Gold Rush Era Letters

I fear as you do that Esquire Jewett has too long delayed his sickness, before procuring medical aid & I think it a chance if he ever fully recovers his health -- still I hope he may --

It was good news to learn that Augustus was so much better, & I hope he will still continue to regain health & strength & get rid of his lameness altogether. Please give them my kind regards & tell them I am well & getting along as well as I could expect --

Fish is well as usual. He has paid me all that he owed me with the exception of $11. which he would have paid me long ago if I had only called upon him for it -- but as I have not wanted it I have let it lay. He has got one of the finest drinking saloons in the city & is making from 800 to 1000 dollars every month which I call doing well even in California. He is friendly towards me & acts more honorable, I think than what he did a year ago. Perhaps however he thought he was doing what was right then, but I thought he did not use me just right Still as long as he continues to treat me in a gentlemanly manner I shall endeavor to treat him the same. Your Cousin Shipley [Shepley] still remains here & Henry has now been here for a number of days. They are both well --

I have not heard from Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] since I last wrote but expect to hear again in a few days as I wrote him a long letter last week, & forwarded

several letters to him which I took from the P.O. here, (from his eastern friends).

A gentleman by the name of Blanchard returns home by the Steamer which leaves here tomorrow. He came out here with John Griffin last December but owing to his wife's ill health returns again to his home in Milford N.H. after making but a short stop in California. He said he should visit Pepperell & I asked him to call on you as I thought you would be glad to see him as he could tell you all about me &c.

I became acquainted with him soon after he arrived here & find him to be a very fine man

He is related to Mr Griffins family in P. [Pepperell] & will pay them a visit soon after he arrives home --

I am happy to hear that Mrs C Lewis is so agreeable a neighbor, as it will make it much pleasanter for you even if you do go out but little.

The descendants of Dea Blake, I understand are becoming quite numerous & from all accounts, I think the population of P. [Pepperell] is gradually increasing even if some of the boys do get strayed off to Cal --

{I suppose now that "Eliza dear" has "dismissed me" she flashes around to a great rate. But no matter.}

I will now close Please accept my sincere wishes for your welfare & excuse the bad looks of this letter as I have written it hastily. -- Your affect Son

H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

he owes a great deal of money & by the way he works about I guess they would soon make up their minds that he was not very rich --

One thing however I must say of him which I can say of but few in California & that is that he is strictly temperate as regards the use of Rum & Tobacco. He also seems to be industrious but after all a fortune is not made quite so soon here as some people imagine No doubt he is getting along comfortably well & he appears to like here --

You will please give my love to Charles & Harriet Mr. T. & his family & my kind regards to Esq Jewett & his family, also to all my friends

So I have recieved [received] no letters from Mr. T's family for two mails past I do not think I shall write them this mail as I have nothing interesting to relate at the present time

With this please accept the love & kind wishes of Your affectionate Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

Write often

To Mrs Ann Parker E. Pepperell MS

winter which is now before you.

I was glad to hear that Friend Blanchard arrived home safely & had called upon you for no doubt you were glad to see him as he could tell you a great many things about me which I should never think of writing about although they might prove interesting to you.

Mr. B. is a fine man & well worthy the friendship of anyone. He is at all times alike but improves on acquaintance & I hope you may see him often & whenever you do see him, give him my kind regards & tell him that I shall expect to see him out here again next Spring --

I have not heard from Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] since I last wrote you but shall probably do so in a few days as I forwarded a package of letters to him about a week ago No doubt he is well & doing well & I think quite likely he will return home in the Spring (although he never has written that he should) for his Mother no doubt wishes him to do so as she must feel very lonely now that J. A. & his family have left town. Of his once large family there are now left but Louise & Aunt Betsey to be with her, although it is not as though they had all come to California for she will now see them all quite often: wheras [whereas] if they were not here she could not expect to see them oftener than once in two years Please write how she gets along & give her my best respects whenever you see her

San Francisco Dec 26th 1853 --

Dear Mother,

I take this early opportunity to answer your kind letter of the 17th Nov which I received the 16th inst. I was extremely happy to hear that you all continued to enjoy good health & were getting along so nicely in every respect.

For my part I am enjoying the best of health which I consider much better than gold. You wish to know if I board myself now on corned beef & cabbage in answer to which I will tell you that I do not --

I have got a room partitioned off in the back part of the store which is papered & carpetted [carpeted] with straw matting, so for California I have got a very good room. My meals I get at the restaurants sometimes at one & sometimes at another & as living is much cheaper than what it was last winter I get along "first-rate" considering where I am. When at home I should have called as good accommodations as I have now, hardly fit for no one, & I have seen the time since I have been here when I would have been glad of as good a place as the hen-house is, which Chas. & I built -- Those times are past now though & I hope forever. Dont [Don't] you think I ought to know how to appreciate the comforts which you now enjoy & which