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…………









August 21,1849 Elizabeth Garner-1830 to John Benjamin-1823

Flint
Aug 21st, 1849
My Dearest John, 
I have at last received the long and anxiously looked out for letter but have received it this night so you see how soon I answer it.  Yes, Dearest, nothing could of given me more pleasure than to have received a letter from you for it is you that I hold dearest in this World.  Oh it was this night that I first complained to myself about your long delay for I had heard that Robert W. (Williams) had a letter this morning, but never mind, dearest, I will forgive you.  But, oh, what hours to work from five to 7 o’clock.  Why, that is fourteen hours to work in a day.  You ought to have good wages.
I am glad you like the place or else if you did not it would be misery to be there and I wish you had someone you know for it would be much more pleasant.
I did indeed feel for you when I heard that Price and you had parted for the feel of parting with me. Parting was ___ but what must you feel in parting in a strange land.  Oh!  my dearest I cannot express to you my feeling after parting with you.  Yes, it was not before you I showed my feelings, for you had enough on your mind without me being the cause of more sorrow.   Oh! how ____ the time goes by without you.  Yes I had someone to tell my mind to, then back you was company besides, but now I have no one for company but I have one that I can tell my mind to and I hope shall have if you are not here for company.  For, dearest, I shall make myself as contented as I can in your absence.  But I am far from being contented since you have gone.  Yes, I kept thinking you were in this danger and in that I kept thinking altogether of the worst but you have not been without my prayers  ___ I have you by myself and prayed for you when I would not have ___ for myself.
Yes, you have been the means of bringing me to the foot of the cross and thank God my prayers have been heard on your behalf.  He has brought you safe on distant shores, yes, and has kept you till this moment.  Oh! take him to be your guide in a strange land.  Look to him and all things shall work together for good for he is a good friend when all earthly friends are passed away.  I’m so glad you met with some English people and it is hard as hard you say to tell what anyone is ‘till you know the act of time and take care of them but I dare say I have no occasion to tell you that.  
You’ll be forgetting all your Welsh now you have got with the Yankees.   What sort of people are they?  Are they anything like us?  I am glad you have the pleasure of meeting with your old friend.  I am sure you were glad to see one another and I am glad the place agrees with you, also with him.  I am glad there are not so much Irish at your place as what there was at Lowell for they are a filthy race of people.
Oh! my dearest, tell me have you ever regretted going?  You know you can tell me for I am sure I should tell no one.  I must close for tonight, it’s 12 o’clock.
Oh! John what sad news I have heard this morning.  The bailiff’s in at Lloyds for Poor’s ___  ___.   When my uncle heard that he ___ them in for rent  so here are two ___ ___.   I am sorry for Mr. J.  Lloyd and ___ for the rest of them for these are ___ family.  Poor things, poor Miss Lloyd is ill in ___  Do not __ ___ Price or ___ they would think I was going to ___ my brother…………
(A large chuck of this original page 5 is unreadable for me)
For I don’t want it now.   So I am sure of it now he has paid some of it.
I have been thinking to go to Liverpool.   May shop there but my ____ wants me to go to Holywell so I don’t know what to do.  
What do you think, my father does not like me to go anywhere from home and my brother is going to take the house and all.  To what do you say ___ ___ ___ ___ told me to take your advice if I want to.  There has been a cousin of mine from Manchester this last week and she has made my father promise that my cousin Mr. Whitley and I should go there in about a month’s time.  He is a married one.  My cousin Whitley is much more settled than she used to be.  She is keeping company with a clergyman ___ ___ ___  She will not be long on my list.  She says it is me she ought to thank __ ___ for her ___ to be thanking her for I used to be always referring her of her fickleness for as I told you before that I ____ not care who she spoke to.
Well well dearest time is going and I have been very busy all this summer. But I have had only two jobs of __ this summer.  But I have had a great deal of sewing making shirts for both my brothers.  I have not been above four times at Watkins since you left home and when I went he always said something about you and made me lower in spirits than I was.  But I did not show it before him so dearest it was all to myself.  Yes there is not a night but I cry myself to sleep especially the nights as you used to come ___ ___ ___  But alas, there is no John there to smile upon his Lizzy when entering.  No, those times are gone.
Oh! I hope to return or else it will be all up with your Lizzy for no other one can she love -------; she had no heart for another; her heart is in America with him.  ------------
Oh! Dearest John I must not go on thus for I shall be making you as low as myself.  But I cannot help it; I know my feelings overcome me.  Oh! dearest forgive me if I have said anything to hurt your feelings.  I know my John will forgive his Lizzy.
I went to Holywell yesterday.  I took the 1 o’clock train and returned with the 10 o’clock one.  I bathed after coming home and the day before with my cousin but I don’t think I should of bathed this week whatever you know.  But I don’t think I shall take any ___.   Mrs. Watkins is in a way and manner .  ___ ___ is expecting to be confined any day.  ___ ___ ___ __ is Robert’s schoolmaster and you to America and all the family they say that ___ ___ is in a way by ___ Gardener.  He has had to pay 17 pence a week to John Williams .  I hope it is not true about Miss Fillpots.  I have heard that Mary Newall gets ____.  I do not know.  I hope not.  Sarah is as wild as ever.  James Jones and her was very great when she was at home.  People had plenty to say after you had gone.  They said I was going after you in about two months and __ was going to meet us in Boston.  And I am telling on what they said but I must stop it there with that.  These things are what we must expect while in this world.  Yes, there is not one ____.
My dearest I must conclude now or else I shall have too much paper to put in the envelope.   If I have forgot anything I will tell it in my next.  My dearest John don’t be uneasy about me letting anybody know about our correspondence.  No, no one shall know by you and myself for I know people will talk without occasion.  No, no one but myself shall see you letters.  My father was very glad too that I had a letter from you.  He was and he has been very good; indeed he has said when he sees me look low – Oh! John will send a letter as soon as he can.  You may depend he desires to be kindly remembered to you and hopes you will prosper.  I am just going to ___.  
Oh! my dearest I must close.  I feel loathe to stop for I know it is to me.  John I am expecting you will excuse all my imperfections and hand writings as you know who it comes from.  I have enjoyed very good health but at first when you went away I gave way very much but I am better now I have heard from you.  I send a small second also of my brother; also a newspaper.  Oh! my dearest do write soon for I shall be going to Manchester .  I think if you tell Price that you have had a letter from me please present my kind regards to him.  We are quite well.
Adieu adieu my dearest and my that God __ __ kept you.  May he still keep you and preserve you and prosper you in this World and the World to come is the most sincere prayer of your ever faithful and sincere girl until death not tell.
Elizabeth Garner
In my next letter I will send you some postage stamps and then you direct it ready and Williams can put it in the post if you like.  Adieu adieu, write soon.
 

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