R. J. Boylan, Gold Rush Letters, 1850-1853

[top right corner: 1850]

Fort Laramie June 4th

Dr [Dear] Wife and children. I write from old Fort Kerny May 12. I am well and getting on well I have no time to write. I enjoy good health and stand the journey well my mules are doing well I do not know the time we shall get through. We shall go by the Sublett cut off and shall not see Salt Lake or fort Hall Mr Oglesby has been through that rout it is one hundred miles nearer he came through in 56 days. We have averaged from Mo [Missouri] river 27 1/4 miles per day including all stop. We have not traveled hard we expect to make 33 1/3 miles per day the next two weeks and then from 35 to 40. I do not expect to have an other [another] chance to write and the mail passed east yesterday it goes once in 15 days. I stand guard only once 3 hours in five nights we number 21 men. James I hope will secure hay and see to getting it in time. We have had much rain the last 2 week, it is raining now my paper is wet I am writing on my saddle while breakfast is cooking and then start no wait -ing so you will excuse this hasty letter. My oil cloths Keep me dry day and night.

I have never regretted starting for a moment I have seen many that have been there and come home for their families I think my family are better off in the stone house Keep up good cheer I shall sell my outfitt [outfit] and send the funds home as soon as possible I have no more time at present, so may God bless you and my darling children I want James and Mary Jane to write to me. I enjoy the journey first rate my health never better.

Your affectionate husband

R. J. Boylan

Old Mr Franklin of forked creek died at or near new fort Kerney [Fort Kearny] I saw his grave - Whiskey I seen but 3 new graves on the plains only one man sick we pass from 50 to 75 waggons [wagons] daily. My motto is go ahead no indians [Indians] except a few friendly ones. I may meet a train and send home another letter

laramie [Laramie]

Mrs R J Boylan Jackson creek Will. Co. Ill

[postmark: WESTON AUG 30]

Sacramento City Dec 20th, 1850,

Dear Wife Children and friends I am well enjoying heaven bounty good health. I am down to the City to get my letters from My Darling Wife and family I recd [received] one dated Sept 15. I enclose A draft toy you for (not yet purchased) for Three hundred dollars -- I shall retain two duplicate [duplicates] in my possession in case of failure -- I think if you receve [receive] this letter you can settle the demands due against R. J. B. -- and have some left -- I have this morning sold my two remaining mules for $140-. The expences [expenses] of Keeping being deducted, $30 -- Mules are very Low I should have done as well to have sold them when I arrived. I am doing reasonably well in the mines. $200 of the draft I have taken out since I wrote to James and Mary Jane -- but I send all that I have except what will bear my expences [expenses] back to my mountain home and some choise [choice] Specimens. I am comfortably situated my provisions on hand to last till next Spring. I am not decided whire [where] I shall work next Sumer [summer] whether to remain on the Hon. Cutt, [Honcut] or go to Feather river [River]. Havens, left here yesterday for home from feather river [Feather River] with his pile, his health feeble. If, I, go, I shall go with this company that I now have Potter, Links &c. I shall also purchase A draft of $100. for Potter and send to his wife by this mail.

as usual my dear wife I say to you I have no instructions to give respecting affairs you know them as well as I do. I hope you have long before this received the $140 I sent by Mr S Forbes September last to be paid to br. L. C. P. Freer for you benefits.

I think I shall not send any more home. I am compelled to loose [lose] about $15 on every $100 the gold being worth from 17 to 19 dollars in the states here only $16 and one per cent discount my gold is of the best quality. I think I shall not return before next fall although I shudder at the thought of being so long absent from my darling home my dear wife and children but I often think should I be successfull [successful] the pleasure I shall take in improveing [improving] and embelishing [embellishing] the home of my darling family. I often see it before my eyes how the trees will be planted and pruned -- the walks and grounds, graded the out buildings fited [fitted] up and the neat comfortable, buggy, to carry my family all has A tendency to stimulate me to action and ever regard my health as the property of my family. I hope you will be contented as possible bear with the freaks faults and foibles of the children. Speak kindly it seems now to me as though. A harsh word would break my heart. Keep A good watchfull [watchful] eye to Mary Jane she is now at that age that she is now forming A charicter [character] for her after life. I feel more anxiety about her than I do about James. I think he has the seeds of moral honesty implanted in his mind that I hope will never be eradicated.