September 18, 1853
September 18th 1853
My dear Sarah:
I now take the first opportunity of answering your kind letter, which came to hand September 10th, and was very happy to hear from you and that you had got over your sickness and all the rest of your people. I was very sorry to hear of the death of William as I mentioned in my last letter to you.
Dear Sarah, I have not received but one letter from you since the first of May but I am still looking for one with patience, hoping to get one soon.
I suppose you have heard of Missus Harden’s getting married. That is so according to her own statement. [Your brother] George had a letter from her to that effect. I went over to see Edward O’Connor the other Sunday. He is doing well. He got good claims.
My dear Sarah your brother George intends coming home this fall and if he does I will send by him my gold ring to you for you to keep for me for my sake ‘til I come. Likewise a piece of gold to you so you can get it made into a ring and perhaps 2 pieces for earrings of the California gold.
My dear Sarah I am well and doing middling well hoping these few lines will find you the same, enjoying good health as it leaves me at present and all your sisters likewise your father and your dear mother. My love to [your sister] Charlotte and all of them not forgetting your own dear self give my love to all my folks at home. I have got nothing more at present to write to you but I remain your most affectionate [lover].
John [Bryden]
Please to write soon to give me all the [news] [illegible]
John Bryden
Written in ink on white 8.5” x 14” (estimated) landscape-ruled rag paper, folded along the short axis into a 4-page signature. Watermark in top left corner of the first page in the shape of a crowned shield. This letter has the recipient’s name and address (Miss Sarah Bowles, Lairdsville, Oneida County, New York State) on the last page. From the fold lines and wear marks, it appears to have been folded and sealed, rather than placed in an envelope. It is badly tattered—the worst condition of all the letters in the set.
