Nathaniel Bolton was a widower in his sixties living with his son Oliver in Maine when he wrote this letter to his daughter and her family in Oakham, Massachusetts in 1817. He described how the death of another son, Abishai, had affected the family.

Letter from Nathaniel Bolton to Huldah and Blake Dean, 1817

Piscataquis [Maine], July 6th 1817

Dear Children My love and regards to you and to your parents also to Cynthia and Rhoda [his granddaughters]. I hope these lines will find each of you in health as through Divine goodness they leave Me. I also hope likewise they will find Mr. Jones’s family in health and all friends in Oakham. My respects to all. I enjoy my health as well as can be expected for one of My age. I have been with Oliver [his son] ever since the 14th of february. I am contented here and was at Abishai’s but it was a Melancholy house to Me after Abishai’s Death. Oliver was at Orrington the 20th of May: Polly and her three children [Abishai’s family] were then in health. She has Sold her place for 500 Dollars to one of her Brothers but lives in the house with him. I want to see her and them Dear beloved Children but am 40 miles from them. Not a word from Barnum [another son] since April 3d 1816. He was then in Spain and expected to be in New york the July following which is a year ago. I fear he is not living. I hope to live to see you again sooner or later I hope to come this fall coming. I hope those that I am indebted to will wait patiently until the land can be sold and then they shall be honestly paid but I do not know how they can sooner. I am truly glad that Blake [his son-in-law] settled the affair with Whitmore and he shall be paid that and the Note whenever the land is sold and sold it must be at some price or other. I hope it will fetch what it is honestly worth I do not know Whether it is improved* this summer or not but hope it is you Mentioned that Mr. Tomlinson talked of hiring of it. I did not get your letter sent by Bond till the Middle of June...I hope you will write to Me as soon as you receive this and I will write if I live to you or some in your Neighbourhood before it be long. Oliver has a fine prospect of a large Crop of wheat much more so than last [year]. Blessed be the Lord for it. With regard to the Note you hold against Abishai I look upon Myself holden to pay it and shall without fail do it when the land is sold. From your affectionate Father

Nath’el Bolton.


*improved - used; occupied

Nathaniel Bolton to Huldah and Blake Dean, July 6, 1817, Nathaniel Bolton Papers, American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. Edited by Old Sturbridge Village.