1870: Letter from Joseph H Cree to his daughter Mary Martha and son-in-law Chris Hodsdon, 1870

Aug. 17, 1870

Pompey, Onon[daga] Co., N.Y.

Dear Folks

I am no better but the other way I cannot do anything, not even pack up the things. I have so many of them, more than I can enumerate. There would be six or seven boxes full that [I] would pay to send. I have two watches again, the old oaken chest full of clothing, mother's with glass ware, crockery and a clock, a box with carpenter's tools, a box of iron, one of books, a box of umbrella sticks, a pair of vices, a crowbar at Eli Pratt Quimby, a book on bees is there, also two apple-paring machines and a great many things besides, the wagon worth 50 dollars, the mare worth as much or more is in foal, a straw cutting machine.

The cost of freight is about one dollar per 100 lb. to Chicago. I have 40 dollars in my pocket. I am owing 2 or 3 weeks board. I have given the people here many things. There will be more for them if I don't live to get to Iowa. I am anxious that Chris should have all the money to pay onto the place and pay the others [?] what comes to an equal amount each of which falls to them with the exception of Sarah who I should wish should have $50 more than the others. I have a $60 note against Lonzo Wilson in my pocket diary.

Chris to have what things are here, with the mare which I wish to be used and kept as long as she can be used reasonably well. I think Chris had better come down here, but that's as you think best

Daniel has just got a letter of inquiry. By that I see that you have not got my last sent to Clarksville. Haber is at Corry, Pa. Bill Norton in Iowa somewhere wants Haber to work for him.

Joseph H. Cree

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This letter is not one of those included in the set of typescripts deposited in the Manchester Public Library. Nor was it included in the set of facsimiles that Ruth Langenheim sent me. However this typescript is recognisably hers so she was in possession of the original. She sent this typescript to Ted Leavitt, who forwarded it to me along with his kind permission to publish it along with the other letters in the set.

The typescript copy is headed "Joseph H. Cree's last letter. Date of Aug. 17, 1870 written from Pompey, Onon[ga] Co., N.Y." At the foot, Ruth has typed, "The writing is small; the letter in three pieces, apart at the creases. Still it will tell you a lot about him and what he did. As far the apple-paring machines [are concerned] he lived in apple country."

Joe wrote this letter about ten weeks after receiving Letter 8 from his son-in-law Chris Hodsdon. It is perhaps the most poignant of all the letters that were kept in the pouch in the "old oaken chest" that Joseph had brought from England and which he mentions in the first paragraph. He is now 64 years old but clearly knows he is dying. There is an element of despair in his writing. He cannot cope with the packing of his possessions, let alone the journey to Iowa, and asks Chris to come and help him.

The letter is like a will - he is saying who he wants to have what of his possessions and leaving his money to Chris to help pay for the farm that was to have been the realisation of his dream of owning his own land.

We hear that Joe's only son, Haber Cree, is in Corry, Pennsylvania, which is near the border with New York State at its western extremity, about 320 km (200 miles) from Pompey. This is the last the family hears of Haber, who is now 38 years old. US Government records show that he had served as a private in 15th and 50th New York Engineers of the Union Army. In 1890 he was receiving an Invalid Pension and living in Missouri.