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…………









July 28,1853 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Liverpool, July 28, 1853
Dear Brother,
I now am glad of the opportunity which you have had before me in coming over to you, and my father has been over here with me and I have promis [sic] everything you have ast [sic] me to do and I shall be glad of having the chance of paying you.  This morning you are goin to send me and father, and I am now over here enjoying the blessings of good health, as you have said in your letter you are all the same, thank be to god for it .
 I am sorry to inform you as I was stopt [sic] to work today and I think of goin home, and then I should be out of it until you shall send for me, and a hope that will not be long for Liverpool is not a place for no one to be out of job.  I’ve work hear 5 weeks and two out of it, and so if you will send for me to you I shall be very much oblige to you and shall be as a son for you when I am over.  I would have been over this long time back I had monny [sic].  As the say, monny makes the more to go, and so it is with me now.
I must say a little about the mills for you.  When I was their the(y) [sic] only aloud me 8 S per week and so it was a shame for me to have such wages, and the(y) would be very glad for me to go back but I don’t think I should go their a tole [sic] for I had a nuf [sic] when I was their before, and so when I left the(y) thought I was coming to you then until the(y) seen be gone to Liverpool.  I have heard that it is goin very slack their and so don’t care for it.  If I shall come out to you, you hopt that I would not object to refund the money for you.  I shall be very glad of the chance to nag them for you and I believe that Mr. Daveen is goin on the American male to be a fireman he told me the other day, and so I respect [sic] you shall see him.  He doesn’t know how soon he shall be comeing and so you can send everything you like with him when he’ll come.  He sends his love to you and all.
I received a letter from James this morning and he wants to come with me sadly, and so we must send for him after he has learn a little more for he has paid a good atention since he is their, and so lost a year time with his arm and I believe his arm is very strang by this and so I thing [sic] I shall be home back again Saturday next and I shall go and Mr. Gleave and see what he has to say to me again. 
I shall send to you soon again about all for my time is short and I must conclude in love to you and Elizabeth and ___ and yourself. 
Believe dear brother I remain most truly,
Edwin Benjamin
PS The money which you are goin to send father and after I settle with when I am over.  E. Benjamin

1 comment:

  1. A letter to John from his brother, Edwin. Edwin's grammar is not so hot at this point. He wants to come to America badly.

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