England, Scotland, Ireland, Europe, America, and all the world are one in Christ.  There is but one communion in Christ, the true Bread of Life __ This bread never gets moldy nor old it is the same when ruined years sink into _____when all the creatures help fail then the fullness of Jesus is the same --- I hope we may examine ourselves daily to know whether we have eaten of this true – for he that eats of this bread shall never die – but shall live when Death itself is Dead  -- search the scriptures for they are they who testify of Jesus the son of God.

____wished to send word if I could hear of Sarah.  I saw Mr. Noble who has returned from America to England. He has given me the directions where to find Mills as follows --- Mr Mills, near Mr Gables Esquire, Etobicoke, Upper Canada, North America – which if you go or write, you will find them. Mr. Noble drank with Mills the night before he left and he says Mills is doing well. He has got the worth of stock amount, 150 pounds.  You will let me know if you have found them next time you write.  We hear good accounts from America in general.  It is reported in England that there are 8 packets fitting up at New York for the purpose of coming to England for Emigrants – And, it is said they will take them from England to America for ____pence per head and find their own provision  -- if this be true, there will be a good part of England come – the reason no more come over now is because they have no means for it.  It is well known our nation is divided. As such it cannot stand.  We have got a race of caterpillars in our land which destroys both the leaf and fruit.  We have a race of man eaters who delight to press and grind the face of the poor.  We have a race of noblemen (so called) who are living ___ all the pleasures Luxuries this world can afford. We have also a race of good spiritual well-meaning men.  But very few of these have any power to act towards the general benefit of manhood.  But by reason of this salt the nation perseveres. – but woe, woe, woe be to the   ____tants of the world for the end is near when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.  Pray caution your neighbors not [to] be high minded – but maintain the union of Master and man to sit at one table – for you know in England the master will scarcely admit a poor man to look into the back house and deprive him if he could of partaking of the water, which came down from the clouds free.  The farmers in England are the greatest enemies the poor man has. We have plenty of everything growing in our country.  And every creature would have a plenty and to share if matters were rightly decided – but alas, alas, of England were it thou. Thy beauty is crass and thy pride is stained with cruelty and oppression --------.

Mary and John would come but the parish will not send them as the expense would be too much. – They are well.   Send their love to you hoping you both and family well.  Mary has got 3 children. – We understand you have got another since you left England.  We have buried our poor weak boy John the______.  My wife was delivered of another son last week, 18 May.  She is very finely, but the child, a poor thing, we think it will not live long.  Old Aunt is well and sends her love to you and would have wished of you could make arrangement to come over to Southolt fairly [soon] and spend a few days with her. She has made plenty of custard.  Our Betsey and David are off this morning to see her and to stop a few days.  Samuel C. and wife and family are well and send their love to you.  I know not of much alterations at Redlingfield since you left. ___ of your last letter that you are getting on well – having some land and about to get a cow so you may take your remo_____ as a kind interposition of providence.  I hope you are thankful for his kind mercies. It is a land of plenty and liberty.  Our’s is a land of flesh and bondage.  – Our crops are promising well – we are about to have a very fruitful summer.  This spring being very late – the frost and ___ not likely to do any harm. --- Write as soon as you can to me.  Let me know much about the country as you can.  I do not promise I shall not come – not at present.  I cannot see a way for it.  Let me know how you get on about religion in America – a great number of societies in England are splitting and because integrity about the love of many was cold.  Dear Sister and Brother, we ____ you ____.

