Van Boskerck Letters (1), Bergen County, NJ ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Bob Stebbins (Medford, NJ), stebbins@cyberenet.net Formerly a Hackensack resident through High School. ==================================================================== The Family of Lucas Van Boskerck lived from the 1860's to 1915 on the river at River Road and Anderson Street. Their ancestors probably emigrated from Denmark or Holland in the early 18th century to Hoboken where they reportedly maintained ownership of several Ferry lines to Manhattan. There were four sons, Lucas, Abe, Cornelius and Robert, and a Daughter Harriet who never married. None of the sons had children. One son, Robert, a landscape artist, was elected a National Artist. His work was displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is contained in the National Academy of Design in New York City as well as several other prominent Museums through the country. The last surviving member of the family, Aunt "Hattie", lived with Bob Stebbins' Grandmother for the last 15 years of her life and is the original source of these letters. Corneill returned from California safely, without having made the anticipated fortune. Nothing is known of Abe's fate except that he did not return. Most of the family is buried in The Hackensack Cemetery. ==================================================================== See the description on letter No. 3, from San Francisco for notes about the paper etc. This is the same paper, with evidence of a wax seal having been applied, addressed without date to L J Van Boskerck at the New York address, without stamp or postmark but with an oval red ink stamp about 1" Dia. with a large number "6" inside the oval. ====================================================================== I'm on the sea Dear Luke I am now near Rio and I suppose you would like to have a small description of my voyage. The first night out had a North West wind and we went bowling along at a rate of about seven knots an hour and would have gone somewhat faster had the vessel not crank (?)but we held this wind until we reached the Gulph Stream when it blew a perfect gale right after us and made us reduce our sail to close reefed top sails but then we made eleven knots an hour until we got across the stream. It snowed very hard while crossing the Gulph and I assure you it was a beautiful sight for some of us that were well but those that were sick were lying about in all directions. In a few days after this we took head winds and had them 14 days in fact until we reached the north east trades which was very pleasant indeed and then we went on our way rejoicing until we came within two degrees of the line when it fell in a calm and lasted eleven days; but while we were lying there the light puffs of wind drove us near two vessels which turned out to be an East Indiaman from home and the Bark Hersilia (?) from New York bound to California which started out six days after us but having had no head winds she caught us, some young fellows from her came on board and stayed nearly a whole day while some of our company returned their visit. We then took a fair wind that ran us into the south east trades which blew pretty fresh, we going along at the rate of nine knots an hour with a taut bow line. We have a very pleasant Captain and Mates and I spend my time as pleasant as possible pulling, splicing and doing anything that comes to hand and I think that by the time we reach California I shall be considerable of a sailor. Shaffer and I are very well and I hope will continue so for we take good care of ourselves but that is more than I can say for most of our passengers who are a very puky kind of set and therefor I have very little to do with them with the exception of two or three very clever fellows. We are within about four hundred miles of Rio where we think of stopping a short time for fresh provisions and water and therefor I could not wait until we reached there to write this letter but if I have time I will write you another short one from there giving you a short description of what I see and hear. I am looking over my bills of lading I find there is none for Molear and ParkeR's (?)goods but I suppose the Captain has got one with the receipt for freight or else I will have to pay it over again out of my own money. I hope you will write to me as soon as you get this to let me know something about it. I suppose you are having very pleasant time in Hoboken at your sociables and I hope you will give me a small description of your doings when you write. When you go to Hackensack I wish you would give my love to all of my friends and tell Jennie and Jane Ann that if he was my son he should not wear that goat on his chin, I hope you will show this letter to all of the family and let them consider it as written to all for you know I am not a great hand at writing and another thing it would be useless to write the same thing over to all. Tell Brinker that I very often think of him and of your kindness which I shant forget and tell Abe(?) that I expect to see him out there one of these days. I will write you again as soon as possible with all of the latest news and so I must end by sending my respects to all including friends and my love to Father Mother and Grandmother wo I hope are well Jane and Jim, Kate, (?) and Mrs. Ward, Jennie, Maria, John Myers and his lady , Jane Anne and family & yourself and Brinker. I suppose Abe has started in the Pacific before this will reach you and I hope to see him out there. Oh give my respects to Walt and Faulkner and if you obey all this love and respect, I will remain Your affectionate Brother Corn. Van Boskerck p.s. You may tell all my friends when they write they must pay postage. Rio March 13 1849 We arrived here on the 11th in good health and when I came on shore I found my Brother Abe who said he had been sick on board of the Pacific and had been away (?) and that Capt Tibbets has treated him very ill I so---- the consul and he told me I had better take him with me on board of some vessel who wanted some men so I took him with me. He said he had written home and I thought the folks wont be patient (?) so I wrote this. Give my love to all and I remain your affectionate Brother C. Van Boskerck I will write you more one of these days - 21 vessels for C. in Rio.