Gold Rush Era Collections

[top left corner:] Embossing: Anchor with snake with words "SUPER FINE" above it.

San Jose Ca. March 29th 1853

Dear Mother,

I received your kind letter the 25th inst. & was happy to hear from you again but sorry to hear that you were so unwell at the time you wrote but I hope you have ere now got well of your cold & that you are all, now enjoying health & happiness & may it please Heaven to grant you, a continuance of these blessings. I am well, my health continuing to be as good as usual. I came here to San Jose the 15th inst. since which time I have been to San Francisco twice & returned to this place again but think I shall return to S. F. tomorrow as that place seems to be my home in this country.

Since reading the letter received from you by last mail I have been sorry that I ever sent to Esqs. Jewett for Cash as I fear that by doing so I have caused you to suffer again on my account. But I am sincere when I say that I would not knowingly cause you any more trouble or anxiety under any consideration, & had I known tha, by requesting Esq J. to send me money, I should cause you trouble I would not have written him on any account, I was not aware, nor do I believe that it was necessary to have you sign any writing whatever with regard to the matter & I did not suppose you would be obliged to do any thing about it if I had I should not have sent for it. & I do not wish to have you sign

Wednesday Eve, March 30th

I am as well as usual & intended to have returned today to San Francisco but finally concluded to remain here a day or two longer therefore I must deposite [deposit] my letters in San Jose Post Office which closes this evening at 8 Oclock [O'clock] so I shall not have time to write but a few words more by this mail but will endeavor to write you a long letter by next mail.

Give my love to Chas. & Hattie & tell them to be sure & write me soon also tell C. to send me his miniature. Wishing you all health & happiness I remain sincerely Your affct [affectionate] Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs Ann Parker East Pepperell Mass

of which I gave you & also sent a paper containing an account of the disaster. I also wrote you at that time that the Steamer "Independence" had then long been due here & that it was feared some accident had befallen her. A fortnight ago yesterday we learned her fate. As she was sailing along near the coast of Lower California she struck a rock which stove a hole in her bottom so that she commenced filling with water. In order to save the passengers if possible she was immediately backed off from the rock & headed on to the shore where she soon struck -- no sooner had she struck however than the awful fact was discovered that the ship was on fire. The scene as described by eyewitnesses was then awful, & horrible to behold. Hundreds jumped into the water many of whom were saved but 180 persons lost their lives, by the disaster!!! Those who were saved were brought to this port in a sailing vessel .. A week ago today the Steamer Samuel S. Lewis went ashore & was soon a complete wreck

She was on her way from San Juan to this port & was near here when wrecked. She had on board 385 passengers all of whom were saved. To crown all the worst accident happened last Monday on board the Steamer Jenny Lind which is a small steamer running between this place & San Jose & the very one I came down on, only the trip before this accident happened. At the time of the accident she was coming from San Jose & when near here her steam pipe exploded filling the cabin (where most of the passengers numbering about 100 were seated to dinner) with steam, scalding & killing them in a frightful manner. A gentleman by the name of Ripley was killed

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I was glad you wrote me about Mrs Betsey Tucker and Mr. Samuel Chase, as Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] being here just now, I was able to tell him what you wrote concerning them. He was glad to hear that his mother continued so smart during the cold weather.

Then you wrote that Henrietta Parker was married about a year ago, which was news to me or else if I ever knew that she was finally married I had forgotten it ere now.

Then again you wrote that Mrs Sewell, heard from Abel P. Lawrence quite often, so I conclude that he is at present away from home although I had never heard of it before, and now you did not write whereabouts he is but merely said he was teaching school and getting $28.00 per month for doing so.

When you answer this, please write me where he is teaching.

Give my love to Charles and Harriet and remember me to Uncle Bradly [Bradley] and family and all others of my friends. Tell them all that I am well, and intend to come home sometime, if I can get there.

Sam, and Chas, do not know for a certainty when they shall start for home, but I guess not at present. Mrs Graves (formerly Miss Chapin) is living at Columbia and Louis C. lives there with them, Augustine (I believe I wrote you) went home about two months ago,)

Your loving son

H A Parker [Henry A. Parker]

[written vertically in left margin] Monday eve, Jany 15th I am as well as usual this evening. Sam. [Samuel P. Tucker] & Charles left here for Columbia this afternoon, all well. - I noticed a few days since, the marriage of Jackson Lewis, of San Jose, Brother to Crosby Lewis. --

I find it to be impossible to find any one, who will take so much interest in one's business as a partner, and as Mr N. [Ephraim Noyes] is a good honest man, when he is here, and well everything goes along smoothly, and we are able to do more business, than when he is away.

I do not think Mr Noyes [Ephraim Noyes] feels perfectly well yet, but he appears to be much better than he was when he first returned from Oregon, and I rather think that if his health continues to improve that he will finally give up the idea of retiring home until another spring. Although I expect his wife wishes very much to have him return this spring, as she writes about being very lonesome, missing him very much, &c. which makes him feel as though he ought to be with his family, instead of spending his time in California. But after all, we are situated now I do not think he can do better than to remain awhile just as he now is. And I hope he will conclude to do so.

[written upside down on top edge:] I received a letter from Cousin Jennie. She writes that her health is not first rate which I am sorry to hear.

[written on left margin:] Eli. W. Harrison a young man who formerly tried with Appleton Lawrence, was here a few days ago. He works at farming in San Jose. He is well, but would like to be back in the town of P. [ Pepperell ]

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