Manuscripts
Mary Jane Brooks letters to Thomas and Priscilla Marsh
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Mary Jane Brooks letters to Thomas and Priscilla Marsh
Manuscripts
In this first letter (HM 19797, dated 1853, September 14), Mary Jane Brooks describes her journey to California "according to agreement" to her sister Priscilla and her husband Thomas Marsh. Much of this letter contains Brooks' description of Kingston, Jamaica, where she stopped en route to California. She laments that she has not yet found a man to run away with her. HM 19798, written August 12, 1886, and includes an envelope. Brooks is still in San Francisco, and writes of people she is seeing and letters written and received. The last letter in this sequence was written 1886, September 2. Brooks writes that she has reached her sixtieth birthday, but feels "old beyond my years." She discusses the possibility of getting her share of the farmstead left by her father, and hopes her sister will cooperate.
mssHM 19797-19799
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Mary Jane Brooks letter to Priscilla Marsh and family
Manuscripts
In this letter to her sister and her sister's family, Mary Jane Brooks asks for news of home, such as if their father has paid off his house yet, and any other family news. Brooks is currently living in a house and has several boarders. Her brother, Aaron, has "gone to the mines" and as a result, Brooks has much more to do without him there to help. Incomplete, as letter is first two pages only.
mssHM 19796
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Mary Jane Brooks letter to Fanny Davis
Manuscripts
In this letter to her sister Fanny Davis, Mary Jane Brooks writes that as she is now sixty years of age, she is unable to work as in her youth. She asks for back payment on rent for Fanny's house, where she lived for twenty-five years without payment, or suggests Fanny buy the property outright. She also writes of details of mutual friends in San Francisco.
mssHM 19795
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Jonathan Heywood letters to Jane Heywood
Manuscripts
In these three letters addressed to his wife, Jane, Jonathan Heywood writes of his experiences in Yreka, California in 1853. HM 4201, dated July 16, Heywood writes that he has returned to California after six weeks in Oregon. He has sent gold dust home to Jane, and hopes to send more soon. He wishes that she send the children to school as much as possible. HM 4202 was written on August 7. Heywood sends more money and asks for news of home, as he has received no response to his letters. In HM 4203, dated September 4, Heywood writes that he is sending money home in the hands of a mutual friend.
mssHM 4201-4203
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William E. Brooks letter to Anna P. Brooks
Manuscripts
Letter from William E. Brooks to his mother Anna P. Brooks in Worcester, Massachusetts, written from the Standard Mines in Graham County, Arizona. In the letter Brooks writes of a flood in the area of Clifton and Metcalf which had temporarily washed away the railway line and partially shut down mining operations. He also writes of his walks, local scenery, and other aspects of his daily activities.
mssHM 74519
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Stephen Brooks letter to Henry Brooks
Manuscripts
In this letter to his brother Henry, Stephen Brooks writes of debts incurred while opening a store in San Francisco. He misses the comforts of life and the life of society, and plans to stay in California for one year. Letterhead is an image of "View of San Francisco, February 1850."
mssHM 16539