D and P Pulford  (David & Prudence Pulford, Wickham Skeith)
White.  Sunday May 14. 1837
[based upon the remnants of pages that don’t fit the documents as scanned, it seems a page is missing from this packet]
England May 22 1837  (from Henry & Maria Whitton)

Dear Sons, this comes with our kind love hoping to find you in good health.  We are all better.  We have been very poorly, but we are getting the better of it, thanks be to God for it.  Your sister Betsy has been very sadly the last 5 or 6 weeks, but she is getting the better of it.  Dear sons, your grandfather and grandmother are both well and send their kind love to you. Your uncles and aunts are all well and send their love to you.  Dear sons, we hope you are settled and comfortable.  We shall be glad to hear you are doing well.  We hope Robert will mind and learn his business well and keep himself from bad company.  We hope you both will attend the worship of God.  Dear sons, we see no prospect of coming at present as there is no assistance from the parish at the present. You mother stills has a desire to come.  Dear sons, we have sent you a small present by Mrs. Fellingham.  We should like to have sent you a bigger [present] but is quite out of my power. Your mother sent it with a kiss.  So, we conclude by saying is no more at present from us.  Your affectionate, father and mother. (Mr. and Mrs. Whitton)

William Jackson, respected friend, this comes with our kind love to you hoping to find you in good health, wife and family. And we are glad to hear according to your last [letter], you are doing well.  I am very glad to hear William and Robert take your house for their home. We feel thankful to think we have a friend in a foreign land. I hope my sons will think it so and I hope they will recompense you for it.  When you get a letter send it to us.  Henry Whitton

When you send a letter, send us all the news you can about your country and yourselves. Charles Pyett is well and sends his kind love to you.   We will be always glad to hear of your welfare.  And C. Pyett hopes your mind is not wholely cast away about the [suffering] of the body. As I shall always be glad to hear of the welfare of your soul, not only yours but your wife’s.  Dear friends, we have sent you no account about the country. We leave you to inquire of John Fellingham.

I hope you can read this writing. So we conclude by saving our respects.  Friends to you all of you.    Redlingfield

William Jackson, Oriskany, near Utica, Oneida County, New York State, North America.
Redlingfield. Nov 22 1837

My Dear Son and Daughter, (From Mary Jackson)

We received your welcome letter, date Sept 3rd and was rejoiced to hear you were all well, and it leaves us all well. Blessed be God for it.  Accept our kindest love to you both, and to the dear children. And our kindest wishes for your welfare and happiness. And, your brother, Charles, is working for Thomas Cracknell and he seems contented here at home for the present.  – As to poor James, I have not heard any tidings of, but wish that I could. – As to your wife’s thinking, it was a slight of her not been mentioned in that letter was the writer’s fault.  Hannah Cracknell, the writer of this, desire my best respects to you and to all my ______ around you. And, would be glad to know in your next whether you posted that letter to my brother or no.  And, I have the pleasure reading and answering of your American letters.  You would have laughed to see and hear me read the first letter you sent. I had to go and stand in my yard to read it. There were so many assembled to hear it.  They said the renters were come.  I don’t know whether you have had Mills proper direction. I will mention it once more:  Mr. Christopher Mills, Etobicoke near Toronto, Upper Canada, North America.   you left – Please to send us all the news you can.

Thomas Pyett, your aunt Betty Pulford is well and sends her love to you both and children.  And your grandfather and grandmother are well and send their love to you both.

Your brother Charles is like the song. He is returned safe back again to the girl he left behind him.  As to news, I don’t know any particular.  If this is news, I know not, that King William died this summer and we have got a Queen Victoria, long may she reign.  And times I think for the better are beginning to dawn in Old England –

So Adieu for the present from you affectionate parent Mary

Redlingfield November 24th 1837. Harriot Fellingham to her father and mother:
(An earlier letter from the Whittons mentions that her parents left for America in the spring of 1837.  A later letter of Noveember 1842 mentions a parcel sent with Mr Fellingham’s daughter. In vi Fel she must have joined her parents in 1842.)

Dear Father and Mother, this comes with our kind love to you my brothers and sisters hoping to find you in good health as it us at present.  Thanks be to God for it.  I am living with Robert Bolton (wheelwright).  I have let myself for the year.  I went to live at Eye but did not stop but very little while. Dear Mother, I hope you will not think John Rose will be a friend to me as he has not been near me since I sent the last letter.  I hope although he has slighted me you will not.  I hope you and my brothers will not forget you have a lone sister in England.  I hope you will take the first opportunity of assisting me to come to you as I feel a great desire to come to you for I do not feel settled here.              

