Gold Rush Era Letters

Did you see Abel Parks, when he was at home? and has he changed much since I saw him? It seems that his Mother likes Pepperell better than she thought she did, as you say she has made up her mind not to sell her place, or go out west with Parks --

I did not know that Levi W. Phelps was at the Groton Junction until I recd. the Ball Card that H. sent me -- neither did I know that John Parker was in Pepperell. Someone wrote me a long time ago, that John, had gone or was going off somewhere towards Worcester, to work in a machine shop out there, and I never heard but what he went, or if he went that he had ever returned to Pepperell again.

I am sorry that Mr S. A. Jewett should meet with any accident, for I think he has already suffered, as much as he should from lameness, but I hope his fall was not a serious one

I heard from Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] last night by way of a letter that a friend of mine here in San Francisco received from Charles Wright. Sam is well and is busily engaged at mining, and probably doing very well, as I understand that most of the miners have now got a plenty of water --

Your kind letter dated March 2d [2nd] was received the 3d [3rd] inst. enclosed with one from S. A. Jewett

I was very glad to hear that you were all comfortably well at the time you wrote, but sorry to hear that Harriet had been so unwell -- under your kind care however I hope and trust that she will soon regain perfect health and be hearty more than ever before. Mr. Jewett wrote me quite a long letter giving me a very satisfactory explanation of all matters of which I wrote Mr. Tucker about, still as Mr T. has promised me a more full explanation still, think I will not answer Mr J. until next mail. I am led to believe that everything is as near right and correct as I could expect it to be under the circumstances and I am well satisfied that Mr S. A. Jewett did all in his power to make the settlement satisfactory to me and I think I had better let the real estate remain the same as it now is until I return home and whatever you all agree to do with regard to it, go on and do the same as you would if I had no interest in it and I shall be perfectly satisfied.

I must say however that I do wish, that Mr Locker which you speak of would buy the house on the corner for I think it would be a great benefit to us if he should do so. I was not aware until you wrote your last letter that Dea Blake had got a partner in his business. In your next please give me more particulars.

Chas. H. Valaitine [Charles H. Valaitine], an acquaintance of mine who worked in the mines with Sam Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] last summer and who took my furs on to Boston last October arrived back here again by last Steamer --

I was pleased to see him, for he was able to tell me all about Mr. Tucker, and family, as he had seen them nearly every day, while he was at home. I was able to gain a great deal of information from him with regard to many people, and localities, that I well remembered although I have heard but little or nothing from them since I left Boston.

Mr. S. A. Jewett sent me a present of a Pocket Knife by Mr. V. and Mr Tucker sent me a comb, of course they were very acceptably recieved [received] and will be long retained in memory of the donors --

The next day after he arrived Mr V. left this city for Columbia, where Sam and Chas. Wright [Charles Wright] are at work and where he formerly was before he left for the Atlantic States. I have not heard from him since he went away neither have I heard from Sam but have concluded that he has given up the idea of coming down here for the present.

V. tells me that Daniel Wright's health has improved very much of late and that he has given up the idea of returning to California this year and that it is doubtful about he or his brother coming at all