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Courtesy: American Textile History Museum [#1005.150]
Transcribed: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for Lowell History
February 28th 1847
My Dear Friend,
You will be surprised I presume at receiving a letter from me, but I have often thought of you, and have been tempted to write, but did not know exactly where you were, but last Friday who should walk into the factory but A ---1 I tell you I was delighted to see her, but I never was more astonished in my life. Our factory started to, I have commenced working in it. and now I am coming to the point. I want you dear L ---2 to come down & work here. It is your sister's request too. Now do come, & you will never repent it. I want you to come very much. The factory is very pleasantly situated and I think you will like very much. A3 boards very near the factory. & you can see her at any we have delightful times. If you come, you can board, and work in the room with me. I will do everything in my power to mak you happy & contented. Now if you do not come, I shall be very much disappointed. You must come, so do not think of refusing. But I must close, for my time is short remember & fail not. Please answer this a soon as possible, but give me the answer we wish for.
Direct your letter to the Naumkeag Corporation4
your aff Friend Anne E. Gilbert5
turn over
1 Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, Maine d: 21 Aug
1851, Lawrence, Mass – consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, New Hampshire
2 Lovisa “Louisa” Jane Ryerson b: 12 Dec 1829, Summer, Maine d: 29 Sep 1847, Rumford, Maine; married: Charles Pickney S. Wardwell b: 4 Feb 1824, Rumford, Oxford, Maine d: 3 Mar 1879, Boston, Mass
3 Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, ME d: 21 Aug 1851, Lawrence, Mass consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3
May 1821, Lisbon, New Hampshire
4 Salem, Mass
5 Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, Mass d: 1897, Salem, Mass; married: Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, Mass d: 15 Jun 1864, Salem, Mass
Care of Mr Charles Jelly6
Anne E. Gilbert7 caled me last evening and left me this letter to finish for you but I have not recived an answer to the one I wrote to you last. I found Anne last friday in the mill. I got me a place to work in the same room with her in a week or too, but I shant go you can come and take my place as I am not able to work my cough is no better and the Doc says that I must leave Salem8 if I want to live & if you will go home with me & will go I recived a letter from Father9 last week he wrote for me to come he said he had a letter from you the week bfore he wrote to me he wrote that you was coming home this spring Almira L. is married and moved to portland10 quick doings Colo. Heald11 is dead if you cant go home you must come out here to work and board with A12 and work with her to but if you will go home you must write and let me know when we must go as soon as you can on the acount of my cough Towns13 says he will come down after us when we want to come back if you can go you must come out hear a day or to bfore we go write and let me no all about it if you havnt got money enough to git back again after you git down this I will see that you are back safe give my love to all write us soon as you git this so good bye from your
Write Sister Achseah H. Towns14
Write Soon March the 2 1847
[on cover]
Miss Levicia Reyerson 15
Lowell, Mass
No. 14 appleton corp. 16
6 Charles H. Jelley 1850: Salem, Mass - baker
7 Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, Mass d: 1897, Salem, Mass;
married: Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, Mass d: 15 Jun 1864,
Salem, Mass
8 Salem, Mass
9 Howell Ryerson b: 6 Mar 1796, Paris, Maine d: 1878 Sumner, Maine; married: 20 Aug 1817, Susanna Heald Roberts b: 13 Jun 1799, Sumner, Maine d: 3 Apr 1836, Summer, Maine
10 Portland, Maine
11 Colonel Benjamin Heald b: 25 Jun 1764, Acton, Mass d: 12 Oct 1841, Carlisle, MA - maybe
12 Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, MA d: 1897, Salem, Mass; married: Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, MA d: 15 Jun 1864, Salem, Mass
13 Moody Towns b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, New Hampshire – (possibly)
14 Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, Maine d: 21 Aug 1851, Lawrence, Mass – consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, New Hampshire
15 Lovisa Jane Ryerson b: 12 Dec 1829, Summer, Maine; 1847-1850: textile worker, Lowell, Mass
16 1849-1853 Appleton Mills #14 – Ruth E. Rand, BH Keeper b: 1812, Maine