 William Jackson. I hope you will so good as to forward these lines to my father and mother as soon as you can. I hope they will answer these lines in your next letter.

(Mr. and Mrs. Whitton to their sons):

Dear William and Robert this comes with our kind love to you both, hoping to find you in good health as it leaves us all at the present. Thanks be to God for it.  Dear Sons, we received your letter with joy and were glad to hear you were both well and were sorry to hear that William was lame but were rejoiced to think there was an opportunity of getting over it.  We hope that you will consider your privilege of being so situated in a better county than this.  Although in a better country then this, you must not think of being exempt from trouble.  Your Mother says she wishes she was in the country with you.  Your mother still feels a desire to come to    __________  [cut off during scan because of letter condition].          Parish would send us. Your grandfather and grandmother desire their kind love to you and are glad to hear __________________.        [cut off during scan because of letter condition]. 

Your grandfather is very well but your grandmother has been very poorly.  Your Aunt Maria has been _________for 9 weeks.  Your uncle, William and Aunt send their love and are glad to hear from you.  They are all well.   Your _____________send their love to you. They grow and learn their_____________________ and I hope you will.    _______ your brother, George, sends his love to you. He has not forgotten you yet for he is very often talking about coming to you.  Your sister Maryann that you have not seen is a fat jolly girl much like Robert. I hope you will not forget to keep yourselves strong and to find a place of worship.  I would be obliged to you or Mr Jackson to send me word whether you do, or not.   Dear sons, I hope you will consider that it gives us the greatest pleasure to hear of your welfare although in a foreign land. Dear sons, if it was the Lord’s will, we should like to see you once more in the flesh.  I should hope that would not be so long before you write to us again as we thought it long.  So Dear sons, we conclude by saying we remain your affectionate Father and Mother.  (Henry and Marie Whitton)

To William Jackson, respected friend, we send our kind love to you and wife and family.  We still feel ourselves obliged to you for such a kindness for our sons.  We hope your wife do not count it a slight of our not mentioning her in the last letter as it was through a mistake in copying as your mother got your aunt at Eye to copy it out.  Charles Pyett sends his love to you and is still wearing your old cap in the barn according to your wishes.  I should always be glad to hear of your welfare both temporal and spiritual.  Dear friends, with respect ot times her there have been little to no alteration since you left. We have had a plentiful harvest.  We had an abundance of fruit, particularly of apples.  They sold for as little as 3 shillings per sack, good fruit.  Mr. and Mrs. Thorndike have heard from their two sons.  They are in Florida, both soldiers. Poor old Buck Adams has got into Wortham workhouse.  So, we must conclude by saying our kind love to you and your wife.  (From Henry and Marie Witton)

For William Jackson
Whitestown, Oneida County, New York State, North America.   9 Jan 1840

Dear Son (From Mary Jackson)

I received your kind letter on the January 18 [1839? or Jan 9, 1840?] and could not possibly answer it before.  But I have taken the earliest opportunity to answer it and I am extremely glad to hear that you received my letter and likewise that you and wife and family are well.  Dear son, I have been waiting to [hear] from your brother, James, but cannot hear from him.  If you should see him or hear of him please to send me word for I begin to be very uneasy about him.  Dear son, I am sorry to send you word that your grandfather has perceived a misfortune of breaking his leg and being in years it cannot be set.  Therefore, he is very unwell.  That was done about 5 months ago, he was coming to Redlingfield for his pay. He lives at his son David’s at Southolt and he and your grandmother send their kind love to you.  Dear son, your brother Charles sends his love to you and his wife, and their minds are at America.  But circumstances will not permit them to come for they [parish] will not send them and they cannot raise the money to come themselves, for poor people cannot save any money.  It is as much as they can do to make two ends meet.  For the parish officers will not send any more [families].  Their Little boy William is all over a Jackson for his features are very much like your children and begins to be very engaging.  He moved at Michalmas [ September 29] and lives next door to Mrs. Mills and works for Mr. Platfoot, has worked ever since May and has got a very comfortable home and I say will continue with Mr Platfoot.

