The letters are listed below in date order. For a particular letter just click on the list. The spelling and punctuation are as in the original letters, E&OE!
From John Horton, soldier, Fort Cumberland Barracks
To John Horton nr Newark
John Horton is about to sail for Jamaica but is unwell. I do not know who John Horton was but as this letter was in the possession of Amelia Hale I assume he was her Mother's Brother and perhaps this was the last letter he wrote home.
From G Hale, London
To Mrs John Hale, Newark
George Hale writes to his Mother telling of a strike in the Tailors' Union which has failed resulting in the destruction of the Union. As an official of the Union he feels he is lucky not to have been deported as were the unfortunate men from Dorchester (The Tolpuddle Martyrs?). He has been out of work for some months but manages to get work for a period. He describes a visit to a gin palace.
From G Hale, Old Father Thames, Gravesend
To Brother
George Hale is about to sail from Gravesend for America.
From G Hale, New York
To Brother
George Hale describes part of his journey to America.
From G Hale, Staton Island
To J Hale, Chelsea
George Hale is safely in America (Newark?) and has an offer of work. This letter may be a continuation of the previous one.
From G Hale, New York
To Brother, Mortimer Market
George Hale is planning to leave New York for New Orleans. Although he has found good work and lodgings in New York he has heard that New Orleans offers better wages, at least in the winter months. He mentions problems in the money market due to over investment, disorder in New York and advises against planning to come to America to stay for good.
From Brother Geo, St Francesville, West Feliciana, Louisiana
To Brother
He gives an account of a bad sea journey from New York to New Orleans. He found the money panic mentioned in his previous letter had also stuck there. He has travelled 200 miles up the Mississippi to St Francesville and set up his own business as a tailor having failed to get employment. He has joined a military band and made several friends. He mentions the war in which David Crocket lately fell. He is planning to go to Kentucky, calling at New Harmony on the way, as he has heard bad things about the Mississippi summer climate.
From Brother Geo, Herculaneum, Missouri
To Brother
He describes wandering the country trying to find a place to settle. He has visited New Harmony in Indiana where friends from London had settled to found a community. He found them discouraged and scattered. He is now 30 miles from St Louis. He calculates he will be able to make a living as a tailor but the banks have collapsed and notes are now worthless. He mentions that many people are going to the new state of Texas and he comments on the politics of the USA. The climate in Herculaneum is much like England. He reccomends that, if people have to emigrate to the US they go to New Orleans rather than New York as it easier to get to the central and western states, where the opportunities are better, from there.
From Geo B Hale, Herculaneum
To Fotherby
He is now settled in Herculaneum with a wife and a house in two acres. His young son has just died. He is writing to Fotherby to encourage him to join him. The letter gives the impression that Fotherby is in the States. George Hale has been teaching school but is now going back to tailoring and feels the prospects are good.
From Geo B Hale, Herculaneum
To Geo (Fotherby?)
It appears that Fotherby was a friend from London who arrived in New Harmony after George Hale's visit. George's business is poor because he cannot get staff and has been ill and forced to spend a great deal on doctors.
From G B Hale, Herculaneum
To Fotherby
George Hale has become out of touch with his brother. He describes Herculaneum as a deserted village and is thinking of selling up and moving next fall if he can find a buyer. Business is bad and he plans a trip through Arkansas through the Indian frontier to sell clothes in May or June. He now has a fine little boy.
From G B Hale, Herculaneum
To Fotherby
George's wife died last October and his little boy has been ill but is now recovered. Business is bad, no tailoring and teaching is very badly paid. He has bought a farm 9 miles from Herculaneum and wants Fotherby to join him to raise sheep for wool, which he feels is a promising venture.
From Geo Hale, De Soto, Jefferson Co. Missouri
To Brother
From the content I think this letter is out of place and should be later.
George refers to his companion (presumably wife) Mary Jane, two daughters living in Vineland 3 miles off, one Mrs Sarah Lanham and the other Miss Vina Hale. He also refers to the Blackwell family living at Blackwell Station as relatives. Photographs have been received from England and not put into an album. He has four children at home, two of them boys, one of these at school and one at work. His brother has a companion, Ann receiving attention from Amelia. He also refers to a fire which destroyed some of his possessions from Newark.
