Name/Title
Feb 5, 1900 letter from W B Latham to Cousin Ellen BullEntry/Object ID
000170Tags
W B Latham, Ellen BullDescription
The last line of the third and fourth pages are cutoff and are not included in the transcriptSubject
Society of California Pioneers
No. 5 Pioneer Place
San Francisco, Cal.,
Feby 5th 1900.
Cousin Ellen Bull,
Your very interesting letter came to hand this morning; just 51 years, Feby 4th Sunday since (noon) we sailed in the Bark Stafford from N.Y. for Cal and arrived here Aug. 30/49 during which time great changes have taken place. The visit last year was a short one from here and I failed to visit many places and people that I hoped to see and meet, yet I am glad that I made the trip and learned something about myself and my ancestors, but I desire to acquire more information about those on my mother’s side of which your mother is about the only one I knew. I have read your brother’s book History of Orange Co. by Saml. W. Eager and found much of interest to me. One item particularly viz. that “The Temple” was erected on the farm of Jabez Atwood for the use of the soldiers of Genl. Washington’s army in 1782 when his Headquarters was at Newburgh and the Army camped along “Snake Hill” now New Windsor township.
Jake Atwood our Great Uncle, and his brother Benjamin Atwood (Grandfather) were privates in Washington’s Army at that time and belonged to the “N.Y. Levies”. I know they came from Harwinton where I believe mother was born; I would like to learn when & where Benjamin Atwood was born and the cause of his death. I had not time to go to New Cofy during my visit and do not know that I could have gained the information there. It is possible your mother may be able to give some light on the subject as she can recollect matters of youth better than recent occurrences of life. It is the same with all people I find generally, and when she is well and pleasant days can bring to mind the past better than at other times.
I recollect my grandfather Atwood in 1832 when we moved from Salisbury Mills expecting to go down the river; He came and visited one morning he started up the hill to go to his brother Jake Atwood. Mother had (obliging good boy) and stood in the door as he moved away & he got some cakes and told me to run and give them to him which I did. He took them seemed glad & surprised.
That was the last I ever saw him. I was in my tenth year then. I know Uncle Jabez drew his pension as a colonel of the Revolution and this service they both rendered in the Army at outbreak of New Burgh. Was there another brother Henry Atwood? Could you give me their father’s name also, and where he came from. Atwood is an English name and there are many of that name. I have not been able to trace it. I would like to learn if possible when & where my Grandfather Atwood was born and when & where he died and how many children he had also; and any and all the information you can learn from your mother as well as her date of birth and her mother’s name & date of birth and any other information that would be of interest relating to the family. Your brother’s book will be safely returned to him. I want to read it through again.
time before she died; please tell me all about it, what she saw and did. I would have been there but was too unwell to make the trip which I have always regretted. You speak also of Martha Sands going with you. When did she die? I recollect her and her father & mother when I was a boy. My mother Jane Atwood, Aunt Polly Dunsberry, Aunt Hannah Sands & your grandmother McCormick were four of the daughters— I note that a Dunsberry from Liberty, Sullivan Co. is in the Legislature of N.Y. He is probably a son of Aunt who was the son of Cornelius & Polly his wife of Newburgh. I knew him at Liberty years ago in the early 40s. He was an undertaker there—but I did not think of these things then. His sisters are all dead long since. Rebecca married a Fisher at N.Y.—Lizzie, Buy Nesblacy at Edwin Cheming Co. and Harriet McLaughlin at Newburgh, all gone except Fisher who married again, ran a brick yard
My regards to all and hopingRelationships
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Ellen Bull, W B Latham