Dear son, your wife’s Aunt at Southolt sends her kind love to your wife and you.   And she is glad to hear you are all well and prosperous in your doings.  Likewise, her brothers and sisters are well and send their love to you.  And John and Mary Muddok send their love to you dear son.  We forgot to send you word that we had very fine races on Cranley Green the 11 July last.  And it was estimated to be 7 thousand people there and between 50 and 60 wagons there. And there is to be races every year. It was counted to be the finest race ground in Suffolk. Caroline Jackson is married to a man of Occold, a brickmaker.  He says he is not 30 years old.  But he must be older than that for he looks old enough to be her grandfather.  His name is William Ablet.  John Rose is married to a daughter of old Mr. Shellman of Birnfield [Barnfield].  Joseph Revell is dead about 3 months as left a wife and 3 children.  Old Mr Sage is dead.  We have never heard about John Baldwin.  We do not know what has become of him.  John Green is in prison and Edward Harvey of Willby and Bottright of Horham.  They have been robbing Redingfield, Hoxne and Occold and long from trial.  And we expect they will be transported.

Dear son, flour is 2 shillings 6 a stone.  Men wages are 1 shilling 8d a day. Thomas Mudduck and Charles Pyett send their love to you. And poor old Humfry Mark declining all thoughts of coming to America. Mr. Revell and Mrs. Revell send their love to you.  Barley is 1 pound a coomb and wheat 1 pound 10 shillings, Beans 1 pound a coomb, and that has been the price all the winter.  Dear son, we have had a very favorable winter for it has been very mild, and not any snow at present.

Mr. and Mrs Thorndike returns you and Mrs. Jackson their sincere thanks for your kindness about their son, Charles.  And would be greatly obliged to you if you would send word to him for him to write to them and likewise for him to endeavor to find out [about] his brother John for they are very unhappy about him not hearing anything of him, only what you mentioned in your letter. They have been looking for him expecting he would come home. Please tell Charles to write to the regiment and perhaps they know which way that he went when he left them. Please tell him to write to them directly. 

Mrs. and Mr. Whitton send their kind love to her 2 sons.  And they are glad to hear they are both well.  But they are sorry to hear that they did not receive their letter for they sent a letter to them in September last. Mrs. Whitton will be obliged to her sons if they will send them a letter as soon as possibly they can.  Please tell them that the family is all well at this present time.  We are glad to inform you that the price of letters is dropped.  They are 8 pence coming to me and 1 shilling going to you.  That makes it convenient.  Please write as soon as you please.  I shall always feel a pleasure in receiving a letter from you all.   I conclude with our kind love to you all from, your affectionate Mother, Brother, and Sister.  M. Jackson.

William Jackson, Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York State, North America. March 16, 1841.  Posted at Eye April 7, 1841. Redlingfield March 16, 1841

My dear son and daughter.

I once more embrace the earliest opportunity in writing to you and was very glad that you received my letter.  I received yours with much gladness and am happy to hear from you what consolation pen and paper give to convey filial love to each other, so far distant.  I hope you will receive this letter and pray God it will meet you and wife and family well, as bless God, it leaves us all at this time.  I am sorry you have met with such misfortunes by am glad that David had not to lose his limb. It is a hard thing for him as it is I pray, God to provide for him for when we are the weakest, He is the strongest. I am also sorry of the misfortune you met with but glad it was of no material consequence as to wholly lose the use of it. I am thankful to the Lord for it. It is unfortunate for you to lose so long a time. The poor are not so well off here as in America.  Fine flour here is 2/7 (two shillings/7) per stone.  Seconds 2/5 (2 shillings/5) per stone. Men’s wages 10 shillings per week. You must think they can have but little else but bread.  Times here are very hard for poor people.

You wish to hear all the news you can.  I have nothing particular.  The Duke Charles Jackson is married to widow Sage that belonged to this parish.  They lived at Colchester. They were brought home. He died at Athelington. They have been married about two months.  They were put into the great house [workhouse] at Eye directly and have been there ever since. He had not much comfort in a married life.  All are parted in the [work] houses. Children the same.  They are parted from their parents.

