1871-12-14 Philip Claydon to James Claydon - pg1-2
INTRODUCTION. This is a scan and transcript of a bunch of old family letters from about 1820 to 1880. In the late 1870's, my 3rd great grandfather Henry Claydon packed up the family in Solihull, England (near Birmingham) and moved to Greenfield Center, New York, USA. Two others in the Claydon family came to New York before Henry: James Claydon, brother of Henry's father Thomas in 1848, and Thomas, son on James' brother William. James and 2nd wife Charity Rowland corresponded with Rowland/Greene and Claydon relatives in the USA and back in England. The letters contained a huge amount of family information that enabled the building of a detailed family tree. Some of the letters imply or describe life in England and the USA western frontier, including family, farming life, and religious life.
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TRANSCRIPT:
James Claydon, the eldest member of the family in the USA, settled in Greenfield Center, New York. He left a variety of documents, including deeds, contracts, receipts, and letters. His 2nd wife, Charity Rowland, had a number of relatives in the Greenfield area, and further in the pioneer west who sent them letters. A few letters survived to the present day:
Letter from son of James' sister Sarah, Philip Claydon, living in Hendon near London:
My Verrey Dear [Uncle] [a section has been cut out]
I received your letter & with it the Book for which I thank you kindley. I must confess to you I thought it strange you did not write before we many times said no doubt you were dead, but was thankful when I received your letter to learn you where still alive & well which I am happey to say we all are has to coming over to see you, nothing would [end of page]
... pleasure than
... not begrudge
... the distance or
... with you.
... called at the N.Y
... But said there were no letters for him he his gone 3000 miles up the country but I don't know where to. Well now about myself. I thought I had made all A. B. C about me & mine, but from your letter I have not so I will try now. Well about 17 years ago 2 wealthey famileys of the name Spalding came to live at Hendon & they wanted a coachman & the lady took a fancey to me & I have been in the service of H. B. Spalding 16 years come April next. We ware living at [end of page]
Hendon nearley 8 years when I had been with them 7 years. He presented me with a very handsum Bible & wrote in it 'presented to me for my Christian character & faithfull services', then between the 7 & 8 years they removed to London but said if I would come with them he would buy a house for me but I have to pay 26L per year for it when I had been with them 14 years they gave me a handsom marble clock which strikes the half hours & house worth about 12 guineas when at Hendon we had a little farm- cows, 4 hogs, pigs & poltry & I had the entire management of all & I was ill just before we left there & the gentleman & lady said if I had died they would sell everything off has they could not [end of page]
endure to see any one else about it. I was not there so you see what they think about me & he told me when we came to London if we both should live in a few years he intended to buy a farm & let me do has I liked with it, for since we have been in town we have had no stock so in the spring we shall leave town & go into the country again about 15 or 20 miles & keep cows & stock again as before & of corse they can't go without Claydon has he known nothing about stock himself so all his left to me to do has I like but I must tell you he his a thorough christian & when he has taken the chair at the meetings in London he calls on the platform Mr. P. Claydon to stand up by his side to address the people so I must leave you to draw your own conclusion [end of page]
I thought I should have said all I had to say in 3 sheets but you asked me so many questions that I cannot say all you ask me about soul maters for which I thank you has I often in my prayers look towards Greenfield Center for you, you say make all sure for eternity well I believe it his the duty of every one before they have this world to know that all his right for heaven I know there are some preachers that say we shall never be free from sin while in the body, but to my mind, there preaching & the teaching of the Bible don't agree for that says has the tree falls so it layes pointing to man has he dies so he remains holey, holey still unholey unholy still so that if we are not to be free from sin hear I want to know where we are & if the blood of Christ don't cleanse from all sin I want to know what done [end of page]
