University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Lowell History, Letter Written by John Wood to His Brother
Lowell, Nov. 21 1858
Dear Brother
I take the present opportunity of writing to you hoping to find you all in good health as it leaves me at present thank you. I was sorry to hear of trade being so bad with you but of course I expected nothing else for I dont expect you will have much trade frome before next spring. Trade here generally is very slack but I am thankfull to inform you that I am one of the lucky ones for I have every prospect of work for this winter with with full time. So I hope by next spring to be rather better qualified if work should fail to with stand it. I have wrote and sent 2 letters directed to my sister Nancy just 4 weeks since today but did not post them until the following thursday on account of a misshap wich happened with my bills being carried off by accident from the table by some of the girls cloths and carried out of the house
University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Lowell History, Letter Written by John Wood to His Brother
Lowell May 1, 1859
Dear Brother
I take the present oppertunity of writing you in answer to your
last and was very happy to hear from you. I was truly sorry to hear of
your troubles but I can assure you, you would be no better off here under
your present circumstances for as I told you before it is all girls work
here and the men are very poorly paid. In the corporations very few as
I have heard speak get more than 50 cents a day wich is half a dollar so
you may judge from that wether you are not doing as well at the present
time as being here. I went over last sunday to see an Englishman that comes
from Oldham he is a cotton spinner and has been here these 2 years but
has got no spinning yet but is working on a farm. He has a wife and 3 children
and only gets 50 cents per day. Very well he has to pay 4 dollars a month for a
small cottage in the centre of a wood to live in. Consequently he can have only
8 dollars a month to support is wife and 3 children and himself. Were as I
pay 10 dollars a month for only myself and am quite satisfied with that for
their are plenty pay more. So you will see it is not all gold in america.
Nor all that come that do well but there are some scores who would most
gladly come back if the had the opertunity. I was truly sorry when I saw
them in there lonely habitation and could not .find in my heart to have
them in there destitution without first releiving them wich I did with a
dollar and the was as thankfull in receiving it as though it was pounds. I
have tried since amongst a few English friends that I am aquainted with
to raise a little of something for them but the are two cold hearted to part
with anything. Self seems to be the leading law here and if you cannot help
yourself there is very few that cares to look where you are and even
feel ashamed to say the know you or even acknowledge you as a county
man but I do thank god that I have been thus far very fortunate in work
and of course I begin to feel myself quite at home. I care for no one here.
wages here are something better than home in my branch of business but at
the same time provisions cloths tools each and everything is dearer here than
at home. I myself spent over 70 dollars in clothes since I first came here
from that you would infer I was well clothed but not so had I been at home
I could have been as well rigged out for about 7 or 8 pounds and with far
superior cloth for here it is comparitively worthless compared with English cloth
and as regards my tools well of course I have got a few but it will take
me some time to get properly rigged out. I did think when I wrote the last
letter to you that before I wrote again I would send my mother 5 dollars
but it is no use. I can not get the oppertunity yet you are well aware that
I received 100 dollars from my sister when I was home to come here with
4 years well of course she stands in need of it now and I purpose beginning
to pay her next month wich will keep me poor for some time to come but
it is no use one must make the best of it and when I spoke to her about sending
my mother the 5 dollars she said where is the use if she cannot get it you
perhaps are not aware that there is 5 dollars or should I say A sovereings in little
[----] Greens that ought to have been given to my Mother previous to my leaving
home and the last letter we received from Milton Winward she has received
nothing but one pair of slippers wich was, 2.06 from them so what can be the
meaning of such work as that I dont know. I saw the letter that was directed
to my sister Sarah and I must say of all the impudence and ignorance
put together it was the most insulting.I wish her to let me have it I would have
sent it back to you so that you could have seen it for yourself. I wrote an answer
to him in the name of my sister but I could not write what I should have liked or I
would have told him pretty plainly what he both is now and ever has been to my Mother. he wrote in his letter that he was to be trusted with my Mother but not with her
money and said it was providence that directed it to him as the money was
lying there as though there was some great sin in sending to Josephs instead of to them. he likewise says that my Mother is very happy and comfortable where she is
and says that my Mother says she dont know where she could be more comfortable
than where she is under all her afflection did my Mother ever
utter such words as these. I know better she never did and of course you know
as well as I do. He trows out a very gentle hint at me. he says that my mother
says she is sorrow that she should be led astray in the thoughts of her not being
comfortable some one has said something about her that she knows nothing of
and of course wich is not true, but would my sister have allowed me to have
answered that offer according, to my wish I would have told him what he was
and how far he was to be trusted according to my little knowledge of them.