Mrs. George Cracknell at the hall is dead. She died about a year and a half ago. I forget whether I have sent you word of it before. Mrs. George Cracknell at the shop is dead. She died much the same time as Mrs. G. Cracknell.  He is still a widower. The farmhouse (Rookery Farm), where Mr. Benjamin Cracknell lived, your old master, was pulled quite down and a new one built. Charles has the farm.  Pulford and wife send their kind love to you both. He has sent two letters and not received an answer. He would be glad if you could write as soon as possible. I sent him your letter.  They are all quite well and all desire their kind love to you and wife. Aunt Pulford desires her kind love to you both.  Mr. and Mrs. Witton desire their kind love to you and both her children.  She does not think of coming till next spring.  She hopes they have received her letter. She sent one about last Christmas.  Mrs. Thorndike desires her kind respects to you and much obliged to you for sending her word of Charles. Hope you would trouble yourself to write to him to say his mother thinks him rather undutiful in not writing to her and to send his address and tell Charles not to be afraid of the expense.  Mrs. Thorndike would have written but did not know his address.  She wishes so to hear from him, for she has a [great] deal she wants to say to him. You may name to him, his grandfather died February 1, 1841.  I have not hear of your brother, James, since I sent you word. If you hear of him send me word. Directly I feel anxious to hear of him.  Charles and your sister, Susan, send their kind love to you both and she has got another boy.  His name is James. He is about 20 weeks old and they are quite well.  They are glad to hear you are comfortable. He wish he was with you.

You requested to know of my sister, Sarah Berry.  The hay thresher married her.  They live at Denham.  My brother Robert went to Lancashire and died about a year ago.  His wife and family are there now.  Your grandfather and grandmother are alive now.  He has been bedridden ever since his leg was broken.  They are back to Redlingfield again and live on the same chambers they did before, and they both desire their kind love to you and your wife.  Your aunt Sarah that lived at Ipswich died about 3 months ago and left 4 children.  John and Mary Muddork desire their kind love to you both.  John George met with a melancholy departure of his children by death, Sarah, Susannah, and John.  They were taken and died and buried in about a month with the bad fever. Your neighbour Mrs. Howes has been very bad.  She was taken on Christmas Day.  We had no hopes of her recovery, but it has pleased God to raise her again.  She is much better and getting about again.  The Lord is all sufficient.  She desires her kind respects.  Mr. and Mrs. Revell both desire their kind love to you both.  Mr. and Mrs. Green send their kind love to you and let John Green know they are all quite well.  I hope you write at every opportunity you can. I always enjoy hearing your letters read.  Now my dear son and daughter, I must conclude with my best wishes towards your welfare there and her afterwards I pray God prosper you and your children.  I remain your ever Affectionate Mother, Mary Jackson

P.S. The writer of this letter is Elizabeth Rush, formerly Elizabeth Cracknell, at the  Rookery

And Join in love with me.  I remain your ever, Affectionate Mother, Mary Jackson

Redlingfield.   11 Nov 1842.
William Jackson, Rome, Oneida County, NY State, North America

Dear Christian friends having obtained help of God I still am spared with pleasure to take up my pen to tell you that I and all mine are well.  For which, we hope we are thankful to God for it.  Dear friend your letter was put into my hand on Oct. 20 and I was truly glad to see and hear that God has of his great love and mercy brought you to see and feel the power of his grace.  And now dear Brother and Sister, my heart’s desire is that the Lord may lead you into all truth as it is in Jesus and that he may keep you in the truth and preserve you from all that is dishonoring to God and may he be pleased to grant you much of the union of his holy spirit that you may enjoy the grace of true prayer to be in lively exercise in your soul.  And now dear Brother and sister in the Lord, my heart’s desire and prayer is that you be preserved and kept from all sin and as your covenant to God in his all wise providence according to his eternal purposes have brought you to a foreign land to make known to you his loving decision on purpose of grace and mercy to you in bringing you savingly to the knowledge of his truth.  May the Lord make you a useful member in the Church where I hope he has given you a name that you may be attentive to doers and a praise to them that do well and know. Dear friends, I must conclude by saying I hope these lines will meet you and yours in good health.  I with my Christian friends send our best love to you and know dear brother and sister I must commit you to the great Head of the Church under whose banner you are engaged to fight.  May he be pleased to preserve you through life and ten take you to his eternal kingdom and glory.  Yours truly in the Lord. Charles Pyett