his Frederick I have aprenticed him to the trade of gas & bell hanging & range & hot water apparatus. I paid 20 guineas for him. He his the youngest & his in his 18 year. He his very clever at his trade. I have heard nothing from neigher of my uncles for a long time. My uncle John's daughter was in town about a year ago & she came & stopt 2 or 3 days with me & he was very well then. I wrote to my Uncle Thomas nearly 2 years ago & gave him an invitation to come & see me and he said he would but he has never been & I have lost his address but he lives in Warwickshire, but I have not had an opportunity of getting my sons likenesses but as soon has ever I can you may depend you shall have them which I hope will be by the next time I write to you. Mr. & Mrs. Benett, Tarker Thorp & Cox are all well & desire to be kindly remembered to you [end of page]
Dear Dear Uncle now I will tell you about my family. I have 3 sons James & George & Frederick. James was apprenticed but did not like his trade, so I spoke to my master about him & he took him at once into their firm & now there his a place for him for life if he behaves himself. Wages 24s per week but he will have a rise if he goes on allright. He his married & one chile a boy, now there his George has strong has a lion almost he would go into the armey but he has had quite enough of a soldiers life & has I shall want 2 or 3 men when we go into the country. I thought it would be a good chance for him & he would be just the man for me but it will require 30L to buy him of, well the next [end of page]
but I believe it done, this his what I think about our Father. Do we want the pardon of all sin he his more willing to give than we are to receive, do we want to be holey he hath called us to holiness he wills that I should holy be do we want to be clean he says I will be thou clean, yea that he his willing to do far more exceeding abundantly for us more than we can ask or think, I hope both me and my dear wife if we never have the happiness of seeing your face again in the flesh we shall meet you in the world of spirits where parting will be no more for ever. I should like to say much more but space & time won't permit so I must conclude and believe us to remain your affectionate Nephew & Niece, P. E. Claydon
[ps.] I have read the Book through you sent me & some of it 2 or 3 times & I think it his an excelent Book and I hope I have writen plain this ... [same cutout as page 1]
NOTES:
"H. B. Spalding": In the 1861 census: Henry B. Spalding, born about 1818 in St. Pancras, Middlesex, paper merchant [Hendon NW, Middlesex. Class: RG9; Piece: 786; Folio: 57; Page: 1; GSU roll: 542700]. In the 1871 census, Henry is at Hampstead St John, London [Class: RG10; Piece: 189; Folio: 15; Page: 22; GSU roll: 823311]. In the 1881 census, Kidbrooke, London, Henry is a retired paper merchant, born about 1818 in Kentish Town, Middlesex [Class: RG11; Piece: 741; Folio: 63; Page: 8; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341173]. Philip is with wife Emily and son Jesse in a room over the coachhouse in the rear of the Spalding property.
1871-12-14 Philip Claydon to James Claydon - pg1-2
INTRODUCTION. This is a scan and transcript of a bunch of old family letters from about 1820 to 1880. In the late 1870's, my 3rd great grandfather Henry Claydon packed up the family in Solihull, England (near Birmingham) and moved to Greenfield Center, New York, USA. Two others in the Claydon family came to New York before Henry: James Claydon, brother of Henry's father Thomas in 1848, and Thomas, son on James' brother William. James and 2nd wife Charity Rowland corresponded with Rowland/Greene and Claydon relatives in the USA and back in England. The letters contained a huge amount of family information that enabled the building of a detailed family tree. Some of the letters imply or describe life in England and the USA western frontier, including family, farming life, and religious life.
-----------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPT:
James Claydon, the eldest member of the family in the USA, settled in Greenfield Center, New York. He left a variety of documents, including deeds, contracts, receipts, and letters. His 2nd wife, Charity Rowland, had a number of relatives in the Greenfield area, and further in the pioneer west who sent them letters. A few letters survived to the present day:
Letter from son of James' sister Sarah, Philip Claydon, living in Hendon near London:
My Verrey Dear [Uncle] [a section has been cut out]
I received your letter & with it the Book for which I thank you kindley. I must confess to you I thought it strange you did not write before we many times said no doubt you were dead, but was thankful when I received your letter to learn you where still alive & well which I am happey to say we all are has to coming over to see you, nothing would [end of page]
... pleasure than
... not begrudge
... the distance or
... with you.
