Lowell Mill Life Letters

                                           March  24th 1846³

dear sister I now  spend a few moments in writing to you to let you no that the folks is all well and hope to find you the same and Olive E. Jackson and Ostin Jackson has ben down this winter I suppose you know them by this time  Brother Thomas is courting Olive right smart I tell you we suspect they will be marred fore long Olive sends his best respects to you Thomas is to work over to belfast and Freman is to work there with him I commenced work to Mister Towls down to searsport Corner last November to learn the black smith trade and have ben their ever since. I am going to School now I like very much I expect to work their 
until I am one and twenty grandmother and grandfather sends there best respect to you and all the rest of the folks Cousin Nathiel⁴ is courting right smart we expect he will be marid this spring and Mikeel to I must draw to a close by saying good by right as soon as you reseive this you must excuse                    

From your perfectiondse Brother 
My bad spelling                      David T Marden 
And bad writing                      Direct your leter at searsport 
                                              corner

  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852, Freedom,  
     ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married 1848: Phineas  
     Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME. 
  2Brother – David T. Marden b: 1825, ME d: 1848, ME; parents: John Marden  
     and Eliza Munsey. 
  3Searsport, Maine. 
  4Cousin – Nathaniel M. Marden.}

  
                                             East St. Albans 
                                             April 15th 1846 
  
My Dear Mariam, 
  
Having just received your friendly letter, I think it advisable to answer you by informing you that probably we shall not be at Lowell under a fort night on account of the bad state of the travelling as we have to go about thirty five miles before can get to any steam boat landings we feel very grateful to you for your trouble, but farther hope that your overseer will keep that place you speak of, for we are determined to go. Aurs says, “tell Mariam that we are wide awake for Lowell”, I would go tomorrow, if it were not that the roads are almost impassable, but we are in hopes to get there within two weeks from this date. We think that we should like the place in the mill which you speak of also boarding with you better than any thing else and hope that they can be kept open for us. excuse all errors, for Aurs sits at my albow making fun.

Yours in haste but friendly

                                 M. Florette Sawtelle

  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852,  
    Freedom, ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married  
    1848: Phineas Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME  
    d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME.} 
  
  
 

[on cover] 
E. St. Albans Me. 
April 20th

Miss Mariam L. Marden 
Lowell, 
Mass.

   
J. Fishers Sunday after meeting July 19th 1846

Dear Cousin

             With shame & neglect I set myself down to addres a few lines to you my helth is quite good this somer & hope through the goodness of God you injoy the same blessing. I hope you will excuse me for not 
riting before. I have hardly had time to think of enything sense I received your leter we are preparing for a weding I expect Maria will be marred this week further more I received a leter from Edmund Rowe the same day I received yours & he thought he should come soon I wanted to see him before I rote to you but he has not come I thought I would wait no longer you sed you would like to have me come to factory I should like to come & work with you if I thought it would agrea with me since I have been sick the Doctor isn’t will not to for me to work in a factory but if I knew I shall work out a grait while I guess I should say it I suppose I shad have to stay hear this fawll at eny rait & if they don’t want me eny longer & Mr a you know who is wiling I shal stor my duds to the factory I want you to rite & let me know how to geet thare & whare to find you if I should happen to take a nosion to come. you sed you had thought of coming to Dedham I wish very much you would come & stay a hole week 
  
  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852,  
     Freedom, ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married  
     1848: Phineas Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME  
     d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME.} 
 

you can come from Boston hear for two & six pance take the Dedham train in Boston & come to Dedham village that is 3 miles from hear then take the stage & you will be left at our gait rite & let me know if you can come & when so that I may be at home I suppose you knew Brother Clark is marred. Edmund was  
to Fathers a few weeks ago & ses he had a very good visit I guess I am glad of that I guess you will think I am a funny gob to turn off a fellow and take him back again that is just like you cus when I see you I will tell you all about it monday night I am finishing this leter you nead not think I had a beau last night cos I dident but Maria did and Mrs. Fishers sister had a baby & I went to meeting no wander I couldent rite wow cus laugh it seams just as though I can hear you now sis do come & see me we will have a first rait time no aunts Mercy hear to scolds we can run about and have a biencour time & shant have nobody to wach us 
every time we speak or stir I have got more yarns to tell you then I can in a week now let us be good girls and live for our selfs and not for a nother remember me when it is well with you

give my love to Ruth & Susan but be sure & let no one see this I came hear in april & have nine shillings per week this somer 
Yours truly Susan Marden 
  