With respect to the news you talk of in your letter we have more profession of religion in our parish than we had when you left. But we have reason to fear there is but little persuasion. Young James Harvey was baptized this year and joined the church at Grundisburgh and William Muddork, the church at Occold.  I still read the scriptures at our prayer meetings.  The messenger of death has visited our parish and has taken 2, Mrs. Howes and Mrs. Latham Cracknell, both since last harvest.  We are working for 10 shillings per week and some for 9 and we expect less very soon as the times here are very trying.  Our farmers do not care to employ the men.  All kinds of trade are very dull.  All wages are lower.  All sorts of corn are lower.  Wheat is 1 pound 5 shilling per comb, Barley 16 shillings, peas 15 shillings, flour 2 shillings per stone.  Cheese and butter are very dear here.  Our Suffolk cheese is 4 pence per pound and butter 1 shilling 2 pence per pint.  Pork English is 5 shillings and 6 and 6 shillings per stone.  We have plenty of your American pork all over our country.  It is selling at 3 shillings and 4 shillings per pound.  We expect this winter to be a very trying one.  Dear friend, Mr. Patrick of Southolt sends his kind love to you and wish to know whether you know anything of his uncle’s family in Canada and if you do, he would be much obliged to you if you would let him know as he has not heard anything from them since their Father died.  We had a very fine harvest here this year and a very great deal fruits of all kinds, particularly of apples. They sold at 2 shillings and 6 and 3 shillings per sack.  And yet the lower order of people are in very trying circumstances here appear to be complete over turn of times and things and we are looking for worse but we must leave them in the hands of providence.  Thomas Muddork and I are a threshing in the old barn.      

Your Mother

Dear son and daughter I send my kind love to you and yours hoping these lines will meet all in good health as they leave me and your sister.  Your brother, Charles, and wife send their love to you.  He is not very well.  She is well and family.  They all send their kind love to you.  Your grandfather and grandmother send their love to you and they are glad to hear from you.  He is much the same as he was when we wrote to you before.  Your mother wishes to know if you have got the parcel which they sent by Mr. Fellinghams daughter. Your mother has not heard anything of your brother, James.  As to your uncles and aunts they are all well to the best of my knowledge. My wife saw your aunt at Southolt on the 9th and she was well and sends her love to you.  Mr. and Mrs. Thorndike and family are well and send their love to  (their son) Charles and wife and child.  Tell Charles his brothers and sisters are all living at home.  At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Whitton and family are all well and send their love to their sons and they are happy to hear they are well.  Dear friend when you write send one word how you are getting on.  I hope you will pardon my hand writing as you know that I am not a very good writer and I did it be candle light and I conclude by saying that I wish you every blessing both for time and eternity yours truly, Charles Pyett. England

Letter dated 4 Dec 1844
Envelope: William Jackson Rome, Oneida County New York State North America
Redlingfield  Dec 4th 1844
(From Mary Jackson)

Dear son and daughter, I again with pleasure send a few lines to you to inform you that we received your long looked for letter.  And, [we] were very glad to hear that you were all well as it leaves me and your sister at this time. We are glad to hear that the Lord is so kind to you in that you say you have food and remain with your health and strength.

Dear son and daughter, your sister and I send our best love to you all and we hope you will not be two years and a quarter before you write to us again. So I bid you all goodbye for time.

This from your Brother, Charles and his wife.