... called at the N.Y
... But said there were no letters for him he his gone 3000 miles up the country but I don't know where to. Well now about myself. I thought I had made all A. B. C about me & mine, but from your letter I have not so I will try now. Well about 17 years ago 2 wealthey famileys of the name Spalding came to live at Hendon & they wanted a coachman & the lady took a fancey to me & I have been in the service of H. B. Spalding 16 years come April next. We ware living at [end of page]
Hendon nearley 8 years when I had been with them 7 years. He presented me with a very handsum Bible & wrote in it 'presented to me for my Christian character & faithfull services', then between the 7 & 8 years they removed to London but said if I would come with them he would buy a house for me but I have to pay 26L per year for it when I had been with them 14 years they gave me a handsom marble clock which strikes the half hours & house worth about 12 guineas when at Hendon we had a little farm- cows, 4 hogs, pigs & poltry & I had the entire management of all & I was ill just before we left there & the gentleman & lady said if I had died they would sell everything off has they could not [end of page]
endure to see any one else about it. I was not there so you see what they think about me & he told me when we came to London if we both should live in a few years he intended to buy a farm & let me do has I liked with it, for since we have been in town we have had no stock so in the spring we shall leave town & go into the country again about 15 or 20 miles & keep cows & stock again as before & of corse they can't go without Claydon has he known nothing about stock himself so all his left to me to do has I like but I must tell you he his a thorough christian & when he has taken the chair at the meetings in London he calls on the platform Mr. P. Claydon to stand up by his side to address the people so I must leave you to draw your own conclusion [end of page]
I thought I should have said all I had to say in 3 sheets but you asked me so many questions that I cannot say all you ask me about soul maters for which I thank you has I often in my prayers look towards Greenfield Center for you, you say make all sure for eternity well I believe it his the duty of every one before they have this world to know that all his right for heaven I know there are some preachers that say we shall never be free from sin while in the body, but to my mind, there preaching & the teaching of the Bible don't agree for that says has the tree falls so it layes pointing to man has he dies so he remains holey, holey still unholey unholy still so that if we are not to be free from sin hear I want to know where we are & if the blood of Christ don't cleanse from all sin I want to know what done [end of page]
his Frederick I have aprenticed him to the trade of gas & bell hanging & range & hot water apparatus. I paid 20 guineas for him. He his the youngest & his in his 18 year. He his very clever at his trade. I have heard nothing from neigher of my uncles for a long time. My uncle John's daughter was in town about a year ago & she came & stopt 2 or 3 days with me & he was very well then. I wrote to my Uncle Thomas nearly 2 years ago & gave him an invitation to come & see me and he said he would but he has never been & I have lost his address but he lives in Warwickshire, but I have not had an opportunity of getting my sons likenesses but as soon has ever I can you may depend you shall have them which I hope will be by the next time I write to you. Mr. & Mrs. Benett, Tarker Thorp & Cox are all well & desire to be kindly remembered to you [end of page]
Dear Dear Uncle now I will tell you about my family. I have 3 sons James & George & Frederick. James was apprenticed but did not like his trade, so I spoke to my master about him & he took him at once into their firm & now there his a place for him for life if he behaves himself. Wages 24s per week but he will have a rise if he goes on allright. He his married & one chile a boy, now there his George has strong has a lion almost he would go into the armey but he has had quite enough of a soldiers life & has I shall want 2 or 3 men when we go into the country. I thought it would be a good chance for him & he would be just the man for me but it will require 30L to buy him of, well the next [end of page]
but I believe it done, this his what I think about our Father. Do we want the pardon of all sin he his more willing to give than we are to receive, do we want to be holey he hath called us to holiness he wills that I should holy be do we want to be clean he says I will be thou clean, yea that he his willing to do far more exceeding abundantly for us more than we can ask or think, I hope both me and my dear wife if we never have the happiness of seeing your face again in the flesh we shall meet you in the world of spirits where parting will be no more for ever. I should like to say much more but space & time won't permit so I must conclude and believe us to remain your affectionate Nephew & Niece, P. E. Claydon
[ps.] I have read the Book through you sent me & some of it 2 or 3 times & I think it his an excelent Book and I hope I have writen plain this ... [same cutout as page 1]
NOTES:
"H. B. Spalding": In the 1861 census: Henry B. Spalding, born about 1818 in St. Pancras, Middlesex, paper merchant [Hendon NW, Middlesex. Class: RG9; Piece: 786; Folio: 57; Page: 1; GSU roll: 542700]. In the 1871 census, Henry is at Hampstead St John, London [Class: RG10; Piece: 189; Folio: 15; Page: 22; GSU roll: 823311]. In the 1881 census, Kidbrooke, London, Henry is a retired paper merchant, born about 1818 in Kentish Town, Middlesex [Class: RG11; Piece: 741; Folio: 63; Page: 8; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341173]. Philip is with wife Emily and son Jesse in a room over the coachhouse in the rear of the Spalding property.