A genealogist must have the patience of Job; the curiosity of a cat; the stubbornness of a mule; the eyesight of an eagle; be blessed with the luck of the Irish and have the ability and stamina of a camel to go long hours without food or drink." (The Herald, Vol. 18, No. 3 & 4; 1995)

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Letter From Charlotte Willmarth

reprinted with permission of Bob Mosher

For more information on Charlotte Willmarth and her family visit Bob's pages on the Willmarth and Related Families of Cobb, Day, Kier, and Pollard.

Absent Friends                                         Potsdam Nov 21^st 1841 

An opportunity now presents itself which I cheerfully improve in conversing with you through the medium of pen & paper hopeing that these few ill composed lines will find you enjoying the blessing of health, which is as great a blessing as we can ask in this world.  For when health and strength are gone we have but little to stay here below for in this land of troubles and disappointment & if we are only prepared it matters but little how soon we leave this world.  I feel to mourn with you in the loss of your beloved children.  But when I think that your loss is their gain and of the precious promises of which we read in our bible that are laid up for little children we have no reason to mourn but wish our lots cast with theirs.  Dear Uncle and Aunt, I hardly know what to write you when I think how every thing I say every thing for it seems almost every thing different when I look back three, four or five years when you were in Addison when Loyal & Lydia were in Potsdam when we were in Vermont.  If you have not heard from your friends since I have heard from you.  You can hardly tell where they all are.  In the first place I will tell you where I have kept myself for four years past or five rather for I have forgot whether I learnt the tailors trade before you left Vermont or not.  I learnt of Mrs. Holdright, she was Sally Waterman and Married Dr. Asa Holdright of Bridport.  I presume you have seen or know her.  I served six months apprenticeship.  I boarded to Grandpa Wilmarths two winters and sewed around from place.  I spun wool there one summer and made cheese one.  I boarded one year to Justus Smiths took in work or went round from place to place just as I pleased.  One year ago this last September Mother picked up what few things she had and got a few more and went to keeping house in the Pollard house as they call it.  We all went there to live with her, Clarrisa was sick and not able to work out the reason she that she went to housekeeping, but she is now well and healthy.  We have been there about five months and Elliot came out for the first time to make a visit and see what Mother saw about going on to Granpa Norton’s farm.  Grandpa being very anxious that that they should ha went back and in April Grandpa and Elliot went on to it and kept bacelor house till June then they sent a team after us.  We are all living in the house that John Carr used to live in.  I say all but Rhoda.  I don’t count her our folks she was married last October to Erastus Pollard and went to Waddam’s Mills to live last winter .  This summer she lives in the house that we left they were well the last we heard from then.  I once more take my pen to finish my letter which I was obliged to lay by on account of work.  Since I commenced this letter I have been to Mr. Baileys (is she that was Betsey Clark, A. Clarks daughter) & made on surtout & one dress coat to Uncle Alanson Post, made one coat for himself, cut and made whole suit for George Post, he is about as large as Jason Stickles was when he left Addison.  Clarrissa Post is as tall as her mother but not as fleshy.  Aunt Sibil is about as fat as ever she enjoys good health generally able to do just about so much every day slick as was.  Uncle A. Post just about as lean as ever & works just about as hard as can.  As for Uncle George & Aunt Cinthia I know not what to write for fear that you will think that I tell a big story.  George thinks his health is poor.  I think he is not able to do hard labour but a little exercise is good for any one.  Aunt Cinthas health is about as usual I believe she is almost as fat as Aunt Sibil.  She has girl six months old, she weighs 15 pounds she calls her name Lois Ann Smith.  George and Cintha live in the house that Alexander Brush built between Uncle Alansons & Mr. Brushes.  They give sixty five Dollars for their house and bought ten acres of land of Alanson Post where they live and I should think they took comfort..

Uncle Harvey Posts people were well the last that I heard from them Uncle Harveys health has been very poor since you left but is now quite well.  Andrew is a great boy almost as large as his father & is as smart as any the Vermont boys. since this last haying he has worked out after his father was finished enough to get him a new suit of clothes.  His coat four dollars ???

Alma Post is as large as her mother.  She is a smart girl she will wash & mop or get a meal of victuals as quick as her mother.  Prudentia & Perlina are up to mischief but Jacob Post on little honesty he is an odd one.  He don’t look like any the family he is a smart little fellow.  Uncle Loyal & Aunt Lydia live in panton on Daniel Adams farm near Adams ferry they are well and doing better than they ever have before.  Loyal & Abram Burwell have dissolved co-partnership once more they pretended dissolve once before when Abram tunned dioviers? (something follows written in parens, but torn)

Aunt Lydia has two great fat boys the oldest calls Edrick Spaulding.  The youngest she had not named when we come from VT, it about a year old -- --- ---

Abram Burwell has been to work out by days works most of the time since Aunt Philinda died.  I suppose that you have heard that she died to Uncle Harveys, she was to our house three weeks and to Uncles Harvey’s two weeks and three days she was willing to go if it was the Lords will.  She and Abram always lived with Loyal & Lydia after they were married her little babe was bright and handsom.  He lives with Abrams mother Mrs. Bostick at Westport she called her name Achsa.  Russell was well the last that we heard from them  he was going to Vergennes to work in a shop.

Mother says tell them that Horace Hale has been out this fall and got a deed in his own name and give his father a Life Lease of his father Hales farm.  She think and Grandpa says he has gone back to take care of Jim and look that he will have ploughing enough in VT and York states.

I must draw my somethings to a close by wishing that you will write us a letter that we may know where you are for we are looking for you here all most every day. 

This from Charlotte Willmarth to Chilon & Mabel Stickles. 

In right margin of last page is: 

Grandpa says that there is land enough here Mother & Elliot and all the rest think that they shall see you here in a year or this winter almost.  We all send our love and wish that you were here please to write and let us know where you are and when you are coming here.

  In the margin written across the top of page two was:

Marriages since you left

Clark Willmarth to Mary Hale

Calib Willmarth to Emeline Smith

Alvin Pond to Rhoda Gage

William Hanks to Martha Murry

Ansel Pond to Miranda Smith

Stephen Wilmarth to Elmina Clark

Joseph Speners to Lavilla Clark

Maman Barney to Minerva Meade

Roswell Staples to Anna Day

John Fuller to Harriet Pond

Chaney Lewis to Mary Flanage

Cyrus Whitford to Laura Carpenter

Henry Warner to Arma Wilmarth

Jeferson Kingman to Betsey Johnson

John Hinds to Widow Merick

I must stop for they are to numerous to mention and still more appearing

But there is

Henry Fisher to Hilah Warner