From Lebbeus Jenkins to Capt. Rufus Smith

Williamsburgh Nov th 20 1830

Honoured Sir

I take this method to declare the great regards and affection I have for your amiable daughter whom has in possession those qualities that adorn the female mind and render the connubial state pleasant and happy.  I would in the mean time Sir through the medium of these few poor written lines solicit your consent and approbation. and that of your good Lady to be a relative to your worthy family worthy fam  family by her means.  When this Sir you receive and it be your pleasure to honour me with your daughters hand in marriage and favour me with an answer it will be ever esteemed as a particular favour and acknowledged with sincere gratitude.

By your obedient and humble servant

Lebbeus Jenkins

Notes on the letter:  It was written on one sheet and folded with an address in lieu of an envelope.  It was addressed to Capt. Rufus Smith Whately.  Lebbeus never names the daughter in question and it sounds like this is a letter copied from a pattern book.

Rufus Smith had 13 children, six of whom were girls; the last two a set of twins.  There is no record that any of them married Lebbeus and, sadly, Lebbeus himself died 13 February 1832 in Cummington aged 31 years old.  His probate record is in Hampshire County and has recently been filmed by LDS. To his brother he left a bit of land, a horse and a gold watch.  There is no mention of a wife.

The Smith family lived on Grass Hill Road in Whately, a road which runs to the left off the Whately Williamsburg Road (heading to Williamsburg).  This road is now abandoned although clearly discernible and passable on foot.

I have found no record of the parents of Lebbeus.  He may have been the son of Southworth and Eunice (Williams) Jenkins who were in Williamsburg in 1830 but a list of their children on Find A Grave does not include Lebbeus.

This letter belongs to and is in the collections of the Whately Historical Society, catalogued as 1998.025.001.

Sylvester Waite to Elihu Waite

Mr. Elihu Wait

I hope that you remain my dear father, as yet also a dear mother, but as I have not heard from father mother brothers nor sisters so long that I don’t know whether any of you are now in the land of the living and if you are all dead may these words be found by some connection or some neighbor that I may hear whether you are dead or not as I am some distance from you and do not expect to [two words crossed out] see you very soon it would please my mind to hear from you very much. 

I am now in the state of Ohio town of Talmage (Tallmadge) village of Middleburg county of Portage thirty six miles from Cleaveland.  I am to work for a man by the name of Jackson a making fanning mills which I got thirteen dollars a month for one year which I begun April the twenty fourth.  He had got fifty mills all but done and fifty more expect to finish the first of October which I think they will sell them all for thirty dollars a pease.  I like this business very well but if I cant get a living at this I shall try the plough.  If I get any money from Chester I think that I shall try Michagan another year if  [?] don’t suit myself in this estate. 

I was out to see our cousins the twentieth of March they were all well and I think in a good situation to live.  They want that I should buy a lot by them of thirty six acres they think that I can get the lot for three dollars an acre.  The land suits me very well but I think there is more chance for the rise of land in Michagan.  I have been expecting a letter from Chester this month but I have not heard from him yet I think that he must be well off.  I should heare from him and Elihu but I think that they must be well. 

[?]  corn is worth thirty one cents wheat is worth thirty seven cents. This is a lively place, there is a stream runs through this place that is called the little Cuyahoga there is two large gristmills, two sawmills, a forge, two carding machines, clothing works, all in about to miles.  There is six or seven stores in this place, three stages run through this place and teams without number.  The canal runs within about a mile and a half of this place which causes a great deal of trade.  I went out a coursing [not sure if that is the word]  which is about thirty or thfive miles.  Some I conversed with a while they knew me not and expect it will be so with you and I am forgot on every side and it seems  that you had forgot me entirely, therefore I think it will be of no use for me to come home. I am not known but dear father brothers and sisters if you would just call and see this western world, see the population and soil of this country you would forget the days that you have had and no rocks and stones which I expect that you are carting them stones at this day while the farmer here has not hardly stone to weigh on his scythe. The crops are coming in well, the wheat not so good the fruits hang beyond all description.  And now I must draw to a close and wishing you to give my love to all that has not forgot me.  I remain your youngest son Silvester Wait

 July th30 1826. 

