Betsey Verona Colton to Ruth Fletcher, 1843 September September 1843Dear Aunt

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it is with pleasure that I now embrace the opportunity of writing a few lines to let you know that we are all well hoping that you enjoy the same blessing It has been very sickly here this season there has been a great many deaths. Josiah Colton died at our house after an illness of five days Carseldana was married last August to William Potter she lives in Franklin twenty three miles from us O how i wish i could see you but i cannot i must content myself with writing Grandmother sends her love to you all she says she wants to see you very much she says kiss Mary and little Andrew for her she sends her love to aunt Lydia tell her to come and live with her she sends her love to Cornelius and Levi Grandmother says she would give anything in the world if she could come back give my love to aunt Lydia and uncle Andrew and Mary give my love to Cornelius and Levi tell them i have not forgot them is well and has joined the baptist church Lyman sends his love to you all and wants to see you very much sends his love to his cousins uncle L lives with us Grand mothers arm has not got so that she can use it and she thinks it never will she wants to hear from uncle Zebina We are all enjoying A comfitable degree of health It has been very dry here this season I suppose you would like to hear something about our crops they look as well as can be expected We had a very backward spring We should like to know how you get along O how I want to hear from you What

I would give anything in the world that I could see you But that dear priveledge is denied But if we meet not again in this world let us live so that when we come to die we may meet in that world where parting is no more Farther has sold his place And is going farther west we are going in September uncle Lemuel and grand mother are not going with us I do not want to go I had much rather come back to Vermont I expect that Carseldana and her husband will go with us Do write as soon as you this I had much rather stay where I be than to go further I would inform you that the widow Colton lives within half a mile from us the estate was greatly in debt El[    ] family has been unwell this summer her youngest daughter has fits I should like to hear something about aunt Everline we have not heard from her since we left Dear aunt you little know my feelings when I think how far apart we are from each other but if we live as we ought to in this world we shall meet to part no more Please to write as soon as you recieve this give my love to all enquiring friends, my pen is poor and I do not know as you can read it I have no more news to write at present so I must draw to a close by subscribing myself

your ever affectionate niece until death us do partBetsey Verona Colton

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Lemuel Colton to Andrew and Ruth Fletcher and Lydia Colton, 1843 November 4 Russell Ohio Nov 4 1843Dear Brother and sisters

I now embrace the opportunity of writing a few lines to you to inform you of my which is verry good at present and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing Mothers is as good as usual and has been since she has been here Brother Shepard has gone west he has been gone about three weeks Carseldana and her husband have gone with him we have not heard from them since they left Verona and Lyman are with us I expect he will come back after them in the spring we have had a tolerable season for crops this season wheat is worth sixty five cents per bushel and corn twenty five cents and other things in proportion money is not as scarce as it was a year ago but the times are hard here and I suppose that they are with you according to the information that I have had from the east we have not heard from Brother Zebina for this great while when you write I wish you to write what you know respecting them and whether he is likely to pay for his land and how the crops have been in your section this season give my respects to all enquiring friends I have nothing to write so I must draw to a close by subscribing myself

your BrotherLemuel Colton

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Mr Andrew FletcherWaterville County VermontRussell OhNov 6