Hannah's Letter - November 3, 1844
New Ipswich Historical Society
New Ipswich, Nov 3 1844
Letter from Hannah P. Smith to her brother Edwin Maxwell
Beloved Brother we received your letter a four weeks ago it informed us that you wanted we should move to Woburn. We should like to come on your account and live near you but Ira says there are some inconveniences there one is there is no water there on the place you spoke of and I call that a great inconvenience and they are all strangers to us down there but you, and you know that I want to be with those that I am acquainted with.
Another thing is that I am afraid I should not like down there and if. we come I should feel as though I must stay there whether I liked or not and Ira thinks we had better not come.
Francis had bought a horse before you wrote to us. We expect William and Alice next week and then we shall all be together but you, but I never expect to see all my brothers and sisters together again in the world.
The folks are comfortably well now. are Francis has been quite sick since he was down there but he has gone to work again although he is not fit to work now and he is as careless as ever. I should not wonder if he had a fit of sickness yet.
Juliet is better than she has been for some time and I think if she is careful she will get well again the rest are all well except myself and I have got such a bad cold that I am about sick.
George Jenny has died since we were there and old granmam Davis, Mrs Stearns mother and Servis Marble and old Patience up to the poor house. My pen is poor that I must close my letter i hope you excuse this awful writing if I had not neglected answering your letter so long. I should not have written to your today for I do not feel much like writing. Ira sends his best respects to you will you must write as often as you can. We should be glad to hear from you often. Give my best respects to Martha and tell her I should like that Barrel of apples that she spoke about but I guess I shall have to go without them this year. If I must close by wishing you both health, happiness and prosperity.
from your sincere friend and Sister Hannah P. Smith
N.B. our letter was part from Edwin Maxwell and and part from old hickory but this is to Edwin Maxwell.
Scanned Letter - You can check my transcription:
James Roger diary entries
Oct 10th Wednesday 1912
Cloudy morning, shower during night, wind northerly, fine day. Mother and I swept church vestry, little room and stairs in morning. And I picked two fowls and filled lamps in hall for Grange tonight. David working about Newcomb’s and teaming luggage to depot in afternoon. Mrs. Russell (Boyerston’s sister) died last night. Ed Fox cremated and ashes expected this afternoon.
There probably still are people in New Ipswich who would be reluctant to move to Woburn.
A reminder to us all to label our photos and provide names. I can’t tell you how many photos we have from past generations in our family that are unidentified.