Notes on the Letter:  This is an original held by the Whately Historical Society.  It is handwritten on both sides of a 8.5 x 11 sheet of plain paper.  It is in very good condition.  There is an envelope.  On the back of the envelope is written the following list of names:  Patty, Calvin, Dimmis, Sally, Luther, Roxany, Rufus, Chester, Rebecah, Elihu, Silvester Wait.  These are the names of the whole family including the parents, Rebecah and Elihu.

Notes on the Family:  Silvester Waite (he used the spelling Wait but the customary spelling includes the "e").  was born 12 June 1799 in Whately, Massachusetts.  He was the twelfth and youngest child of Elihu and Rebecca (Graves) Waite.  The list of children provided in Crafts History of Whately  matches that on the envelope with the exception of their first child, Lucretia who is not included in the list.  His mother had, in fact, died in 1821 and his father was remarried to Electa Kellogg by the time Silvester's letter arrived.  

Crafts writes that Silvester "resides about ten miles from Leroy", and says he had a least three children of whom only Elvira is named.  A Sylvester Waite of the right age, born in Massachusetts was in Elba, New York in the 1850 through 1880 census records.  He had a daughter named Elvira and it is presumed that this is the same man who wrote the letter.  Further substantiation of this is that Silvester's brother Chester also resided in Leroy.  

Seth Kenney to Lyman Crafts

This is a letter from Seth Kenney in Minnesota to his cousin Lyman Crafts in Whately.  He writes to tell of the death of his father and includes interesting information about other family members and about his cane syrup business.  Seth was born 22 February 1836 in Massachusetts, the son of Stephen and Sophronia (Alexander) Kenney.  He died 24 May 1917 in Morristown, Minnesota.  Lyman Crafts, the cousin to whom the letter is addressed, is the son of his mother's sister.  That sister, Lucy Alexander, married Walter Crafts of Whately and Lyman was their eldest child, born in October 1854.


Morristown, Rice County, Minnesota

Oct 11th 1897

Dear Cousin Lyman Crafts,

I write you to tell you my father Stephen W. Kenney died at 1/2 past 6 in the morning of 22nd Sept 1897 aged almost 84 years.  He had a cancer in the stomach and had been ailing for one year but was not real sick till 6 or 7 weeks before his death.  Before he died he expressed a hope that he should meet us on the other shore.  We miss him so much at the same time do not wish him back.  He was a great sufferer till in the last 2 weeks we kep him with morphine that reduced his sufferings very much.  He was very grateful to us in helping to ease him as much as possible.  Mother is very feeble and it would seem she cannot long remain behind.  At the present time Uncle Elias Alexander is dangerously sick with an infection of bowells and we have no hope of his recovery.  My own health is not the best but I carry on quite an extensive business but will have to stop sometime.  Am now working up the sugar cane with 14 [?] expenses $30 per day.  I have some money ahead probably enough to pay all bills.  We grind 50 tons cane a day, it takes considerable help to do it.  Sold 9000 gals last season.  Write when you can.

Are your prices on tobacco satisfactory?  Since the Cuban Rebellion I thought it might help you.  How is Uncle Walter?  Can he work any?

A letter from she that use to be Sylvia Alexander, her husband died in Middleboro Mass a few years since she since married a man and lived in Rockport Mass but now lives in Middleboro Mass.

How old are your children and their names one by one?  Our friends leave us but I think there is something better beyond and look for a glorious "Reunion beyond".  The though is sweet "not lost but gone before".  I have had this same faith 47 years and it has been my "anchor".  My mother and one of my sons has the same father brighter as the end grows nearer.  Such a meeting I love to think of it.

Your cousin Seth

I hope you have the same faith to carry you through.

Notes on the letter:  This is an original held by the Whately Historical Society.  It is handwritten on both sides of a sheet of letterhead paper, 8.5 x 11, faintly lined.  There is no envelope.  The printed portion of the letterhead is complex as is seen in the photo heading this post.  There is a large stain that goes through both sides but does not obscure the writing.  Insignificant changes have been made for clarity.