Graham Letter - Christopher Graham 1867

Evidently the Pearts in Allendale heeded Jacob's advice, for in 1866, Adam and his nephew John, Mary's son, emigrated to America while Watson stayed behind with their mother. When Christopher wrote to Joseph in 1867, he was lonely. He had enjoyed having many family members about him, and now so many were dead, and Joseph in America did not write. Durham Record Office Ref: D/X 1035/24 Weardale Killhope January 25th 1867 Dear Brother I take the pleaure to write to you again hopeing to finde you all in good health as this leaves us at present for good hilth is a great blessing. For we as a family and near friends are still toiling on in our country that is Weardale in the mines and about them but the groves are poor at present generaly wages low and living is a little higher then it was. Flour 2s 6d per stone muten 8d per lb buter 14d and 15d per lb which makes farming very good hear. If I had such a farm as you have I could have made a good liven hear but I am still at the old place with plenty roum about me but little coumpaney which som times makes my mind stray to som other place Amidste a bit sever(e) winter wether as ever blew over those hills. But it is come frish now. But hay has got to £7 per ton which if it should come a hard spring it will make bad work with som. But I expeck you will have all thing quite differing from us in your country for ther has many giong to Australia and com back again and tells how things are thire and our Jo Hannah(`s) son* I think you cannot but recollect him thow (though) a boy when you left us. He left here for Australlia in August and we got no leters from him yet but I think he will be landed in that fine country now if all be well with him. But Dear brother if this reach you pleace to be so kinde as to write directly back again to us for the sake of those you left in your old country for I was over in Allendale and I seed old Bety Peart and Watson and they were all well when I was ther but it was in sumer. And they say they had litle word from you but they had a leter from John wich (which) menstioned you as being at the old place so you well have had many letters from us since you write one to us for we have looked long for one years I dare say since we would like to have one from you but none has come. But Just write and let us know how you are get on in this old world. A few lines will sitiffice us so if we never me(e)t more in the flish I hope to meet you all in the glory land. So I remain your Dear Brother Christopher Graham Killhope Weardale County of Durham England *Christopher may be refereing to sister Hannah's son, Joseph Graham, born May 4 1845. His father was listed in the birth record as John Milburn.