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. 15, 1869 Robert Benjamin-1795 to Edwin Benjamin-1833

Bagillt,
December 15, 1869
Dear Edwin and Richard,
I for once more send a few lines to you as I am very sorry what I have to relate to you this time as I have lost the best friend as I had.  I have lost your dear poor mother.  It took place between one and two o’clock on Sunday morning the fifth of December and she left me that I had not to speak a word with her.   But you must excuse me for not writing sooner for I could not for you can see that my hand is shaking very much.  I sent a few lines in October and I never received an answer to it.  I was obliged to do by your mother as Richard had sent in his last letter that you had promised to assist him in sending us money for the rent and we think that that pressed on her mind a good deal, for I had not the money for to pay and they had to travel up and down the place until it was too late just, but you got them borrowed last and I don’t know how I shall pay them back either, they have never been paid yet.  
Your mother had been for some weeks unwell and she had gone for some time that she did not care about coming into the bakehouse at all hardly.  She kept telling Harriet all the while for some time that she would not live long but did not like to say anything to me for to ___ me and Harriett must not tell me what she was saying to her.  I don’t know what would become of me only that Harriett was us now and indeed I cannot say now what will become of me from now out if the Lord spares me for a little time more, for I have gone very lame and clumsy that I cannot go about very little.   I don’t think that I shall be here long after your mother.  She prayed a deal that we would both go together but the Lord had no purpose of taking me at the present time. 
I should be very thankful to you if you would be so kind as to write to your brother John in my staid and to let him know all this.   I have not heard nothing from him for above two years.  Whatever is the reason I don’t know.  Richard promised to write to him before for me and I sent in my letter in October last to for to know whether Richard has sent to John and got an answer or not, but I have never heard nothing from Richard never since, whatever is the reason.
I must conclude for the present with the kind regard to you all, and Mr. Judson  and Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Thomas and all enquiring friends sends their best respects to you all, and all very sorry to lose your  mother.  Humphrey and Charlotte and the children sends their best respects to you.  Thomas and Harriett sends the same and accept the same from your poor dutyful father as is a great cripple as is sorry he has lost his best friend as he had this side of the grave.  Been together within four months of fifty one years in the year 1819 on the fifth of April. Please to write soon for I don’t think that I shall be here long to trouble none of you.

No comments:

Post a Comment