Recently while searching my own line another fellow genealogist brought to my attention this group of letters which are written between Jan 3, 1852 & Nov 10, 1869. I will be posting over the next week each of the letters. They are a wealth of names, vital records, and just general everyday life. If you wish to see the originals they can be found at the Historical Society of the Town of Chester in Chestertown. Hopefully everyone enjoys them. The original spelling has been kept intact. Occasionally I'll reprint the introduction and some background. Introduction: These letters are copies of letters sent to Juliette Baker from Julia Hill. It sounds like the girls were cousins. Juliette was the daughter of Thomas Baker of Minerva, Essex, NY. He was born in 1809 and married Eunice Harris, born in Athol, Warren, NY. He was a Wesleyan Methodist minister, and preached in the Darrowsville Church in Chestertown, NY. It is irony to find this, as I have been one of the people trying to preserve the church, now torn down. The only thing saved was the bell. The Rev Baker and wife went into the woods above Minerva to log for August Sherman. Juliette married Wesley Rice in 1864 Julia and Steven Newbery, her parents, Phebe and Sidney Hill, the two Willies,(4 yr. 3 mo.& 3 mo.8 da.), Julia's sister, Clarissa, and more who are mentioned in these letters are buried in the Starbuckville Cem. on Starbuck Hill Rd. in Chestertown. You can also find both families in the 1850 Warrensburg Census only two houses from each other. The girls are both 8 in that census. Hopefully I can get it online soon. Bolton, March 26, 1863 Aunt Mabel Baker is very sick and we think she will not live long. She has had another shock of the numb palsy about 10 days ago and is growing worse all of the time. She cannot help herself more than an infant. Orpha Sherman has just come and says she is failing fast. Isaac has run away with Seen Unez as soon as she was out of jail. Armena has got quite smart but is not well. She is to Bens yet. If Sally does not get help from the town they will have to go to the County House, it is thought.Uncle Hiram Murdock has moved to Schroon. Uncle Martial Bradley has moved in his house. Good neighboors I guess. Caroline Baxter has got another boy. A boy year. I think I will not try it this year. Olive has got a girl. Delia is over here. Our folks are well. We have been out to Ball Mountain in Grinage this winter and I went to Uncle Hiram Anderses. Had a good visit, plenty of fruit of all kinds. Nancy has named her baby Elton Scott. Sarah Prichard is married to a man by the name of Palmer, a widower with two children. Jim Middleton has left home, what for I do not know. Leander Bartlett has got back again. His wife is in Albany. He has been here to see her since he got back. The snow is about 8 inches deep out here. Father has bought him a dandy span of colts. Mary is here yet. Freddie walks all around. He is crying now and I must go to bed with him, so good night. Morning, the snow is 6 inches deeper than last night. Peter Bradley has got home on a furlough of 8 days and his mother did not know him. He has been gone most two years. Hiram Bidwell has got his discharge. Dick Duel has moved up on his place. I have got me a new jacket, a new hood, a new delain dress since you was here. Sept. 30, 1864 It is with a mourning heart that I write these few lines, for death has been in our little family and taken our dear little Willie from us. He was sick about 10 days with the diptheria. He died the 23 of Sept. Oh, can it be possible that he is banished from our presence forever until the day of judgement? God's will be done but we think it hard to part with those that are near and dear to us. Mary Jackson is dead. She died about a fortnight ago at the County House. Mother Newbery is here with us. Freddy has been very sick but is better now. We are calculating to go into the woods for someone if we get a chance.