Letter from John T. Duncan, Jr. on living in Boston and family news
South Boston Mass.
Oct. 10, 1852
Dear Aunt Mary
Yesterday I received a letter from my brother James and as not a little surprised to find with it one from yourself & husband to had been so long since I had heard or seen anything from you that I had about made up my mind not to expect anything more from you. But I can assure you that the letter was none the last acceptable for all that. It seems by your letter and some of the advertisements in the papers which you sent that Oregon is not so entirely free from sickness as some persons have pretended to imagine. You probably have before this heard of my leaving my former place of residence and coming to Boston where I propose to reside until the first of January at least (if my life is opened as long) I am more in a retail [any?] good store in what is called So. Boston. Rythe may [?] is that part of Boston which is built on a small acre that lies South of the main part of the city and was formerly known I believe as Doherty neck. It now contains about 15,000 inhabitants and is said to be growing very fast. I have engaged with the [?] that I am now with for only a short time as wages are very low here and if I don’t find something that I thrive will pay me better shall probably return to the wilds of N.Y. or some other region. Margaret is still at [Mesidon?] with Aunt Bryant and is attending the Academy. I suppose that you have heard from Castleton I came on as far as Meriden, and had a good long visit with the relations that we have there and from there came on to Boston to “seek my fortune” if it may happen to be here if not to go somewhere else. Your letter which you wrote to Mr. Guernsey he sent to me as you demanded. [?] has called on me once since I came here. I have been in the habit of going over to the city and attending church with Aunt Reynolds, until today but it is so far to go I concluded to attend here today and am not sorry I have done so as there is a good Sabbath school connected with the church here and a Bible class which I attended today for the first time and found it very interesting although there were only ten other young men in the class. I hope that you will write to me here as soon as you receive this and let me know more of Oregon.
Oct 11—It is now more than four years since I saw you and it seems (to look back upon it) as if were the shortest four years of my life. Although I have seen and met with many, changes in the course of that time. It seems as only a short time since you were in the old store at [?] giving me that “good advice” which I hope that I may even remember [Horglad?] would I be if you would add more thereunto you can do it by letter occasionally if you can spare the time. I can assure you that it will be gratefully received if you do I have some faint hope left if finding some kind of employment here. But the maker of all only knows where I may be. 1 month hence I found it very different indeed finding even such a place at the one that I now have when I came here I had considerable of a chance to see human nature acted out occasionally when I was [?] about and enquiring for a place I found a great many different kinds of men in my weeks about the city.
Give my love to uncle Lyman and little cousin “Oregon” (as grandfather calls her) and not forget to keep a large share for yourself. I hope to be in more of a cantering mood the next time and to have something of more interest to write. Do be so kind to write to me if you can possibly spare the time.
Your Friend,
J.T. Duncan
Oct. 10, 1852
Dear Aunt Mary
Yesterday I received a letter from my brother James and as not a little surprised to find with it one from yourself & husband to had been so long since I had heard or seen anything from you that I had about made up my mind not to expect anything more from you. But I can assure you that the letter was none the last acceptable for all that. It seems by your letter and some of the advertisements in the papers which you sent that Oregon is not so entirely free from sickness as some persons have pretended to imagine. You probably have before this heard of my leaving my former place of residence and coming to Boston where I propose to reside until the first of January at least (if my life is opened as long) I am more in a retail [any?] good store in what is called So. Boston. Rythe may [?] is that part of Boston which is built on a small acre that lies South of the main part of the city and was formerly known I believe as Doherty neck. It now contains about 15,000 inhabitants and is said to be growing very fast. I have engaged with the [?] that I am now with for only a short time as wages are very low here and if I don’t find something that I thrive will pay me better shall probably return to the wilds of N.Y. or some other region. Margaret is still at [Mesidon?] with Aunt Bryant and is attending the Academy. I suppose that you have heard from Castleton I came on as far as Meriden, and had a good long visit with the relations that we have there and from there came on to Boston to “seek my fortune” if it may happen to be here if not to go somewhere else. Your letter which you wrote to Mr. Guernsey he sent to me as you demanded. [?] has called on me once since I came here. I have been in the habit of going over to the city and attending church with Aunt Reynolds, until today but it is so far to go I concluded to attend here today and am not sorry I have done so as there is a good Sabbath school connected with the church here and a Bible class which I attended today for the first time and found it very interesting although there were only ten other young men in the class. I hope that you will write to me here as soon as you receive this and let me know more of Oregon.
