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…………









Dec. 27,1850 Robert Benjamin-1795 to John Benjamin-1823

Bagillt, Dec 26, 1850
Dear John,
We received your letter of the 22nd November and was very glad to hear that you both were well in health, but still we were very sorry to hear about your misfortune , but both you and us ought to be very thankful to the Lord for his kindness towards us at all times , and that it was no worse with you that you come so well, and we hope to hear from you soon again, and that we shall hear that you are both together, for we have think you more comfortable a deal by being together, and we all of join in love to you both, and that we all of us partly enjoy the same usual health, and I am just the same with my laments, and your sister Mary Ellen is a good deal better.  Your old friend Rich Davis and wife desires very much to be kindly remembered to you, and that they are well in health, and they live in Flint and he works at Pentne Mills this good while now, and all your old shop mates desires to be kindly remembered to you both, likewise your friend Mr. Gleave sends his kind respects to you and was very sorry to hear about your misfortune and very glad that you came off so well. 
I sent your letter off with your brother Edwin for him to see, that it was better than Edwin could tell him, and he was very thankful to me for it, and always when I tell him I have had a letter, he is very glad to hear, and every time he is always asking if you are not talking in any of them about coming home.  Therefore your mother says he is like her, and that neither of them gets an answer for their question at all, and that you are not for her to come to America at all, and she is ready for the come tomorrow if it is possible for it is gone so sorry here that there is a great many people is nearly ____, of people you would never would think.   They have now been downing the Coliers wages now and they had very little before, and they were standing but about three weeks, and obliged to go to their work with 2 and one half crown less in the Pound, and we have been in that time four or five bread we used to have in the oven at a time, and all ___ the railway delivering their coals at the smelting works for less money than our Collings can afford to sell them.  All them was at Holywell last Saturday , about 500 poor people gathered for to see if they could get any relief, that the gentlemen was quite frightened , they have ability to get quite a few constables and things for to keep them quiet  The oldest person in the kingdom never knew such a time  as the time present in this country, and another thing we have to tell you of is there is a great muster with people here at present as that  they are taking the poor’s rates for the tenants and setting in the landlords, and they are laying on people so hard for to clear their arrears that people cannot come up with them for the time being.  So sorry, they go into people’s houses and takes the things out and sells them there and then, and we do not know how to do at present , for we are sadly afraid of them and we cannot manage at present upon the account of the time being so bad as it is. 
Mr. Jones of Holywell and family desires to be kindly remembered to you and that they are all well in health.   Likewise your brothers and sisters sends their respects to you all of them, and that they are all well.  Mr. Michael Jones sends his kind respects to you and very glad to hear from you at all times.  Likewise all old neighbors and friends sends to you the same.  Likewise your old friend Sam Hughes Black and wife sends their respects to you, and no more of a family than you have seen, and they have desired me for to ask you if they would do themselves good by coming to America or not.  They would wish for you to send to me for they say they shall have the truth from you, for they are preparing themselves for to come for many was here the other day telling us about it, but nobody else knows anything about it.
Some more from your dutiful father and mother, Robert and Sarah Benjamin.   We are very glad to get to send this in the way as we do.  We don’t say anything about anybody because you shall both see and hear from themselves in the same time as this.  Think of your birthday a week next Sunday.  We shall think of it if all is well.

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