Graham Letter - Jonathan Graham 1858

Again, in April of 1858 a letter came to Joseph with very sad news. It is not known whether it was written by Christopher or by Jonathan since only the first page was preserved, and the handwriting of both brothers is very similar. Durham Record Office Ref: D/X 1035/18 April 10 1858 Dear brother I now find it my duty to return you an answer to your letter which I received 3 of April and I was very glad to hear from you for I have long looked for one and I would have writen you a letter long before now but I did not no where to direct it to for you said you had sum thought of flitten* and brother I am very glad to hear that you enjoy so good health for it is a great blessing and that you are doing well in the world but dear brother do not forget that you will have to leave this worlds good for I find my duty to inform you that death hath been vized (visiting) our famly again for my brother John died the last day of October. He had a stomach complaint for tow years or more sum times better and sum times worse but at last after 13 hours severe illness like a bowel complaint** he died and left a widow and three children to lament his loos (loss) but I am glad to inform you that at his dien (dying) hour he could say all is well for he had made his peace with god through our lord Jesus christ upward to one year before and so I would say to you prepair yourself to follow him for I am try to do the best I can and dear brother if we never meet again upon earth may god grant that we may all meat in heaven and if we do not there is none to blaime but our safves, and his (John's) youngest girl died on the 29th March she died after 5 or 6 day sickness for she got hold of a feaver that hath vizeded our Country at large of late esply children for I think it has mist (missed) vaery few and my sister Bettey has been very poorly this winter but she is likely to recover now and I think the rest of us is all in good health and my mother had her health very well conciedren (considering) for old age is creapen on and so she sends her kind love to (both?) of you and I think we are all doing well in the mine so far for we had £20 per man for our pay last pay but it does not look so prosporous like to year. And I think all the rest had pay and Jacob I think has all most got the master of his thrade (trade) and He had his health very well and I think he in person is about like my brother William was when you left home and he was 20 years old last september and the same time this year he will be loos*** *Joseph evidently had been thinking of re-locating **It sounds as if John's fatal illness may have been a ruptured appendix. ***Jacob will have finished his apprenticeship