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- From: "Ed Margerum"
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 4:27 PM
Source: VANMARTER-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: Letters to Charles G. Van Marter
Hello:
I am a descendant of Charles G. VanMarter, son of Chrineyonce and Elizabeth Carson.
I have a collection of 23 letters written to Charles G. by his brothers and sisters between 1857-60. Four of Charles' brothers, three of his sisters, three brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, three nieces and one brother-in-law's brother "took pen in hand" to write him. From the spellings, I suspect these were people who didn't write frequently. They're not hard to read if you work out the sounds.
The reason for this outburst of letter writing was that Charles G. had been apprenticed out as a teenager "to a hard master", ran away to New York City and disappeared. When he reappeared at age 29 he was a successful cigar maker, and the letters are a combination of joy at his reappearance and curiosity at life and prosperity in the city.
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As an example of the writing--
"Well sur do you Rembember wen you and i was down in the new roode in the dich and bare footed as usel and the first that we nowe we wase on a snaping tortle and you and i got out the stakes out of the fence and whot then we then went at work and after a wile we pride it out and what then why we tuck our fishing lines and what then why then we tide it round his neck and druge it up to roode and give it freman puing and this the storey a bout the turtle."
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The Letter writers were
John Van Marter Eldest brother, born c. 1810
Catherine Winder, Sister
Chrineyonce, Brother
Daniel, Brother
Delia (Delelah) Clark, Sister
Harriet B. Ro(b)ins, Sister
Robert C., brother
A(rn) Clark, brother-in-law
Linda Van Marter, sister-in-law (wife to Chrineyonce)
Samuel Rob(b)ins, brother-in-law
Warren Winder, brother-in-law
Ann Amelia Skillman, niece
Catharine J., niece, John's daughter
Letitia, niece, John's daughter
Theodore Winder, (Warren Winder's brother)
Two letters have unknown writers.
Relatives mentioned in the letters.
Carson Van Marter, brother
Enock Van Marter, Brother
Louisa Tomson, Sister of Hermon Tomson
Mary Tary, Sister, wife of Farse [Forest, Forrest] Terry
Sarah Scoby, sister
Lydia Burroughs, sister-in-law, wife of Daniel
William Albert, nephew, son of the Robbins
Phebe Ann Winder, dau of Theodore Winder, (no relation)
Now since I know that there are people in Michigan on this list I will include the letter from Daniel Van Marter to Charles G. written from Michigan.
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Dear Brouther Plymouth
Dear Frend you must extue mee fore not right to you be fore mie brouther i did expect i would toe wee you out hear wen Crine Vmarter Put i did not and i expt you Will com out toe see Crine when you due tell amee and i will goe with you are i am gon out see him is fall if i due live at long i hant ferd toe greveled and wase i will goe to colifoald if unwill next fall dont be mad at mee fare not right be fore to you Crine V marter he did stay with mee tue fore days and i had good time with and wife Childrns tue O Charls. ly. Vn.i did gtt you Likness and i was glad toe see itt you look difer when you did leve hom i am Right to yow and mie lady hor name is: Lydia C. Burroughs har iss a good Look one in the bed ass well in the days time she say if you want a nise bed felher Come out hear she will have you wont you loock nise in the bed to there i think sow.
Chorls ly V Marter you Plese to right to mee ase sune you git is later Dont be mad at mee how due haret. V. M. tell me how are due git a long i will come hom wone is days. Derct you Laters
As pe loe Plymouth
Wane .C. Michgan
Daniel V Marter
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It takes a bit of work to figure out who is who.
Ed Margerum -- Who's planning a trip out to visit Lydia. :-)
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- Yes, date unknown