1846: E. S. Briggs to Susan S. Briggs

This letter was written by a woman named E. S. Briggs to her sister, Susan S. Briggs. Other family members are mentioned but I cannot confirm the identity of this family. It appears the letter was written in Benton, Yates County, New York.

TRANSCRIPTION
Addressed to Miss Susan S. Briggs, Versailles, Cattaraugus Co., New York

Benton Centre [Yates County, New York]
December 27th 1846

Dear Sister,

Your letter came to hand in five days from the time it was mailed and glad indeed was I for I began to think you were sick or something else the matter for you were so long making up your mind to write, But as it concerns matters and things in general, I will say the money I have not got yet but will this week if uncle can get to Pen Yan. I should have had it done before but it has been such awful going that we could not get to the City and with all the rest, Beard would take no one but old Benny, but Uncle said he would sign and Franklin told Beard he would get him in the way to take some one else. But as it concerns the land, Uncle Thomas went down to ____ for he understands it from beginning to end and he says if we begin right, we can get it for if Father is dead, there will be no difficulty in getting it. But I have look for Perry two weeks and felt in hopes he would come for then he could set it a going this fall so to have it a coming and we can sell it for her. R___ wants it and Aunt wants it for Norman and we can sell it any time. And as for buying David’s land, I object for this reason. He asks too much in the first place and secondly, it has ever been a sickly place at Belvidere. Therefore, I object to buying there. I’d rather be where Oliver Young’s is for it is healthy, he says, and he raises good winter wheat and everything else according, and with all the rest I think we had better wait until we get it all. If we can get anything, we had better have it all together for we can do better then by with one hundred dollars at a time. And if we buy an improved farm, we can do better to have it all together and as long as it is on interest, it will eat nor drink anything. And I think you had better not go unless Miles thinks best you should come now.

As for mother, I do not want her to write to Mrs. Stanton for I shall have no time to go there and I think Mother has cre__ to them long enough. And as for Old Ben and Jolina, they would not sign for you anyhow and they say to Uncle Joe’s folks that you have always told all the stuff about them and they have never said anything and I think Fanny is just fool enough to believe her soft soaps but who cares. I don’t, for I never mean to come to Benton after I leave this time. But I don’t want to be drove off until I get ready. I am staying with Aunt Margaret this winter. I help her do her work. She gives me my board and four shillings a week and have the privilege of doing all the sewing I can get in the bargain. And I think I shall get enough to make six shillings a week and perhaps more but I could not do house work for I worked for apples and carried them to the house to dry until my back is so lame where I fell down cellar when Jane was there that I can’t do house work where I have to work hard. And then Minerva and I divide them. She took half of what we dried and then Fanny grumbled because we did not give her a share to them. I helped dry the peaches and M. said I should have some but they sold a bushel and the rest they put away so I will not ask for any if I never see a peach.

I saved as many apples as I could put in the churn and pack them down as tight as I could for I had nothing but that to put them in my bureau. I shall sell if I can get anything for it. The old stand Aunt will give me yarn for a pair of stocking for it so I shall take it. Don’t say anything about what I write for Harrison is very good to me and so is Minerva. But I never wish to come there again for Fanny and M. jawed more about the cost than Uncle paid on that lawsuit about the land until I was tired of hearing it. Mrs. Ruger talks of coming out there this winter. If they come, they bring my things. I will send some things when Miles writes. Write to me what he thinks about the matter. If Perry can come, he had better for the sooner we get at it the better and sooner we shal get it or the other.

Monday evening. I am going tomorrow to the City. I shall see to the business. Bennet has been out. Calista is married to a Mr. Post. Ben don’t like it much.

Give my respects to all. I don’t think of anything more. Good bye. From your sister, — E. S. Briggs