This letter was written by Julius H. Spencer (1809-1875) of Angola, Indiana to his brother Diodet Spencer (1812-1870 of East Haddam, Connecticut. Julius was married to Sarah Perry (1818-1887). Diodet was married to Martha Hester Doane (1810-1897) in 1836.
Julius and Diodet were the sons of Hollister Spencer (1778-1837) and Theda Hastings (1777-1858).
In the letter, Julius’s wife Sarah enumerate their children’s names and birth dates. On-line family genealogical records are consistent with this letter with the exception of two sons who died prior to the 1850 Census. They were Joseph Perry Spencer and Chester Perry Spencer who died during the 1840’s.
The best compilation of this family’s genealogical record based on these sources is:
Father: Julius H. Spencer, b. 10 Sept 1809, d. 9 Nov 1875
Mother: Sarah Perry, b. 1818, d. 1 July 1887
Child 1: Amanda Lucinda Spencer, b. 21 Dec 1834, d. 1875
Child 2: Joseph Perry Spencer, b. 26 August, 1836, d. 16 Nov 1849
Child 3: Mary Helen Spencer, b. 14 February 1840, d. 31 Jan 1874
Child 4: Harriet Matilda Spencer, b. 26 Jan 1842, d. 19 Aug 1918
Child 5: Chester Perry Spencer, b. 11 Dec 1844, d. 11 Oct 184x
Child 6: Norman Samuel Spencer, b. 25 Feb 1846, d. March 1914
Child 7: Rosalia Spencer, b. 17 Nov 1847, d. 13 Jul 1880
Child 8: Cora Ellen Spencer, b. 20 Dec 1849, d. 12 Sept 1908
Child 9 was born after this letter was written: Roswell Emmet Spencer, b. 9 Apr 1858, d. 14 Dec 1914.
Stampless Cover
Letter
TRANSCRIPTION
[Addressed to Mr. Diodet Spencer, East Haddam, Connecticut]
Angola [Indiana]
March 21, 1855
Dear Brother & Sister,
We are all well & hope that this will find you enjoying the same. We thank you for the trouble you have been in finding Nancy I think. Julius will be down in course of a year if nothing prevents him. Tell mother it was with pleasure that we received yours. We was glad to hear that your health is as good and hope that you may live to see your lost son again. I should like to see you and the rest of our friends, but we cannot both leave home. We have 6 children living and 2 dead. Amanda Lucinda was 18 the 21 of December. Joseph Perry was born August 26, 1836 (?) & died November 16, 1849. Mary G. was 15 the 14 of February. Harriet Matilda was 13 the 26 of January. Chester Perry was born December the 11, 1844 & died October 11. Norman Samuel was born the 25 of February. Rosalia was 7 the 17 of November. Ellen was 5 the 20 of December.
Per mother, I will send you a lock of Julius’ hair. Julius wishes me to send you some of Joseph and Chester’s hair. It is but a small lock, but it is half we have. Mother is still alive and enjoying comfortable health and sends her love to you and says she has not forgotten you. Sister Harriet is well and send her love to you all. Mary says that she will write to you as soon as she can write a little better. The children have not been to school but little for we have lived so far from school till now. They learn very fast now. We should like to have our friends come and see us please. Send us a lock of your hair. Please write as often as you can.
Julius H. Spencer
Sarah Spencer
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