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

I feel uneasy about the upper windows being up and the children. I feel uneasy about the condition I left the Cellar & fear the rats will injure the walls I wish you to use every means to prevent them and when I return I will take up the Kitchen floor and flag the entire bottom. I have not time to write to Br [Brother] Oatman [J. C. Oatman], by this mail you can write to him for me. The proposal I make it is un-necessary for me to advise him. You must take good care of your health and be verry [very] particular about the health of the family see that they all have comfortable warm cloths [clothes] and good Shoes and not suffer them to be exposed. When I return home I shall be more particular about diet I have seen so much evil resulting from imprudent eating. I eat just what I think most condusive [conducive] to my health. I have potatoes -- 9 cts. pr. pound, ham 25 -- pork 16 -- Golden Syrup Molasses 1.75 pr. gall. [gallon] vinegar one dollar pr. gall. -- Sugar 14 cts. dryed [dried] apples 25 cts. dryed [dried] Chilean peaches (that would be a luxury at home) 30 cts. We can buy pickles & preserved fruits of all Kinds in the market also Sweet potatoes, yams, all Kinds of Southren fruits chees [cheese] is shiped [shipped] from the east put up in tin boxes air tight pice [price] from 25 to 30 cts. every thing [everything] is put up in the best possible manner every thing [everything] sold by the pound even to hay and barley flower [flour] is worth 8 to 9 cts. adieu my dear wife I must write some to the children

R J Boylan

[postmark: MARYSVILLE MAR 29 40 PAID] Mrs R. J. Boylan Jackson Creek Will Co Ill.

Stockton Cal April 10th 1852

D [Dear] Wife You will be some surprised at the caption of this letter but you must consider that we gold digers [diggers] are a sort of moveing [moving] planets. You Know I must give you a detail of all my movements &c. Well I am on what is termed by gold digers [diggers] (a dead wood) the true meaning a report of some new rich placer most generally proves a humbug -- My friend Major Jenkins has a brother and brother in law [brother-in-law] in this vicinity who are acquainted with a place on a stream called frisno [Fresno] about 125 miles from here and about 30 from Mariposa which they think is good and has never been worked but little. Seven men who were out prospecting last fall found the place and and have made it Known to their friends onely [only] and through Major Jenkins and his brothers my friend Bowers and myself in company with friend Jenkins and a select party set out tomorrow to join some others now on the ground. If we can do one quarter as well as the small party done at that place last fall I shall be satisfied it is not verry [very] high up in the mountains and but little further from Sanfrancisco [San Francisco] than Natchez but will be over 250 miles from Natchez. Steamboats run to Stockton. Mariposa is a large town being inland, 100 miles from Stockton. If we do not succeed in finding a good place to work we will go with Mr Zumwalt to a place he has in view, but I have strong reason to think we will find a good place to work and have water to work with

for without water but little can be done at gold diging [digging]. We sold our Claim tools and Cabin on the old ravine.

We left our quartz claims in the care of an agent to see to them &c. We hear almost daily of improvements for saving gold out of quartz but we think best to hold on and let some one else make experiments. I have made arrangements with the Express to forward all my letters to me from Marysvill [Marysville] I uct yours and Mary Jane's, letter of Feb. 1st You must not feel uneasy about me if you do not get letters from me regular for I do not know what will be the facilaties [factilies] for geting [getting] them mailed -- at first.

My health is quite restored again and I feel as time advances more anxious to get something more in my purse. When I think of home and the many necessary wants I cannot bear the idea of returning with my purse comparatively empty and on the other hand when I think of my home my hapy [happy] home and thou that are both dear and near I feel almost guilty in Staying when I have the means and more in my purse to Take me to the fond embrace of those that I so dearly love -- but I am unwilling to start until I hear the result of James comeing [coming], and the last draft of Jan 26 I have made up my mind to content myself and do the best I can for myself and family for a short time. There are thousands arriving here from the States and the emigration next season is expected to be verry [very] great.

Many who have been here before and are coming back with high expectations. They are mostly sadly disapointed [disappointed] when they arrive and I have seen many who wished they had never started.

Philo Havens returned saying he was agoing to make his pile when asked when -- Why just when you all run over it, well the result so far -- he has -- so says report but barely cleared his grub -- as yet give me a thousand dollars and I can make money in Ill [Illinois] faster than three fourths of the miners in Cal but it is well enough for some men to come to California -- in particular those that are hopelessly in debt and no means -- but California has slain thousands of men who have falen [fallen] victim to the prevailing vices and a majority of them will lay their bones here in them red hills -- I have almost shuddered at the thoughts of the extreme cold weather you have had in Ill [Illinois]. I can scarcely draw the contrast with the evergreen valleys of Cal, but one look up towards the snow clad Siere [Sierra] nevada [Nevada] or colst [closest] range of mountains -- reminds me of Snow and Snow Storms, I hope you have got through the winter without suffering. I wish you to make yourselves as comfortable as possible as long as you have means -- and make every exertion to try and restore poor Clarras eyes consult Br [Brother] Warren and Oatman [J. C. Oatman] and use every means possible make her as hapy [happy] and contented as you can. Keep from exposure and take good care of your health -- in money matters I would advise you not Keep much in the house and not stay alone nights if possible. To avoid doing so, try and get the rent of Sawyers if you can if not in money in something you may want. I intend he shall pay the rent