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Lowell Mill Girl Letters

February 28, 1847

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 

  
  

 

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 Reyerson15 
Lowell, Mass 
No. 14 appleton corp.16

 1Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, ME d: 21 Aug 1851,  Lawrence, MA –  
      consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, NH 
  2Lovisa “Louisa” Jane Ryerson b: 12 Dec 1829, Summer, ME d: 29 Sep 1847, Rumford, ME;  
     married: Charles Pickney S. Wardwell b: 4 Feb 1824, Rumford, Oxford, ME d: 3 Mar 1879,  
     Boston, MA 
  3Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, ME d: 21 Aug 1851, Lawrence, MA –  
     consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, NH 
  4Salem, MA 
  5Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, MA d: 1897, Salem, MA; married:  
     Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, MA d: 15 Jun 1864, Salem, MA 

  6Charles H. Jelley 1850: Salem, MA - baker 
   7Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, MA d: 1897, Salem, MA; married:  
     Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, MA d: 15 Jun 1864, Salem, MA 
   8Salem, MA 
   9Howell Ryerson b: 6 Mar 1796, Paris, ME d: 1878 Sumner, ME; married: 
     20 Aug 1817, Susanna Heald Roberts b: 13 Jun 1799, Sumner, ME d: 3 Apr 1836,  
     Summer, ME 
  10Portland, ME 
  11Colonel Benjamin Heald b: 25 Jun 1764, Acton, MA d: 12 Oct 1841,  
     Carlisle, MA - maybe 
  12Anne “Anna” “Annie” E. Gilbert b: 1829, MA d: 1897, Salem, MA; married:  
     Albert H. Miner “Minor” b: 1826, MA d: 15 Jun 1864, Salem, MA 
  13Moody Towns b: 3 May 1821, Lisbon, NH - maybe 
  14Achsah Heald Ryerson b: 9 Jul 1826, Summer, ME d: 21 Aug 1851,  
     Lawrence, MA – consumption; married: Moody Towns “Towne” b: 3 May 1821,  
     Lisbon, NH 
  15Lovisa Jane Ryerson b: 12 Dec 1829, Summer, ME; 1847-1850: textile worker,  
     Lowell, MA 
  161849-1853 Appleton Mills #14 – Ruth E. Rand, BH Keeper b: 1812, ME