This page is a part of the Tompkins Co., NYGenWeb Site. Not for commercial use. All Rights Reserved.

April 10, 1853

Beloved Children
In answer to yours of March 29 which we only received last night I would only say I am in hopes you are now keeping house according to previous Calculation I expects Joseph (BROWN) goes at this business with some hesitation and I do not wonder at it there is nothing like trying and I would try it I know your place is new and needs a great deal of work to make it what you would wish it to be but then it is your own and the least improvement you can make is for yourself I think you have worked for others long enough for my own part I cannot bear to have you sell your place and go off not knowing where your lot may be cast or with whom you will have to contend the old saying a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush cage it up and catch as many more as you can yours is a good place and I have to doubt but you will make a good living off of it find the gold on your own place I would much rather have a place where I could make some improvement then I could see the fruit the of my own labour set out you fruit trees and cultivate your clearing as well as you can stock is as soon as you can and it will soon be gaining we want to know if you have sold your hay and how
I hope you will not think of going off with H (?) in his present unsettled state of mind, for I do not know where he would lead you I was sorry to hear that he sold his place I think he had much better took the part of his wife and defended her as well as he could and caused a reform and braved it out and I think most probable it would be better for him to get a place in Howard than to go among strangers that it is my tell him so for me from one that would wish him no evil but much good that he had better lay his money out there than to spend it moving round the country for the roolling stone can gather no moss we have tried it to our own sorrow he had ought to look out for the welfare of his family more than for his own present feeling and try to do right as far as we can the friends here are disposed to overlook what is past I have special reference to his father and myself I would not break the brusied reed neither would I have him add grief to my sorrow by taking you away where I could never see either of you again you know I have always depended on you in case I should be left alone dont let me be disapointed I calculate to sell my cow cow this spring because she is older than I wish to keep and not so good as it takes no more to keep a good one than a poor if I can sell her I shall send the money to you to buy one there for me and keep her for the use of her till I write further orders if I should do so and you could not find one to suit you might buy some sheep after shearing and turn in to your meadow after haying then in the fall kill or sell them if you chose and buy a young cow or heifer I will not be very particular
I would advise you (Joseph BROWN) and Margaret (BROWN) to get your things together and see what you can muster up toward housekeeping then buy only such things as you can not do without till you can make something to buy with I do not want to have you live poor a good living will make you healthy I want Joseph (BROWN) to verry careful about falling trees and so forth Margaret (BROWN) I want you to get a school if you have not and reserve the saturdays for doing your great work manage so as to make your work light as possible by keeping every thing in its place for your encouragement Father (David BROWN) says tell them perhaps we shall come to see them this fall white a gleam of hope lights up countenance his health is not quite as good this spring as it was last his ancle is very bad but not worse than I have seen it before I have been troubled with a pain in my stomach and side for sometime it is better but not entirely gone David (H BROWN) has been quite anxious to go out there and live with J(oseph BROWN) but they all talked against it but father (David BROWN) they thought it they could not make it profitable for them both on so small clearing and neither of them could chop to advantage he has finally gone to work for Adin (MORTON) for fifteen months to learn the trade he he begun last year but will have to leave and go to school next winter B(etsey Maria BROWN) has been at home most of the time since her school was out she has no school engaged yet she some expects Mr Goodyear will find her a one in Genoa as he has moved there she went down to Elder DYEs last night I have have not been to meeting to day as I had no one to drive my team I wish Joseph (BROWN) could get some chance to send for his wagon and I could pick up some things to put into it your towel was down to B(etsey BROWN) school room the reason I did not send it your cris---- hangs wher left it but where are your flaats we have got a new pair of pants for J(oseph BROWN) and there is some other things I should like to send I am glad you will have sugar it will help you a great deal Uncle Joseph (BERRY) is better then he has been for some time Solomon HOWE is here with his family on a visit I have not seen him our neighbors are in general health Harriet CORNING is very low she has been out of health all winter hear a young child is so feeble she has to be lifted on sheets very little hopes of her recovery
April 12 I have sat down to finish my letter Elder DYE brought home B(etsey BROWN) yesterday Tom (DYE) he is very hoarse and has been most all winter he is afraid of losing his speech but says he cannot give up preaching three times a day there is such a goodly number of young people attend in the evening Tho and Jul PURNINTON are in town she says she will never go back with him to Vir. she has by some means found out she dont like him Pity! As they are now down to the Old Gentlemans Mrs DYE thinks he had better marry them over again and send them back for people are are not so well pleased to have him strutting about here in laziness
B(etsey BROWN) wanted to finish my letter but I would not let her she must write here own letters she has gone this morning to sew for Abba B (?) Eph an L (could be Ephraim BROWN and Lydia BROWN) got here Sat night I have not seen them keep up good courage and write often Joseph (BROWN) must put in a word here and there for my perusal I remain your own devoted Mother
Eleanor BROWN
Joseph and Margaret BROWN
Remember our respects to uncle (Joseph) and aunt (Lucinda) PARKER

To: Joseph Brown and Miss Margaret Ferry Brown of Howard, NY
From: Mrs Eleanor Ferry-Brown, Groton, NY

Transcibers notes:
Eph and L referred to in this letter could be Ephraim Brown and Lydia Brown the son and daughter of Asa Avery Brown. Asa and his family had been living in Howard, Steuben County, NY which is where Joseph and Margaret were living at the time of this letter. He supposedly moved to Wisconsin about 1852 -1853. His oldest children Ephraim, Lydia and Mary stayed behind and moved in with relatives in Groton, NY

Brown Letters Page 5

Transcribed by Sharon Jones
Thank you Sharon for sharing these letters and transcribing them for the Tompkins County NYGenWeb Site.

© 1998-2000 Copyright by Janet M. Nash and Johnna Armstrong
for the contributors of the material on these pages.
All Rights Reserved.

You are our visitor since March 25, 2000
Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, 04-Jul-2019 14:12:12 PDT