1870: Letter from Chris Hodsdon to his wife Mary (nee Cree)

Freemont, Sept 18, [18]70

Dear Mary

I received your letter of the tenth last night and one of the fourth a week ago. [I] did not answer that one but will let this answer for both. We are all well with the exception of Annie. She has been rather out of sorts today but seems better tonight and I think will be all right by tomorrow. The children seem to get along very well. Henry is around with me most of the time and he sleeps with me. They all want Ma to come home very much especially me. I have got two letters for you since you went away - one from Mrs Patrick and the other from Mrs Patterson. They are all well and want to hear from you.

As we saw in Letter 9, written a month earlier, Joseph Cree had asked his son-in-law, Chris Hodsdon, to come and help him sort out his things and pack for the trip to Iowa. This letter shows us that it was in fact Chris's wife Mary who went to Pompey to help her father. Here we have Chris writing to his wife, telling her how much he and their children were missing her.

According to a genealogy researched by Floyd Hodsdon, the couple had three children by 1870, Lewis, Martha and Annie. So it's not clear who Henry is.

I was wishing, comeing home from Mr Peals [?] last night where I had been thrashing, that I might find you at home when I got there or some tideing when you would come but came to get your letter. It did not cheer me up much. I thought [I] was feeling bad enough before. It does seem as though the devil was after me whichever way I turn. The harder I work and try to get along the more things seems to go against me. I expect I deserve all I get so it is no use to cry over it but think if it keep on will get my share of h-l upon earth.

Thrashing is an alternative word for threshing - clearly the cause of the sore eyes which Chris mentions at the end of this letter.

I think it no use to bring a lot of things that we do not need for it for it can't cost less than two [?] dollars per cwt [hundredweight = 50 kg] to get them here and we need money more than any thing else at present.

I do not know why your father should want to control you in regard to where you go visiting. It is nothing to him but I expect he is getting notional and childish so you have to humour him a little and do the best you can with him.

I was very sorry to hear that you was so discontented and unhappy. I was hopeing that you would go and visit your old friends there and enjoy yourself what you could while away. You must try and be patient and come home to us as soon as possible for we all want you very much. I have no news to write that will interest you so I will have to draw this to a close as my eyes is inclined to be sore. They smart and feel very bad tonight.

So good nght my darling and may we meet you at home soon.

From your loving husband

C Hodsdon

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