I have not forgotten that there is something like 3 L 10s, of money in there
hands wich was nothing better than a dead robbery and yet talks of christianity
and uprightness as though he was a perfect one yes I say he is a perfect
rougue and if he can finger my Mother money I know is ends are satisfied
but my Mother might die he would never trouble if no one else made him
but I thank god I am far from him but still I can never think of them but
children to keep that money from her if I had never wrote to Bury
about that I question wether ever it would have come to light or not.
I should be very happy to hear of Marks elevation if it is to be so term
wich I hope it will but whatever you do cheer him on and dont let him lack
spirit wich is the greatest curse a man could be trouble with. I have seen
more of that since I came here then ever I did in my life before. Whatever you
do infuse a dominant independent spirit in all your children and you
will give them something superior to wealth to carry them through
this world there is a man here wich landed just one month before me
we both worked together when first I came here but he was a poor spirit-
less thing and took offence at young Bull and all such frivilous things and
the consequences is, he is in is (fourth) shop now changing about first in then
out and consequently gathers no moss. Wearing the same cloths he came
here in and not been able to get rigged out yankee like and conse-
quently young Bull still and I am sorry to say very poor in the
bargain. I often talked to him but he has no spirit and consequently
comparitively worthless. There are scores told me since I came here the
never saw one settle down so contently as I have done but of course
I am at home and when I get a glass of beer the yankee will say here is
a young Bull I will reply yes Old England forever with all thy
faults I love thee still. I am not ashamed to own my country and
the very often tell me the like me the better for it but the truth is I
shall never be a yankee and I always aknowledge it frankly
but let me tell you the court my company more than I do theres and several
times have the came for me to go and have a walk with them wich of course I
always accept. You will please remember me to my Mother and tell her
to cheer up her spirits and rest perfectly well satisfied about her son
John for he is in the land of the liveing nd almost a teetotaler not quite
but a very regular attender of church and be sure when you write again
to let me know wether Mother has received that money Joseph or not
as she has no occasion to go short of anything if she will let us know and perhaps
she will live to hear my voice again yet as there is almost one twelve month
gone since I left home but before I come again I must have what will bring
me back and likewise my youngster you will give my love to James and
Ellen stansfield and tell them that there is no fear of me forgetting them
but of course it will take a time to get properly on my .feet and pay all
arrears there is Mr. Smith and James Crabtree and a few more I owe
little sums to but there is not one amongst them but what shall be paid every
cent I owe them and for the present the must trust in providence and wait
patiently for the good times coming. The had faith when I was home dont
let them lose it in me know for I promise the shall be paid and I should
be very glad to hear how ther are getting on. So that when you answer
this you will have a long list of particulars for me you must give
my love to Nancy and tell her I am truly thankfull to hear of her
prosperity and hope the David will be attentive and industrious in his
new undertaking and when chose a finished workman. Should you ever
see any of Mother I should like to have John Mothers address sent
me and if you dont know Mothers you will be able to get it of Joseph
Woodcock I should feel truly obliged if you would enclose it in your
next to me. So I must conclude with my best love to you all and
all enquiring friends. John Wood.
