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…………









June 24,1850 John Benjamin-1823 to Elizabeth Garner

Wilton, Mass
United States, America
June 24, 1850
My Dearest Elizabeth,
I once more take the pleasure to write to you these few lines in hope that they will find you in perfect health as I am happy to say that I am quite well thanks be to God for it.  I suppose that  __ you will receive this you will of received the gold locket enclosed to father with my likeness in a case for them at home.  I requested them to ask sister Mary Ellen bring it for you, which I hope she has done.  You can let sister see it when you have an opportunity to do so.  When you write to me next let me know if you receive this letter that I enclosed for you in father’s letter about a month ago as also the newspapers I have sent you.  I sent you one last week to Holywell .  I shall send you one next week if all well.  I dare say that will doubtless be surprising to hear of my leaving Nashua.  I told you in the note a month back the reason of my leaving there.  I have job to work at this place which is a very nice place within three miles of where Price worked before he went to the city of Boston to work.  He went there a fortnight ago to work and is doing very well indeed.    I report that I shall do better there than I did in Nashua if the trade keeps good.   I am living with my employer.  He seems to be agreeable kind of man.  There is another young man here from Manchester England.  He works for the same man & lives in the house with him. 
I think we both can agree very well together & we feel more at home been from the old country both of us.  In regard to coming over in the spring of next year I am unable to say much about it as yet, but at the same time, I hope you will do the best you can for yourself between this & then for its everybody for themselves in this world, as the old saying says and God forbid all.  In regard to your uncle I think that you had better try your best to get your money of him.  The sooner you get it the better it will be for you & it would enable you to come over here sooner than you otherwise would.   Indeed if I must needs here tell my mind I wish the day of your arrival had come, for I am very anxious to establish myself a home in some part of the country as I have come to the conclusion not to spend a single life much longer for I find that I shall not be any better off for it is no way at all. 
Price and myself have not yet started in anything for ourselves.  We should do so the first opportunity.  We would be saving a little more money to begin with & then we shall start operations at the best place we can think of for business if trade holds out to be good we shall be able to save a little money soon.  I should like to know the amount that is due to you of your uncle at the same time I hope that you will not in any way think that I am making to free in asking you this.  If so I beg of you to pardon my ignorance in making so free.
So no more at present in great haste.  My love to your father, hoping he is quite recovering again to health.  Believe me my dearest Elizabeth to remain yours most faithfully,
John      

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