From G Fotherby New Harmony
To John Hale, Newark
Fotherby is replying to John Hale to tell him that George is now teaching at St Genevieve 30 miles below St Louis. Fotherby is writing from New Harmony after fetching his Mother from England.
From Geo H, Blackwells Station I.M.R.R. St Francois Co, Missouri
To Brother & Sister
George Hale describes a battle of the Civil War which took place near his home. Rebel soldiers fought Union soldiers and took and burned a railway bridge. As a result a force of Union soldiers arrived and arrested the local citizens, looting their houses. The next day they were released. There has been many murders and assassinations in the neighbourhood.
He refers to his wife's sisters as having an Uncle Blackwell.
In a continuation of the above George describes personal problems caused by the Civil War. He has lost cattle, sheep and pigs. He discusses the problems and future expectations. He mentions that his companion is unwell and his 10 year old daughter is carrying the burden. He also has a son Clarence and a 17 month daughter.
From T Hagues, Camp Randall Hospital
To Friend
Written by an enlisted Union soldier in hospital but expecting to go through St Louis when he gets out. He asks for Mr Hale's brother's address so that he can visit him but does not give his own as he does not expect to be there long.
From John Hale, Father, No address
To Amelia
A formal note to Amelia from her Father on her 21 st birthday.
From George Henry Wall Newark
To Uncle and Aunt
A short letter from an eight year old to his Uncle and Aunt in America
From Geo B Hale, Vineland, Jefferson Co. Missouri
To Brother John Hale
George is well but writes to sympathise with his Brother John on John's wife's death. George had not known her name was Mary. He refers to John's daughter Amelia and to Sister Amelia. He asks for a view of the coffee house at Newark and mentions Lady Ossington. His wife is much better recently having been treated by a Magnetic Doctor. George has three daughters living in De Soto 6 miles off. His baby girl is 13 and lives at home with his two sons the youngest of which is 15. He comments on the war in Egypt and General Gordon's death.
From Geo B Hale, Vineland, Jefferson Co. Missouri,
To Brother
George expresses his sympathy to his Brother on John's (presumably his Brother's Son) death in an accident. He comments on the effects of sewing machines on the tailoring and boot making trades. He tells of his intention to tell the Duke of Newcastle who was visiting St Louis with the Prince of Wales that their Father's eldest Brother was trying to obtain rights to the estate of Sir Matthew Hale which was in Chancery. Unfortunately he did not have enough money to get to St Louis. He thanks John for sending his indentures and describes the food they have available. His farm is doing well but he is not rich.
From Uncle Geo B Hale, Vineland, Jefferson Co. Missouri,
To Niece Amelia
George thanks Amelia for her likeness. He refers to Mr Wall so presumably Amelia is now married and has a Daughter Ada who is also mentioned. He describes the entertainment available in De Soto. He mentions that his wife's sister and three aunts own most of the town of Blackwell 4 miles off.
From Geo B Hale, Vineland, Jefferson Co. Missouri,
To Brother John Hale
George refers to John's troublesome eczema and his own deafness. He has tried a dentaphone which cost him 15 dollars and did not work. He describes it as a Yankee swindle. He is grateful to his sister Mary who sent a magnetic belt which has cured his back. The letter is largely news, and requests for news, of relatives and friends.
From Uncle Geo B Hale, Vineland, Jefferson Co. Missouri,
To Niece Amelia
The letter is addressed to Mrs Wall and refers to her Daughter Ada. George is asking for more letters and tells of their sons and daughters and their grandchildren. He mentions a scarlet fever epidemic in De Soto. He describes Christmas spent at Blackwell village which is 50 miles from St Louis but on the railway. St Louis is being considered for the future capital of the US. He describes the operation or the dairy, now a creamery, in Vineland with its new seperator machinery.
To read the first letter click here.