University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Lowell History, Letter Written by John Wood to His Brother
Belvidere Lowell Jany 22 [1860]
Dear Brother
I hope you will excuse me not writing sooner to you but under
all circumstances I could not well write sooner for the very self
same week I received your letter I had to find another boarding
house Mrs. Robinson having been confined of another child so her
Mother had to go to take care of the girls and me had each to find A
place to board out until such time their mother could come home again
but I may here state that Mrs. Robinson has got another son and is doing
very well and my sister has been home these last 3 weeks (2 weeks I
should have said) well when I was boarding out I went to a poor English
family that live out in the woods. I thought it would be some little assis-
tance to them while I shoped but found it very inconvenient whilst
boarding there for I could not write a letter the have a family of rough
small children always in a uproar in the house and the weather here
is too cold now to write in your bedroom. The first sunday my sister she was at home
we all went to meeting there being a celebrated minister preaching. I was
like the rest anxious to hear him so I put it off another sunday and last
sunday there was service held in all the churches on this great calam-
ity at Lawrence so of course I put it off again and now today as I write
my hand opens and shuts as you see I am really distracted with pain
having got a very bad cold. I was off work and in bed all day yesterday
it appears to me I have not got properly acclimated yet but will just
mention an instance to give you some idea of the weather here.
we have been building a new workshop this last fall and me
and my mate had to build some out building at the back last decem-
ber and as a [specimen??] of the frost I will add what I never experienced
in my life before the nails would freeze to our hands if you happ-
ened to set the side of your hand on the nails the would stick there as
many as could touch your skin. one day whilst putting on the floor
a nail bounced from the floor and set with the head on the back
of my hand and there it stood as erect as if it had been driven in
to try the experiment how fast it would stick I turned my hand
upside down and shook it to see if I could shake it off but no it –
stuck there fast enough. I went to show my mate at it thought he would
not beleive me if he did not see it but he was not surprised but when I
took it off it brought only the thin skin with it but he told me he
had often had the whole skin pulled off with them and the made awful
sore places on your hand the man that attached the pipes to the boiler
a day or two afterwards thoughtlesly put a small tac in his lips but
behold he went to remove it it took off the skin and he had
a very bad mouth afterwards all sweled and inflamed with the frost
I merely mention this to show you how cold it is at times for A few
days together and then it will be as warm almost as the majority of
days in summer are in England. today is warm enough to go without
coat tomorrow perhaps will be as cold, the calamity I mentioned in
the commencement of this letter was a cotton mill 5 storys high falling
whilst all the hands was at work about 13 minutes to 5 clock last tuesday
but one just as the was lighting up I beleive it was not more than one or
two minutes from the commencement to being laid in a heap of ruins the
most shocking affair I ever saw or heard of before whilst labouring
to get out the wounded and those buried beneath the ruins about nine
o clock at night a man by accident was handing a cup of coffee to some
woman that was buried underneath he put his lantern down in the
debris the better to see his way when coming in contact with some hard
substance he broke it and being charged with camphene it imme-
(camphine is a liquid we have here instead of oil or candles in most houses)
diately exploded and set the whole fabric in flames those that was alive
and unhurt wich might have been saved where burned alive. Lawrence
is about eight miles from Lowell so on wednesday morning me and 5
more of my mates took a sleigh and went down there and I must say
of all the sicking spectacles I ever saw nothing could compare with this
some I saw got out was not the slightest injured others was burned some
from the head down to the body all burned away others their legs and
lower portions of thier Body the rest apparently uninjured one family
I was acquanted and went to see had a boy working in the weave
room or basement story of the mill he escaped unhurt though buried
underneath the whole fabric he told me that he saw the shafting all
coming down and he crept under his loom and in a moment when he
opened his eyes all was darkness he began to grope about and found A woman
some men had got hold off and was getting out so he clung to her hoops and
was dragged out with her the hoops as the women wear here are canes
stitched in their under skirts to answer the purpose of crinoline but it is useless