  
  
 

[written on side of letter]

Joseph Fishers West Dedham  cus don’t go home 
                                    until I see you 
                                    when you rite tel 
                                    me all about your beau 
 

[on cover] 
West Dedham Mass 
July 18, 1846

Miss Mariam L. Marden 
Lowell 
Mass

  
                       Searsport Sept. 6 1846

Lines to a frends

I now tak mi pen to rite a few lines to let you now that I am Well and hope that those few lines Will find you injoying the same being I was glad to get a paper from you I was happy to think that you has not for got me. I was to your mothers a few days ago thay wer well then I saw warren larst nit I told him that I was goin to rit to you he wanted me to rite a word for him but thay say that he goyn to be marred soon. I hav not seen Thomas sensence the 4 July he was goyn to prisson the next week. David is well rite to me Marane

                       Nathl M. Marden 
  
  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852,  
     Freedom, ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married  
     1848: Phineas Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME  
     d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME.} 

                                                       Kennebunk 
                                                       February the 3 1847

Dear Mariam  you know 
that I left Lowell I found Mother alive she lived till 5 minutes of fore this morning when I got up to the depot there was a man that was coming down and when I got to wilington there I met my brother when we 
arived home it was seven about the time that I told you Mother head her sinces till the last minute she was very glad to see us and said that she was willing to die if the Lord sees fit to let her live she was willing 
to live I want you to tell Father Burbanks folks that I want them to write to Dorcas and tell her that her Dear Mother is ded and that she died with the Prest and lung fevor she wanted to see all the children but she wanted to see me the most of all O how glad I am to think that I come home yesday if I head not I never 
should seen her Mariam this is to much for me to bare Father is not very well I don’t think he will last but a short time I want you to tell Mary MC to tell sheldon that I don’t think that I shall come back eny more at present

  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852,  
     Freedom, ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married  
     1848: Phineas Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME  
     d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME.}  
  
  
it was Mothers desire to have me stay and so I suppose I most Mariam you most write to me and write me a long letter I feel so bard that I cannot write give my love to all the Girls that inquire after me this is from your Friend Susan N. Littlefield

Do you my friend when far away 
Think of the hours you have spent with me 
And aft at evening when you stray 
Think of the hours you have spent  
Think of your friend that faraway 
                                 Friend

E. Emily Grott

                         Freedom June th 13 1847 
  
Sir Mariam 
  
I have got home I arived th 5 and found my friends all well   but I feel as lonesome as can be for my part I had rather be in Lowell and be rung up every morning than to be here at home I have not seen any one since I have got home, I shall be very glad when I get in the mill again. I am going to ride last of this month and stop after the fourth of July. I think I shall go the distant of forty miles I had first rate time coming home I should like to travel all the time if I could. I have no news to write except a young man by the name of James Marden hung himself at Mr. Lanskirters to Belfast, this took place last week. Mariam that is a false report about me being married it is no such a thing so you may rest assured about that. I have inquired in to the affarse and found out the perticulers. I wish you would come home so I could see you. I hope you will come. I and make me a visit and talk over the past times that we spent in Lowell. 
  
  
I hope when I see ruth she will feel little more chatty than we war a week before I left. Tell ruth I should like to see her very much and all the rest of the good folks. I think I shall come back in the course of nine or ten weeks. I shall write to Ruth before long and I want Ruth write to me first. M  I want to here from you soon 
as you receive his letter. I hope you will be as punctual about writing as I have been and that is all required  
of you. Write soon and rite all the news for I want to hear from  Mr. Bidwill and Mr. Stevens if you can read this you will do well I hope you will excuse this poor written writing and spelling and many mistakes 
   
                      Yours with respect 
                      H.C. Warren 
  
Direct your letters to Freedom

  ^{1Miriam Lindsay Marden b: 1827, North Searsport, ME d: 1852,  
     Freedom, ME; parents: John Marden and Eliza Munsey; married  
     1848: Phineas Gustavus Warren b: 19 Nov 1822, Freedom, ME  
     d: 1 Aug 1881, Unity, ME.}