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Introduction What follows is a transcription of a letter addressed to her brother,
Richard Savage, written by Ann Eliza Savage Dalton on Notice the consistent use of the letters fs where we now use the double s (ss) as in business. This statement should cover any inadvertent errors introduced by the typist. J The original letter is all in one paragraph. I have made some separations to facilitate ease of reading. There are two Adobe Acrobat files one with the typed letter only, and the other with copies of the original. Sincerely Pat Tyler
My Dear Brother I have just received a letter from Mr. McDonnald he says you have presented claims for rent, we were surprised as we had not heard of it before, he does not speak of any law suits, and it would have grieved me very much to have heard that there were and over the remnant of Property our poor Brother left us, Why have you not written us us, I am sure you would, did you know how glad we would be to hear from you, you would at least have answered my letter, —— And Brother Richard it is all to true that we are comparatively Strangers, We have never known each other our circumstances and dispositions as members of the same family ought to know each other, Richard it is not for lac of thought on my part, and have never wholly relinquished the hope, that some day I should see you, but we are pretty well in years and providence may never favor so happy a circumstance And it may be that what ever we would say to each other will be by letter, Surely there is much that we would like to say to each other about our own trials, good fortunes, etc — Our lives have no doubt been more eventful than would have been had not our Family been broken up, After the death of our poor Father, You and James went to live with Grand Father Savage, Elbertine and I went with Mother to her Fathers, our home was far from pleasant. Grand Father Died, and the Hagebooms were no more disposed to do right than the Savages were. I learned a trade when I was 15 — You Brother Richard do not know the Hagebooms, but whatever may be there good intentions, they are all inveterate Scholds, and Uncle Tobias with his encreasing Family to gether with his Fault finding, made our home most unpleasant, therefore we removed to Skeniatilas the 3 Cold Summers which you doubtlefs remember followed us, nearly evry body suffered, we of cours were not excempt we were amongst strangers and Mothers small means were mostly invested in nearly worthlefs Villiage Propperty. Hester Marriad while there, my businefs did not avail much, I therefore removed to Casinovia, Hester soon removed farthers West, and Mother went with her and never left her, while she lived, I was by myself most of the time my health was not strong and dependant upon my own resources for a living, I had my own troubles for surely not any of the property belong to Mother Aunt (Botz ?) or any of the rest of the Relatives availed me anything, I went to Canada, and there became acquainted with William Dalton an Englishman by Birth and education, 3 years after we were Married, my husband was in the Mercantile Businefs and our prospects were fare, they were soon darkened however, the Bank in which was involved our effects broke, he faled in businefs, but his strict sense of honor prompted him to pay ever demand his Creditors brought against him, A want of capitol prevented his ever prospering again in the same businfs, he therfor obtained a situation as Bookkeeper on which employment he followed until his death, and Oh Richard the dreadful pany I was called to endure, You know what it was you have been called to drink of the dregs of the same bitter cup, You have laid the Mother of your Children in an early grave, but I trust you felt as I did the sustaining power of an unseen hand. —— My 5 little girls the eldest but 11 and the Youngest still unborn could not of course realize there lofs, his worldly effects were very little, but we retaned the rich legacy of an unblemish name, I of course could nont keep all my Children, my second Daughter went to live in Ghent, Columbia County and a third was adopted by a Cousin of ours Mrs Mobynowe Uncle James Hagebooms daughter, the three stayed with me, We moved to Wilson a Small Villiage on Lake Ont by takeing in sewing and keeping Boardes, we managed to live very comfortable, I have two daughters unmarried, my youngest Emma has poor health, she has tried teaching school but finds her health will not permit, I was very much pleased with Hesters intended visit to Nashvill with the prospect of her becoming acquainted with you and her cousins, but when she was ready to start she was taken with a severe cold and she is not well now and I am afraid that her health would not admit of her going South so late in the season, I would like to have you write and tell me how you think the Climate of Tennessee would agree with us at the North, I read the letter your daughter Elbertine wrote to her Aunt Hester, we were all very much pleased as I did not know any thing about your Children or we should have written to one of them at the same time we wrote to you, but we did not know that you had a daughter. You cannot imagine my dear Brother how delighet and gratified we all were, as she seemed doubly near on account of her being named after out dear Mother, Since our Brother James death my conscious has (nefrnoved ?) me very much to think I have neglected such a great duty in not keeping up a Sisterly correspondence with him while living. Eemm wishes me to say she intends writing to your Daughters soon, When you write direct Cambria Niagra County NY as I am a staying a while with my Eldest daughter who has 4 Children and has very poor health, I am in hopes as the warm weather commences she will be better. I remain as ever Your Affectionate Sister Ann Eliza Dalton Links
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