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. Feb. 28, 1858 Mother is sick. She was taken ill last night with a pane in her stomach. She has not ate anything all day. Dayton is not very well. He was sick all day yesterday but is better today. I went out to Mr Holley's yesterday. Uncle George Holley's folks have got another baby. Mary has got home from the academy. I suppose she is an accomplished lady now. I should think us trunnelbed trash might go to the academy. Well, we might if we had a rich father as she has. Tell Mr Lawlover he must come and fetch you out this spring. I should go up there if Dick was not going, and mother was well. Singing school is out now but they talk of having Mr. Prindle teach a singing school right off down the river. Elizabeth Duel's youngest child is dead. Henrietta Tibits has got a baby. Smiths folks was up here last Friday night and Ike Smiths too. I have got to get mother some medicine. Clarissa is not here now and has not been home since yesterday morning. She is over to Uncle Franks. They are to Bolton. Chester, Oct. 3 1858 George Hill is going into the woods for Mr Chadwick, Vene is going too. He said he should go and see you this winter if he lived. Betsy Smith has been here today. She was fooling as much as ever. I went to meeting yesterday up to the elbow. The Freewill Baptists yearly meeting. Elder Graves girl died last week, I guess it was his oldest. And Nel Barritt's oldest girl died yesterday. She was 15 or 16 years old and her name was Caroline. The funeral will be in the Wesleyan meeting house tomorrow. Mrs. Wells is very sick. I went down to Uncle Dave's yesterday and they were down there and said she was no better. I went out to Uncle Sam's last week. I went to Sandy HIll and Ft. Edward. I see the cars too. Give my respects to Mr. Terry and Mrs. Butler. I would like to see all the ones that I saw when I was there. I should like to stay there two months longer. Sarah Jane Holley has gone home with Mr. and Mrs. Stacy. Mary Prouty's school is not out yet. Nov 28, 1858 Chester. I have been to Isaac Barritt's to work a fortnight and I worked for Lias Proutys a week and when I got home Mother and Fahter and Orville were all sick. They are well now. Father and Mother are out to Kingsbury. They are going to be gone a week I expect. I see Mr. Smith who said he was going up to your place to hunt. I wonder if Mr Smith is hunting the same game as Mr. Fenton was. Tell me whether Brother John ,as you called him , has written again and what he said. Uncle Dave's children is all here, so that our little kitchen is pretty well filled. Dec. 31, 1858 Betsy Ann Middleton is married to Edwin Pratt. She was married a week ago last Sat. Lucy Palmer is married to Richard Watters. Betsy Watters is married to a gentleman from the falls. His name is Crandle, I believe. Julia Malery is married to Benjamin Beeby. I have been to a donation since I came up here, to Horicon. Mr. Prindles. We had a great time there that night. Good afternoon. I wish you a happy New Year. I am here in Chester yet spending my new year almost alone. Elizabeth Tripp is to work in one part of the house here. She has gone down to meeting today. You had better believe we have some great times when she is here. We go out making calls every evening or two. Night before last we went to Mr. Faxons. Sophia Watters and Mary Ann Parker is there to work. Mr. Egertent is going to have a donation next Thursday evening. I am not going though I guess. Tell me Walker I was glad to hear from him.