Synopsis
Henry George White in Buffalo writes to Horatio Nelson White in Panton.
Henry George shares the news of a new son (James Herbert White). Most of the letter is concerned with questions about settling the family estate, over a year after the death of their father, Ebenezer.
Transcription
Buffalo 1 April 55
My Brother
I have just wrote to Hiram & now write to you yet you both are my detters
Sometimes there is not so good a feeling existing as there should be between you all there & if it is so know perhaps you may not have heard the news about us here
We have another member of our family a fine Baby Boy three weeks old to day & that & its mother are doing quite well, better than I at one time expected for I thought that neither would survive but I feel thankful it is no worse
We here had a cold severe & bad winter & it is cold now & nothing for a great many to do & so misery is plenty among us everything is high & no work
I wrote to Hiram that I thought the best way to dispose of the BIble was to cast lots for it as that would be fairer than to put it up & let the one that had the most money to spen take it but cast lots for it & see who gets it. – or ask the spirit of its late owner who shall have it & she will make her own choice suppose you try that way – any way is fairer than the money way for it may be her wish for me to have it if so I would take it but if I was to bid against any of you her children my Brothers & Sister I would not give 10 cents I would rather imitate her example than have her Bible & if I had the Book without her spirit I would be constantly reproached. I have reproaches enough already
You ought to have taken these cattle of ?? & then allowed for them what they were worth to you & I would have stood by you in the matter & something would have been got out of the note
Settle up the concerns for the sake of peace & divide the old Jugs, Bottles, Corkscrews & other traps among you & save one old chair for me & I will be satisfied & for the sake of the money of our parents do let us try & live like Brothers “Love one another” if you love the money of her who raised us when young & helpless & if you desire to be a follower of Jesus do try & promote peace
I thank god that I live far away from all of you because I escape a part of the trouble & you do not hear what I am doing as much as you would if I were near you all, when I say you I mean all of you Nelson, Artemas, Adaline & Hiram
Live in peace & try not & love each other & remember that the spirit of our departed friends are constantly with you
Business I cannot tell how it will be this year but as usual I live in hopes
Money is hard to be got at & probably will be for some time I would like to hear from any of your children & wish they would write to me – I suppose it would do no good to ask one or any of them to come & see us here this season but if they write I could tell Friend, William Frances or all of you write to me
Give my love to all or any of my friends
Peace be with you & your family is my wish
Your Brother
H.G. White
Notes
refersto::Henry George White refersto::Horatio Nelson White refersto::Hiram Smith White refersto::Artemas White refersto::Adaline White refersto::James Herbert White refersto::Friend Adams White refersto::William E. White refersto::Frances E. White
The “fine baby boy” is James Herbert White
April 1, 1855 was Sunday. If HG literally means “three weeks old today” then James Herbert was born on March 11, 1855.