Graham Letter - Robert Wilkinson 1853

Robert Wilkinson and his wife, John Peart's sister Margaret, after emigrating to America, settled in Blossburg, Pennsylvania, a coal mining community. Robert, a lead miner in England, took up coal mining in his new home. He wanted John and Joseph to join him. We have two letters which he sent to them in New York State during 1853 urging them to consider mining. Durham Records Office ref D/X 1035/4 Faberwary 16 1853 Dear frenes I take the present time of ritting you a few lines to in form you that we are all well at present hoping this few sempell lines will find you injoying the same. But Margaret has been verey seek sence we cam here. On last Mounday I thot she wold dead. On Sunday she take sum flurea brimson and she got cold and she was verey set I tall you. But she is got well now. But we got a good house to live in in bloss Borg. We have two rum down (stairs) upstairs to(o) all lathet and plster. We have a faire place like the auld Contery. We have got a load of cole so we have good coal fires. I am working at the mines at mars run that is at the new mines. Me and Beell works together and an nather Englechman and two of his Boys. We are in a draffet. We have 6 feet of coal. It sia nice sem of coll. It is drefet bit of col. We have onely 8 dolars a week at present working 5 nites 6 days for a week. She is verey wet at present but we did not get the Dreffer that we exspicket. I think that we will be taken a wane sune. I think that we can make mor by the Jake we work about 7 or 8 oures. Thas new mines thay pay chash wonce a munth. They belong to the rall road Cumpeny. I thank this will be a good place after a while. Dear fernes I hope you are both well. I think you will like the mines beter that the woods*. I did mes you on Sunday. Ther is lots of out Cunterey men here and the ways is mor like hom. I think that you dead not lament much about hiring for the year for ther would (have) been no chance her befor now and I think ther will be a good chance by June. But I must stop at this time so I remane your well wicher Robert Wilkinson. Margaret wiches you Bouth well and gives her verey best respicke to you bouth. She wold like for you yo com up to see us befor long. You must rit us a letter as sune as conven(ien)t and if ther be aney letter form the old Conterey let us no. aney news ther be lett us no. so no mor at present. Elsebeth Jane is well** ¿ It is quite likely that John and Joseph were cutting timber while working for Jonathan Brown ¿ ** Elsebeth Jane is Robert Wilkinson's daughter.