Gold Rush Era Letters

The total amount of property (principal & interest) July 17th/53 aside from the Real Estate was $13,971.69 cts.

Amt. of charges up to that time including taxes, labor & material for repairing buildings & fences Esq Jewett commissions loss of interest loss on the estate &c $1,752.40 which leaves a balance of $12,219.29 one third of which is $4,073.09. Then the charges against me up to July 17th 1853 amt [amount] to $1,836.86 which left a balance due me when I appointed Mr Tucker my attorney of $2,236.23 since which time I have received of Mr Tucker $2,000.00 which leaves a balance due me as I said before of $236.23 aside from the real estate which Mr T advised me to let remain until Charles becomes of age or until I return home & I think myself that it will be best to let it remain so.

In conclusion I must say that I think Esq Jewett has been very moderate in all his charges against the estate & I think furthermore that he has managed everything well, & according to the best of his abilities & I do not know as there is any one in town who could have done any better with the estate than he has done & I for one am perfectly satisfied & no doubt you will be also & you will please say to Esq. J. & Augustus that everything is satisfactory, & return them my hearty thanks for their interest in my behalf --

This is indeed a business letter & as I have said nothing of myself nor of California, will write a few lines to Chas or Harriet. I remain your affectionate Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

My health remains good as usual & I am "knocking about after the same old work" I have got a little money left as yet, or to use a California expression "am not quite strapped" therefore think I shall manage to get along for a while yet, if I only have my health, -- suppose I shall be glad to poke along home by & by --

The rest of the Pepperellites are all well so far as I know any thing of them. I have not heard from Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] since I last wrote you but presume he is "all right" Your Cousin Wm. Shipley [William Shipley] is well & thankful for the information which you sent me in regard to the Dea Parker Fanny & wishes to be remembered to you.

Thos. G. Lawrence [Thomas G. Lawrence] & Mr. Leighton left here for the mining regions as soon as they arrived from the States since which time I have not heard from them, although they promised to write me.

Mar 13th This is a dull stormy day -- the rain is pouring down in torrents & as I am at present engaged in out door business, I am having a leisure day of it of course, so this forenoon I looked over my clothes, darned my stockings & put my room in order. I have now got a nice room (or rather) we, for a young man by the name of Capwell from New Hampshire rooms with me, who is employed by the same man that I am. Our employer finds us a

room & has given us a nice one. We have got it carpeted, two chairs and a table in it &c, so in this respect I am now much better situated than ever before since my arrival in California.

As for clothes, I am tolerably well off. The pair of red flannel under-shirts which you made me before I left home I have just thrown aside having worn them constantly ever since I left N. Y. & of the five white shirts which I brought with me, four of them are yet in wearing order although they begin to get tender, so thanks to you, kind Mother I have as yet had to buy neither, shirts, stockings, nor handkerchiefs, nor shall not be obliged to for some time to come.

I have just eaten the last of my "Tomato Figs" which you sent me by Mr Leighton & I regret that I cannot get more of them, for they were the nicest treat I have had in California & if you will send me a lot next fall, by Express I will give you a dollar a pound, for them --

The mail Steamer "Columbia" has just arrived from Panama with the mails which left New York Feb 6th. She brings the news of the accident which happened to the Steamer "Georgia" on the Atlantic side which accounts for the delay of the mails --

I am now going to the Post Office where I expect to find letters from you & perhaps from Chas.

first-rate, & I have good reason to think that I am working into a good trade. I have enlarged my stock since I bought Mr Conant out & am now well satisfied that I shall continue in my present business for some years if my health & life is spared me. As yet I have kept my own books, and done all of my own writing, but I find, that this is more than I am able to do, & do justice to other branches of my business besides. Therefore I thought, would say to you that in case you were not established in business in California to your mind & would like to return to your New England home that I would give you a situation in my store to Take charge of my books & financial matters & after having been with me for one year or so if you would like an interest in the business, you could have it. I will not propose any particular salary to you as you know well enough about me to know That I should be willing to pay you what you were worth to me. Henry I have not written the above with any selfish motive in view, neither do I wish to have you leave a good business. But I think as I said before, that I must have some one with me soon & I know of no young man that I would like better than yourself. You can think the matter

over seriously & if you think it an object to accept my proposal, you will please write me accordingly. One thing more, in case you should return & come into my store I will assure you that you shall make some thing more than a mere living to begin with. (wish I could say I had done as well as that since I have been in California)

Now do you not think this a generous offer?

I have a great mind to accept it without further consideration, but then I cannot return home at any rate for several months so I think I shall be obliged to decline accepting his generosity.

Mr Tucker is certainly without any exception the best friend I have got in this world with the exception of you Chas. & Hattie. Do you not think so? Lizzie writes me that she enjoyed her country visit very much & that since she returned to Boston she has felt a little homesick.

As I wish to write Mr. T. & his family I must close my letter to you. Please give my love to C & H & tell them I shall answer their letters as soon as I receive them. Wishing you continued health & happiness I remain,

Your affct [affectionate] Son

H. A. Parker. [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs. Ann Parker E Pepperell Mass