Remsen Jan 1 1850My Dear Jane
You remember that on the first of January we have had a temperance meeting in Remsen village today they meet to hear addresses on Sabbath schools, Bible So. truck so, Miss So motives to increse [sic] in knowledge, and evangelical Union - (the events of the year 49 and e'l union) this is your fathers subject, & Harris moral improvement, - next temperance, lastly I supose [sic], the importance of keeping the Sabbath. You see there are nine different subjects; the meeting in the morning at the Baptist Church; at 2 in the Methodist Ch.; in the evening at the M. Roberts Ch., they have all gone except Eddy and Sarah and your Mother, Gwen has come here to spend the afternoon with Sarah so I find a little leasure [sic], to wish you a happy new year, we feel very sorry you have so much reason to complain of not hearing from home that family letter which father commenced and I wrote 2 or 3 lines in it, - I could not find time to finish it, and the others would not before I wrote, so I suppose you will not expect that family letter now, when in the middle, writing this last sente[n]ce a man came from Trenton falls I laid my letter aside to get him Tea
It is now after 7 oclock; the little girls and Josiah are at home - John has returned to the village to attend evening meeting, your father and Henry staid at Lewis's, you will be anxious to know how Sarah's health is now. She has tried to think that she is better but I cannot beleive [sic] she is much if any; her spine is sorer than it was; she complains much of her hen [?] head. You recolect [sic] to see a book on the cause and cure of consumtion [sic] by Dr Fitch N. Y. He has lectures to ladies in which he treats of cases similar to Sarah's I wrote to him last week and stated her case, received an answer last night in which he says that he has helped others in similar cases to hers. She will requre [sic] supporters and Brases [sic] which with the medicine will cost 20 dollars, we will send and order them tomorrow, hoping as he has helped others he may help her, somtimes [sic] she keeps pretty good courage at other times she is quite low.
Lewis's health is improving he is now a little stronger and able to work more I supose [sic] you know that John has been elected Coroner last fall. Robert was here last saturday [sic] went back monday [sic], cousin Mary was with him, she is teaching a school near her father. Roberts health is pretty good now.
You say your vacation commences next week; we would be glad to have you home then if you were nearer, but as you are so far, and the weather cold and uncertain, I hope you will be contented and endeavour to spend your time profitably. You will need some time to fix your clothes and likely to make some, you want another quilt, have you had a cloak? if you can not get a cloak you had better get a double shawl and a good quilt, you do not say how you are off for clothes, you say you keep account of every thing can you favour your Parents with some account what you paid for your journey we should like to know; what money have you [and] how much more will you want to pay your tuition? is it worth while to send your muff? how much have you had to pay for books? Write and let us know, and your father will send you some money.
We often think of you and pray that you might be brought to love the Savior and to serve him we are glad to find that you like your minister and enjoy the meetings, now I want to thank you for your fidelity in writing hope you will not faint in this well doing, when you write to me do not cram it in a corner and write it then so small that I can scarsly [sic] read it as you did before.
[handwriting change]
This comes from your beloved mother - who is now busy washing and can't find time to close -
Dear Jane -
Be sure to write immediately that I may know what money you need. We had a very interesting meeting in Remsen yesterday. The Meeting houses were as full as they are on the Gymanfa Fair - and the addresses generally were full of interesting facts &c. It seemed so good that a resolution was passed unanimously to have another of the kind on the 1st of January 1851. The account of the meeting will be published in Genhadwr ["missionary" in Welsh], Gyfaill ["ally" in Welsh] and Seren Orllewinol [a monthly Welsh language religious periodical serving the Baptists of Welsh-America]. It was resolved at the meeting to recommend to the churches to meet for monthly concert in future together periodically at the 4 meeting houses - ours and the 3 in the Village - & we hope the churches will agree to purchase the "Missionary Maps" - to be used at these meetings - We trust these will add some interest to these meetings - But I must close - with saying that we all join in love to Jane
From your affectionate Father.
[Sarah is Jane's sister, about 17 years old when this letter was written. Dr. Samuel Sheldon Fitch was a well-known consumption specialist operating in the New England area. His "Six Lectures on the Uses of the Lungs" was published in 1847 and the fourth one was titled "Lecture to Ladies." Robert, Lewis, and Henry are Jane's brothers, about 27, 24 and 15 years old. The town of Rensen, NY was settled by five Welsh families in 1795, and had a substantial Welsh presence in the 19th century.]