High Ercall Letters - c 1850-1870. Transcribed by Roberta's mother, contributed by Roberta Bailey : Family letters from England to a family who lived in Wood County, WI dating from the 1850's to the 1870's. Two brothers, Thomas & John Davies, came to America leaving their parents & siblings in England. Some of these letters are complete with the mispellings & some have been cleaned up. Roberta's mother started transcribing them several years ago but passed away before finishing so Roberta picked up where she left off. In all it looks like there are 16. Watton January 26th 1857 My Dear Son, We can assure you that it was with the greatest please that we received your most welcome letter and truly glad to hear that you were well and doing well But we want to know whether you are having the 4 pounds per month clear or whether you have to maintain yourself out of the four pounds per month and send us word what you are working at and send us word how it was that you left John whether there was any unpleasentnefs between you that caused you to leave them. I will remember you to Mr. Turner and Mr. Turner is very well now. He has been ill but is much better. And I am sorry to inform you that Befsy Prousley is married to Green about six months ago and was living down the Lee lane in one of Mr. Anslows houses and after her had been married about five months her gave birth to a daughter and was very ill for a month after her confinement then her died about ten days ago and left her child alive when you write please send us the truth of the country. We think that John did not send you the correct account of the country. Henery is very ancious to come assoon as he can save the money. If you think that there is any prospect whether he can do much better with you than he can in this country. Provisions are very dear here. Wheat is not so very high it is selling at 8 – 9 to 9 – 6 per bushel. Salt butter one shilling and twopence. Fresh butter is 1/6 per pound. Chese anything like seven pence & eight pence per pound. Bacon nine pence to ten pence per pound. The weather is not to cold yet as last year but very changeable. Esther & Joseph send their very kind love to you and they are are very well and are living together at Mr. Minor’s of Longswood. You say that the time is not far distant when we shall meet again. We take it for granted that you intend to come over to England once more. We can assure you we shall be most truly happy to see you once more on this earth if God permits but if not we hope to meet in heaven. Andrew and Peter are growing fast and I am happy to say that your Father is very well but getting to look older. And I am getting no younger. Your Father is working at Websters. We shall be glad to hear from you assoon as you can. Have you ever seen or heard of Thomas Widow. If you do besure and have nothing to say to her. Is letter you sent your own handwriting if it we hope you still improve. We are happy to tell you that we are not so poor as when you left home for we have killed three fat pigs this year and sold two and kept one for ourselves so I now conclude with all our sincere love to you and ever r emain your affec parents. James & Ann Davis Thy Mothers request Suffer no more to rove Oer all the earth abroad Arrest the prisoner of thy love And shut the ??? in God The accian is wide between us Though distant be our Lot If I should see thy face no more Dear Thoms forget me not In your next letter would you please to send us word what you grow in your country whether you grow potatoes or corn or barley or oats or what you grow & whether you have any iron works about. Ester sends you this card as a token of her sincere love to you. Your affec Mother Ann Davis Transcribed by Roberta Bailey Edited by "MAK" (c) Copyright 2003 Roberta Bailey . All Rights Reserved. USGenWeb NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only.