to occupy this letter with the details. I have sent you a couple of papers
with particulars in only I think the [that] curtail the true account of dead and
missing but dont pay any such mony as the want from you as you
are only entitled to pay one penny for each paper I pay 2 cents on each
when I post them you pay the same when you receive them. I will
just state since I last wrote to you I have been sick and of work one month
with the pluracy I was no sooner at my work only some 2 or 3 days
when my sister was took sick and we all thought she would have died
but thank god she recovered and is hearty and strong again we have
been very slack of work too at the shop for two months almost nothing to do and
during the whole winter we have never lighted untill last week but
now we have a good prospect before us thank god I dont know what to
think of Mrs. Dunn 18 weeks ago I sent her 2 pounds and 9 weeks ago I sent
her 5 pounds and on the 2oth of next week I should send other 5 pounds but
I really cannot think to keep sending money without having it answered
the very last letter I wrote to her I pressed to answer it immediately but it
appears to me to be of no use but I will not send again untill I do get an
answer from her I promise to send her 5 pounds every 3 months and have
kept my promise steadfast till now as she as answer them something in reason
until lately the time before I wrote to you and told you about her neglecting she
sent me a very saucy letter such a one I dont wish to receive again. I tell you
she has mention Margaret different times to me once she wanted to be married
I sent word she had my entire approbation and if I could further her ends I would
gladly assist her and now if she pleases to get a devorse I will pay all expenses and
she can paint me in what coulors she likes if you would be kind to convey this
to her by means of Nathan Brooks as I think the likeliest way I shall know how
act I could remit the money to you and you engage with a lawer to would
do the thing genuine for I dont feel like coming to England whilst I have her hanging on
my hands and I should dearly like to come over to see my mother and children and
all my old friends once more she makes a deal of bother about her watch I would freely send
it as a present to her new husband and wish him health and happiness to wear it but she will
never get it untill she does clear herself of me and then I should be glad to part with it. I sent
word to Mrs. Dunn but she would not tell her as she said she did not wish to hurt her feeling
I was rather surprised when I read your letter concerning my Mother for we received A letter
from Nancy Spencer last summer saying she had a letter from Milton Winewand stating
that my Mother has been confined to bed three months. If true it is strange you did not
mention it. I was very sorry to hear you had been without work so long it is very bad
indeed but I do hope and trust months before this reaches you you will be settled down
again in some comfortable situation. I know it is awful bad to be without work without
family of children. I have suffered enough of that in England and indeed since I came
here what with slack work and sickness and sending money to England it has kept me
poor enough. I was very thankfull to hear of your son Mark having got to a branch
of business that is likely to do some good. You likewise ask me for A recept for –
french polishing. I am sorry to say I have not got one myself but if you
will see Dick Holt and give my kind love to him as I wish to be remembered to him
I often think of him but durst not write to him on account of the treachery little
Dickey practiced upon me and ask him to give you a recept for polish and likewise the
additions to make it in varnish you will get both and when you write again to me
please inclose them on copping them in your next letter to me as there is none here in
Lowell but when I was in Bury I always got it ready at Comptons Druggist
You will please return my sincere thanks to those kind and constant friends
James Crabtree, John Charlson Mr. Smith and likewise Charles Nutt
All (my sister Nancy mention in her portion of the letter) and tell them I was
pleased to hear the had not forgot Jack and that I send my best wishes toward
them and that I often cheer myself with the thought that I shall yet drain another
pot with them before long but I have almost become a Yankee drinker now
You did not state in your last letter wether Mr. Smith and Wife had got
together again or not you might ask him if he thought it possible for her to get devor-
sed and what the cost would be as I know the Old gal wants wedding bad enough
as soon as you have got all necesary information that I require I hope you will
not delay writing in return for I feel very anxious about it So with the few –
remarks I will conclude with my Best love to you all as I have wrote this
one letter of course you will show it to Nancy and it will serve you both likewise
the newspapers the are the best account I could get. I hope you will remember me to my
Mother and tell her we are all getting along first rate Yours respect J. Wood
