John Benjamin was born in England in 1823. In 1849, at the age of 26, he immigrated to America with the goal of seeking opportunities in the new world and improving the life of his family. During his immigration and eventual settlement in Hutchinson, Minnesota, John saved many personal letters that were written by and to him. These letters, the subject of this web site, bring to life his immigration and the life of others during this courageous adventure. The most recent letters posted on this sight are on this front page. To see all the earlier letters, keep pressing the “Older Posts” button on the bottom of this page. The earliest letter recorded here is June 20, 1849. The letters…………









Jan. 16,1851 Robert Benjamin-1795 to John Benjamin-1823

Bagillt
January 16, 1851
Dear John,
We received your  letter yesterday of the 30th December and was very glad to hear that you were both well in health, as these few lines leaves us just in our usual health, thanks be to God for his mercy toward us at all times, but I sorry to inform you about this place of ___,  that Morris Silas Uika was here on Saturday last in the house with your mother, sitting down for a length of time, enquiring all particulars about it and what arrears did we owe, and when was our rent due,  and everything, and your mother was obliged to tell all the truth, and he wanted to see the rent book, but I was out at the coal bank and he could not see that.  He wanted to know all about everything for he said he was going to buy the whole concern and he says that we shall have to clear out the adjoining all together, and there is one half year due since the 31 of December besides the two pounds arrears, and I do not know what to do upon that account, and he says if he will have it that we will have capital good repairs, and if we liked that we could have license as Miss Kyrk wanted us to have before, if we like to have the house made according to that, and we shall have him to visit us often for he has sold all up at Plas Usha this long time to Mr. Mostyn, and he has more lately come to Flint to live.  He lives at Mr. Scott’s old house upon the interest of his money, and he has taken the gates again, therefore he passes our house on foot every other day almost.  Since there is a great lament to be as you shall see in the papers again, there is no doubt about Mr. T.E. Mostyn.  Lloyd Mostyn Esq. coming to age on the 23rd of this month at Flint and at ___ __ and different places.  Mr. Jones the watchmaker and family sends their kind respects to you and that they are all well.  I saw them on Friday and he is thankful to you for the news papers you send to him, and therefore I have sent you the week before last the Chester paper with an Almanack and the __ exhibition in it which I hope that you have received it, for I was thinking that you might not get one, so I got the paper on that account.
So you were saying that you was sending a paper for Mary Ellen.  The week before you sent them to F. Jones and William Parry.  It has been lying some where until the others came to it, for they all arrived home together on Monday last, but however they both of them are very thankful to you for your kindness and they will try to return you the kindness again, and they send their kindest respects to you both, and very glad to hear that you are both enjoying good health and that they would be very glad to see you once more in Wales. 
So all your brothers and sisters sends their kind respects  to you, hoping that they shall see you in England again for they do not see that there is no chance for them to come to America at all, for your brother Edwin and sister Mary Ellen would come the next week if possible they could.  I am ordered by your mother for to tell you that you never did let us know to what place of worship you did go to, and how you spent your Sundays at all, though we have sent to ask you different times and we have never had no answer, therefore we have nothing much but to think about our latter days as much as we can, if God pleases for to spare us time for to think of our latter end.  We hope that the Lord will allow us time for to do so, and we pray for his mercy for even we have an occasion for it at present and at all times.  There is a many just of our age gone from the neighborhood lately, such as Jenny Evans, the old engineers daughter, and William Wabley, and so on.  We could mention different people as is gone.  So all your relations from Caerwyns sends their kind respects to you, and glad to hear that you are well.  Another thing I want to know from you is what distance are you out of Boston when at Dedham?  Mr. Thomas Bryn Merllyn asked me at the bank the other day about you. Like you was ___, how you was getting on and asking in what part you were in and everything, and I could not tell him how far you was out of Boston.  All your old neighbors and friends sends their kind respects to you and very glad to hear from you at all times, so accept the same from you affectionate mother & father,
Robert & Sarah Benjamin  
Samuel Hughes, blacksmith, & Ellen sends their kind respects to and are very glad to hear good news from you.  S. B.
 Bagillt
January 16, 1851
Dear John,
We have once more come to ask your favor, Charlotte and myself, for there is fine shops in Holywell as we are obliged to visit very often and they are always enquiring about us buying something when we do go there and we never can afford.   I remain your dutiful sister,  M.E.B.  (Mary Ellen Benjamin)…………………..and we are still growing shorter of everything since you went away.
James Benjamin

1 comment:

  1. Issues still surround being behind on the rent in Bagillt, and everyone is sending their "kind respects" to John. In addition, Mary Ellen and Charlotte now make a plea to John to help them with some shopping money, and James says nothing is as good as when John was in England. That must have been a lot of pressure on John!

    ReplyDelete