Gold Rush Era Letters

Mr Noyes [Ephraim Noyes] sends his kind regards to you -- Mr. Wm. Shipley [William Shipley] is well as usual and wishes to be remembered to you. I have not heard from Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] since I last wrote you, or from John Griffin either who I suppose is at work near where Sam is. I promise they are all well, or else I should probably hear from them. I have not heard from Thos G. Lawrence [Thomas G. Lawrence] or Mr Leighton or Henry Leighton for a long time in fact nothing definite since they first arrived here in San Francisco. I have never seen, or heard from Nathan Baker, or Charles Wheeler and should never known they were here if you or Mr Tucker had not written me that they had left home with the intention of coming out here, and in fact I do not know as they are in the country at the present time ---

Give my love to Charles & Harriet -- to Miss Lewis and others of my friends.

Thursday Eve June 28th. Am quite well this evening and have just done up three papers to send to Charles. -- Think I shall send Harriet one also, "A Pictorial Wide West"

Since I commenced writing my letter, I have been called upon to attend the funeral of a friend -- Mr William F. Green of Townsend Harbor Mass --

He died very suddenly, -- was taken with an attack of Painters Cholic [Painter's Colic], last Sunday Evening (until which time he was smart and well) and died last Tuesday morning at one o'clock, and was buried Tuesday afternoon. He leaves a brother in this country who was at Marysville, and has not arrived from there yet.

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Friday Eve June 29th Am well this evening and must finish my letter and deposit it in the Post Office tonight as the mail Steamer leaves early tomorrow

The mail from New York 5th inst. has not yet arrived, so of course I have not yet received your Miniature, but I expect to though, in a day or two H.A.P. [Henry A. Parker]

Vena, Clara, and Mr Albert I hope will kind good children obedient to their mother take good care of little darling bess [Bess] -- I have the kind -est feelings towards all my friends have A deep anxiety to see and hear of their doing well. I mail A letter to Br. [Brother] J. C. Oatman also to my warm friend J A Matteson -- probably it will come out in the signal we have not had any more rain this last fall and winter than usual if as much in Illinois. if I thought it would be for James interest to come to California I would give him encouragement. could he see the many unsuccessfull [unsuccessful] unfortunate miners he would not wonder at my feeling as I do. Stillman says write to Mr Oatman to stay at home but he is competent to judge for himself. it is the last place for [page torn] bring my darling wife and family. I should [page torn] to have my letters direct to Marysvill [Marysville] being onely [only] 30 [page torn], should I go to feather river [Feather River] it would be on the way to [page torn] them by express then being A regulaur [regular] post office at Marysville and daily mail. Old Tom and Jack ponies came through fine by good care, grain &c. and sold in Weaver for $310 they came in the first of July -- I have never seen them nor dont [don't] want too. I wish the stone quarry to be carefully preserved and not worked by every person let it alone onely [only] as you or James may direct. James must be industrious and try to provide for himself. If he should wish I should be willing to purchase A team. I think oxen the best and have him work as much land as he can to advantage till I return. I leave the matter to you and him the profit would be but little.

Your Husband R. J. Boylan

chinked an [and] plastered tight my oil cloth sheet makes a good roof. I have a good bunk up from the ground and filled with willows and hay. I have three large blanket[s] so I assure you I sleep comfortable and feel quite at home. I sent with the rest of the company and got my winter provision consisting of 200 lbs. of flour 120 lbs. of bacon 25 of sugar 22 of dryed [dried] apples 10 lbs. of onions and all the small fixings vinegar pepper sauce &c all in cabin safe. I got also a first rate gold rocker which cost me $16. the whole cost and transportation from Maryesvill Marysville was about $125 which fills me out till Spring for provisions. I must have some clothing boots are worth from 14 to 18 dollars firm boots from $5 to 8, pantaloons from 6 to 8.$ I got a pair of flannel shirts for $2.50 a pice [apiece]. I bought me A good double barrel gun for $10 verry [very] cneucial [crucial] although the indians [Indians] here are verry [very] friendly. the old chief live [lives] 4 miles from here he comes frequently to make a visit. I am his particular favorite I get us a good dinner and he and I sit down and eat. he has been engaged in mining for some white man they say he is A true friend he called on me a few days since and made me A visit and went with me A prospecting he took me to A place 4 miles where he said was much (orea) [ore] gold he would like to work for me, I think shall work alone indians [Indians] are poor help. I have never been to any of their camps I seen them entirely naked

I received your letter of July 12 direct to Mariposa P. O. at the same time I got my letters forwarded from Marysville in all six. So you see I had some thing of a feast of reading. The story by Mrs Hopkins was verry [very] effectery rendered still more so by the brackets designating various parts undoubtedly from your own hand. I expect another letter tomorrow, in that we shall learn respecting Sister Oatmans health, also further about poor daughter Clarra I fear she has been suffered to go too long but I always hoped she would outgrow the infirmity but my dear wife do the best you can for her brother J W Feu shall be compensated for his kindness towards her if my life and health is spared. My sincere respects to him and Sister Kate I shall give them a call on my way home. how long well till the first conveyance is ready to leave for Joliet -- you wish me to recommend some jintleman [gentleman] to take charge of your farm. Well Madam I am quite well acquainted with a man that will most probably suit in many respects he is thoroughly inured to hardship and toil with an iron bound constitution and good habits save his peculiar whims and strange notions he prefers to do his own cooking and washing and patching and has been so long acustomed [accustomed] to sleeping on the grond [ground] out under the spreading branches of a tree that you will find it quite dificult [difficult] to civalize [civilize] him and how he would do to take charge of an amiable woman and affectionate children I cant [can't] say -- for most certainly he has not embraced or imprinted a Kiss on any human being since March 27 - 1850, but I will forward him as soon a circumstance will permit and I hope you will receive him with all the affection due to your wandering exile husband

To my own Dear Margaret

R J Boylan

I shall go to Marysville and purchase some necessary articles for the mountains such as fruit of various Kinds some few clothing &c.

I have not received any letter from home since the date of last Nov 17th I feel verry [very] anxious to hear from you I cannot for A moment think that you would neglect to write. Yet I well Know you have many cares but James can write. I strenuously enjoin it upon him to see that I can have A letter written and mailed by the time 20th of every month then I shall Know at what time to go or send to the express office.

When I am located for summer it may be A long distance -- I have enrolled my name on the express of Snell & Hunter who carry from Sanfrancisco [San Francisco], Sacramento & Marysville to the upper mining of Feather river. I could be found for the time being by any old acquaintance through the express carriers. I shall probably not write again until I get into summer diging [digging]. I shall write to Brother Oatman [J. C. Oatman] make him A proposal if he intends or wishes to come to California that I will take up his note should he borrow money to the amount of $300 when I return but he will find Cal - verry [very] diferent [different] from what it was when he left it. Should I send him A draft it would cost me A journey to Sacramento and A loss of 12 or 15 ctents [cents] on evey [every] dollar