Oct 11—It is now more than four years since I saw you and it seems (to look back upon it) as if were the shortest four years of my life. Although I have seen and met with many, changes in the course of that time. It seems as only a short time since you were in the old store at [?] giving me that “good advice” which I hope that I may even remember [Horglad?] would I be if you would add more thereunto you can do it by letter occasionally if you can spare the time. I can assure you that it will be gratefully received if you do I have some faint hope left if finding some kind of employment here. But the maker of all only knows where I may be. 1 month hence I found it very different indeed finding even such a place at the one that I now have when I came here I had considerable of a chance to see human nature acted out occasionally when I was [?] about and enquiring for a place I found a great many different kinds of men in my weeks about the city.
Give my love to uncle Lyman and little cousin “Oregon” (as grandfather calls her) and not forget to keep a large share for yourself. I hope to be in more of a cantering mood the next time and to have something of more interest to write. Do be so kind to write to me if you can possibly spare the time.
Your Friend,
J.T. Duncan
- Title
- Letter from John T. Duncan, Jr. on living in Boston and family news
- Description
- Letter from John T. Duncan, Jr. to Reverend and Mary Denison Lyman. He discusses living in South Boston, job searches, and family news.
- Creator
- Duncan, John T. Jr.
- Source
- Pacific University Archives
- Date
- 1852
- Is Part Of
- Lyman Family Papers
- Format
- Letter
- Language
- English
- Identifier
- PUA_MS31_19_a
- Rights
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
- Type
- Text
- Media
-
https://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/files/original/1b1f9494e785560efc6bab4c2cfce690.pdf -
South Boston Mass.<br/>Oct. 10, 1852<br/><br/>Dear Aunt Mary<br/><br/>Yesterday I received a letter from my brother James and as not a little surprised to find with it one from yourself & husband to had been so long since I had heard or seen anything from you that I had about made up my mind not to expect anything more from you. But I can assure you that the letter was none the last acceptable for all that. It seems by your letter and some of the advertisements in the papers which you sent that Oregon is not so entirely free from sickness as some persons have pretended to imagine. You probably have before this heard of my leaving my former place of residence and coming to Boston where I propose to reside until the first of January at least (if my life is opened as long) I am more in a retail [any?] good store in what is called So. Boston. Rythe may [?] is that part of Boston which is built on a small acre that lies South of the main part of the city and was formerly known I believe as Doherty neck. It now contains about 15,000 inhabitants and is said to be growing very fast. I have engaged with the [?] that I am now with for only a short time as wages are very low here and if I don’t find something that I thrive will pay me better shall probably return to the wilds of N.Y. or some other region. Margaret is still at [Mesidon?] with Aunt Bryant and is attending the Academy. I suppose that you have heard from Castleton I came on as far as Meriden, and had a good long visit with the relations that we have there and from there came on to Boston to “seek my fortune” if it may happen to be here if not to go somewhere else. Your letter which you wrote to Mr. Guernsey he sent to me as you demanded. [?] has called on me once since I came here. I have been in the habit of going over to the city and attending church with Aunt Reynolds, until today but it is so far to go I concluded to attend here today and am not sorry I have done so as there is a good Sabbath school connected with the church here and a Bible class which I attended today for the first time and found it very interesting although there were only ten other young men in the class. I hope that you will write to me here as soon as you receive this and let me know more of Oregon.<br/><br/>Oct 11—It is now more than four years since I saw you and it seems (to look back upon it) as if were the shortest four years of my life. Although I have seen and met with many, changes in the course of that time. It seems as only a short time since you were in the old store at [?] giving me that “good advice” which I hope that I may even remember [Horglad?] would I be if you would add more thereunto you can do it by letter occasionally if you can spare the time. I can assure you that it will be gratefully received if you do I have some faint hope left if finding some kind of employment here. But the maker of all only knows where I may be. 1 month hence I found it very different indeed finding even such a place at the one that I now have when I came here I had considerable of a chance to see human nature acted out occasionally when I was [?] about and enquiring for a place I found a great many different kinds of men in my weeks about the city.<br/><br/>Give my love to uncle Lyman and little cousin “Oregon” (as grandfather calls her) and not forget to keep a large share for yourself. I hope to be in more of a cantering mood the next time and to have something of more interest to write. Do be so kind to write to me if you can possibly spare the time.<br/><br/>Your Friend, <br/>J.T. Duncan