1849: Kasson M. Freeman to Andrew Jackson Freeman

This letter was written by Kasson M. Freeman (1823-18xx), a farmer in Agawam, Massachusetts. He was married to a woman named Charlotte D. (1824-1852). Their son, John L. Freeman (b. 1848) is mentioned in this letter as well. They are known to have had another child named Lucy G. Freeman (1850-1872).

The letter is addressed to his brother, Andrew Jackson Freeman (1819-1899), a farmer in New Marlborough, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Andrew was married to Lydia Faye (1826-1894) in September 1848.

I believe Kasson and Andrew Freeman were the sons of Heman Freeman (1790-1868) and Harriet Hitchcock (1795-1869). Another son, John Freeman (b. 1826) is mentioned in this letter (who was thinking of going to “Californy”). Heman Freeman was the son of Silas Freeman (1746-1837) and Elizabeth Kasson (1749-1831).

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[Addressed to Mr. Andrew J. Freeman, Mill River, Massachusetts]

Agawam [Massachusetts]
December 29, 1849

Brother Andrew,

It being a stormy day and I am about half sick with a cold, I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that we [are] in the living, yet we have hear[d] nothing from you since Ely was up. But [I] suppose that you are all alive yet. He sayed that [our brother] John had got home but did not know whether he was a coming to see us this time or going to Californy first. [My wife] Charlotte and [son] John have both got hard colds now but are in hopes they will be better soon.

When John was here, I thought that I should see som[e] land before this time, but I have seen nor heard nothing [of] the man since. But I have traded away my south lot on the river road for one on the road that goes by my home opposite old Mr. [Isaac] Converse. I gave about 8 acres for 6 of good pasture land or mowing, and I am to have 20 dollars for the rye that is on it when it is harvested. Mr. Kirkland wants to let me have som[e] land on back of the barn and so take my swamp on the south side of the road but do not mutch think we shall trade. Mr. Burgess came to see me the other day about buying my pasture back of his house. He didn’t say whether he would take it or not but I think he will in the spring for he has since be[e]n and bought a piece of land beyond mine that he will have to cross mine to get to. I think som[e] of buying about 3 ½ acres of land that lyes this side of that I bought of Converse. I can have it for 150 dollars. If I do, then I can sell the swam[p] whitch there is two or three men that want.

We talked som[e] of coming up this winter when John L. was here but there has be[en] no sleying [sleighing] until now to speak of. But it is good sleying now and I mus[t] get up my wood pile and chop it up and be ready for spring.

Tell Elizabeth that Mr. Lyman has bought a peace of land this side of father Kirkland’s and dug a cellar and is agowing to build a house early in the spring, and that he teaches our school this winter. They have a donation party at Mr. Perryes next Monday evening. They talk of building a school house in this district next summer. They have petitioned to the County Comitioners to move the road back into my meadow down by the schoolhouse. I want to have you r_____ of the rest of them with to us for we want to know what is agoing on there once in a while. I want to have you write whether John is a coming down this winter or not and what he is a going to doing. John has got so that he thinks he must hel ___(?).

Yours in hast[e] – K. M. Freeman