Lowell History: Mill Boy Letters

                                                     Bangor  June 2nd 1833

Dear Brother

Mrs. Gilmans health being very low she has with the advice of physicians and friends concluded to make a journey to Boston and to New Bedford and I willing to have her make a visit to Lowell, Exeter & Portsmouth have advised her to go to Lowell an instantly on arriving in Boston, she will probably leave here tomorrow
(Monday) in one of the Packets which renders it uncertain when she will arrive in Boston, she going in
company with her sister Harriet and will take the stage to Lowell as soon as is convenient. Should it be convenient for you to accompany her on a visit to Exeter & Portsmouth she would go otherwise she will be obliged to omit that part of the journey. Our family is all well with one exception (Mrs.G)

I write this in haste being rather busy making necessary preparations for her journey.
Give my love to Mark & his wife and for yourself the best of Blessings

Stephen

                                                     Exeter  March 29th 1834

Dear Alfred

Yours of the 24th I have received. My sister had a letter from Marrisitt in which says he improved the chamber six weeks he had left town sometime before we found it out, he left the key of the outside door in the next store. The inside key in the chamber door, with his benches in the room which I suppose he borrowed, he says if they will make out a bill and send to him he will pay it. I have been afraid he would give you some trouble in collecting it as I don’t know how you manage to collect small debts in Lowell. I don’t suppose he has any visible property to get hold of. DH&H would be very glad to get the money from him if it could be had without much trouble. I have made another amount with an order to pay you the amount for eight weeks. I am sure it occupied by him as long as that time. If, however he is unwilling to pay the whole, I will pay you three dollars without any trouble, you may give him a receipt for three dollars in full of the amount.

Mr. Wm. T. Marrisitt
To DH&H Gilman
To rent of chamber for writing school?              }
from Oct. 28th 1833 eight weeks @ 50 cents per week}

Exeter  March 29th 1834 Pay the above sum of four dollars to Mr.
Alfred Gilman and his receipt shall be your discharge.

                                            DH&H Gilman

                                  Dixmont  Nov. 16,1834

Dear Brother

A few weeks since I made a short visit to Lowell and was greatly disappointed in the fact that Alfred was not there, however the disappointment was almost half made up by the pleasure of seeing thy better half at Hudson you have probably heard from thou before this time therefore I cannot tell you any news from that
quarter, but will tell you something you don’t know from this quarter aye, yankee fashion. Did you know that I have turned clod hopper and furrow turner? And truly believe scripture prophecy is correct for I have bent my sword into a ploughshare and my pistols into a pitchfork. But to the point, having made an
unsuccessful pursuit for some good business un lieu of my trade which you know I do not like over much I concluded to purchase a small farm in this town and try a farmers life. My farm is situated about ½ mile from cousin Jos. on the south road. Contains 100 acres of land Has upon it a good barn, a house 10ft. square 10ft. high and a little more,. We have just moved and arranged our household matters for the
winter.

Last night I received your neat-little paper and read it thro’on I slept. May success attend it and you. I would moralize a little but I must write 3 more letters this evening and will cut off with the usual Give our love to your wife and accept the best wishes of your Brother

                                              Stephen Gilman