1846: Margaret A. Davis to Joseph B. Davis

This letter was written by Margaret A. Davis (b. @ 1821) to her brother Joseph B. Davis (b. @ 1825). Their father is most certainly Thomas Davis (1789-1860). Their mother (unidentified) is known to have died on 1 June 1844 at the age of 30. Town records indicate that Thomas re-married on 23 August 1845 to Miss Jane Bennett, daughter of James Bennett, formerly of Northumberland County.

At the time Margaret wrote this letter, she appears to be single and living with her parents in Clinton Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Living in the household with them (in 1850) is their Uncle Joseph and possibly three Aunts –  Mary, Ann, and Margaret Davis.

There is another letter written in 1848 posted on this blogsite between Margaret and her brother Joseph. See 1848: Margaret A. Davis to Joseph B. Davis.

Stampless Cover

Page 1

Page 2

Margin Writing

TRANSCRIPTION

[Addressed to Mr. Joseph B. Davis, Elmira, Chemung Co., New York]

Clinton [Township, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania]
April 19th 1846

Dear Brother,

I rec’d your truly welcome letter yesterday evening, and was very glad that your health had returned again. And now in compliance with your request, I pen you a brief letter, although I am afraid you will not get it as the time for your leaving draws nigh.

Joseph, we are all in good health at present. Uncle William [Davis] enjoys tolerable good [health] at present and, in fact, has all winter for as aged a man [as he is]. Father’s is all well too. I believe John has given up going to the West. Joseph, you requested me to write & let you know the particulars of Aunt Lib’s wedding. It is very little information I can give you upon the subject. I have seen it announced in 3 or 4 papers &c. I think this day 2 weeks ago there was a young man from down in the valley crossed the river here (he is a shoemaker from Lewisburg) and told George Roberts they were married for certain & he likewise said that Uncle Joseph was very much against it. The young man said they [should] not be, for he was as good as she. Adieu to that subject now for it is all I know and all I care (for he is a locofoco).

Joseph, I forgot when I wrote t you before to tell you the reason that Cousin Tom went to Elmira. Now here it comes (but first don’t faint or blush). He said you had sent him a note to attend your wedding – that you was to be married such a day and without doubt or fail he and Jinney was to be there. Brother, I did not think you was a going off in that sort of style, just to send for him & his pretty wife and no person else. But if you are married, bring your (as Tom calls his) Mrs. Davis along till I get a peep at her. Perhaps she will think as much as Tom’s does of me. I will tell you the particulars of your wedding and where he went to borrow a sleigh to s[p]are his own, when you come home.

And now, Dear Brother, if you are not hurried, will you take a kind sister’s advice. If you ever go to get married, [promise] never to make as great a Country’s talk of yourself & our intended as he has done for they are in every person’s mouth for & wide.

Dear Brother, I shall think ever day is laughing it self untill you arrive at your home in Clinton and now I shall look for you in 3 weeks from this time.  There is a great many of your old schoolmates married off since you left. Joseph, you have lost Caty App – she is married to Joseph Hess. She was determined to have a lad at all events. Brother, I want you to know of Uncle John – about the affair I mentioned in my other letter….[unreadable]…summons if she got the quilt block; I sent her & how she like them. I sent her a letter at the same time.

Dear Brother, at your request, I pen you this letter Sabbath afternoon & I sincerely hope that ‘ere 3 Sabbaths more roll by, you will have arived in Clinton once more. We all fain in sending you their respects to you all, & except a large share from your sincere sister, — Margaret A. Davis

If you do not go down, write soon.

P.S. When I wrote to you before, I sent Uncle John the [Muncy] Luminary [newspaper] with the Hon. James Pollock speech on the Oregon Question.

FOOTNOTES

• Joseph Hess (1819-1882), son of Jacob Hess and Hannah Knorr, married Catherine [“Caty”] Caroline App (1824-1905) in 1846.