Dear brother and sister, we received your letter with pleasure as we thought long to hear that you all, dear brother. We are glad that you are living by faith in the good ways of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  It gives us much pleasure to hear that.  As we love to hear about Christ, dear brother.  I am thankful to think that I know something of him through his goodness and mercy towards me. As it was his goodness to use you as the first means of enlightening me out of the darkest way of sin.  It has caused me to shed many a tear since you wrote.  Before on account of sin and wickedness we in general one of us go every sabbath day to hear old Mr. Harvey, which you know to be a faithful minister.  We have a prayer meeting in this place.  Your brother, Pyett, is speaker.  There is great attendance, which we hope will be for much good to us and many others.

Now as you wish to know how we are getting along:  We are living in the same place.  I work constantly for Mr Platfoot.  He behaves kind to me as a master.  He gives me the privilege of keeping a cow. We had one all summer which we found a great help to our family.  We have 3 children, 2 boys and one girl.  They send their love to their uncle and aunt and cousins.  Dear brother, tell the children to keep their handkerchiefs for our sakes.  Their Aunt Susan made and marked them.  It was we sent them, your mother the gloves.  I would have sent your more if I had it in my power, but we thought it would be a little acknowledgement.  We don’t know where my brother James is, nor yet my uncle Abram.  Our love to you all and hope this will find you all well as it leaves us at this time.  Thanks be to God for it.  I hope you won’t neglect sending on account of the expense.  I always pay for letters we send you except the last, Charles Pyett paid half.  I hope you will write to me every year.  I will send you a letter after a time is spent with further particulars about different things.  Your grandfather and grandmother send their love to you.  He is very feeble.  She is as well as usual.  John and Mary Muddock send their love to you.  They are well. They have five children.  Your Aunt Ann has been dead near a year.  So now dear Brother and sister, we conclude for this time.  We remain yours in Love.  Charles and Susan Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Witton and family are well and send their love to you and to their sons. And they are glad to hear they are well, but they would be glad to have a letter from them as they have been long looking for one as they don’t know where to write to them.  All their friends at Denham are well except their cousin, Maria Whitton, aged 17 years, is dead.  Mr. Whitton would be thankful if you could send these few lines to them.  Ask them to write to them as soon as they can.

Mr. and Mrs. Thorndike and family are well and send their love to their son and wife and children.  David Pulford is gone from Wickham.  He left last Michelmas  to somewhere near Colchester to be looker  for a gentleman.  Mr. and Mrs. Wade are well to the best of our knowledge.  Your aunt at Southolt is well and sends love to you all.  Charles Pyett is well and his wife.  We send our best love to you all.

Dear friend and brother in the Lord through mercy, I am spared to write to you and say having obtained help of the Lord, I continue to this day.  You wish to know something of the kingdom of Christ with us. We are fine, yet we hope pursuing. We now and then get a sign by the way and are enabled to press forward toward our high calling in Christ Jesus.  My dear brother, I should have been happy to a [have] talked with you about the love of God to you at Redlingfield.  But God’s ways are not my ways only as he is pleased to show me them.  I can see the hand of God in carrying you where you are to make known to you his Love in the gift of his dear son. May he enable you to prove that the gifts and callings of God are neither few nor small.  You say the Lord has been amongst you and your friends.  We hope we can say the same.  We have now and then a token of his goodness in calling one and another out of darkness into his marvelous light.  My brother’s son has been baptized and united in church fellowship and David Bloomfield of Southolt this year.  In respect to the changes in providence in our parish, old Mr. George Cracknell is dead and also young Mr. George Cracknell, the lame man, and James Barnes, old Lionel Creasy of Southolt.  We have had a plentiful harvest this year.  A very great cast of wheat and barley, apples, and potatoes are very great crop.  They are cheap.  Please to tell Charles Thorndike that his cousin, Sarah Pyett, is at the point of death also one of her children.  My 2 sons are well. Charles has 2 children.  Martha and Nelson Thomas are married.  They desire to be remembered to you.  So now dear friend, we must conclude by saying we remain yours in gospel bonds. Charles and Susan Jackson and Charles and June Pyett

We expect to have railroads from Ipswich to Norwich. I wrote this by candle light