Letters from 1827

I opened a yellowed folder, filled with equally yellowed, folded scraps of brittle paper. Inside were five letters–single sheets, folded numerous times, and addressed and mailed. No envelopes, no staples, no tape. Just folded correspondence.

It was a series of four letters from 1827 and one from 1828, written by my five-greats grandfather, John Patterson, to his son, Alexander, my four-greats grandfather. John was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for three terms, representing Mifflin County and living in Tuscarora Township in what was to become, in a few short years, Juniata County.

The father-to-son correspondence was unfailingly businesslike, discussing such things as crop prices and the business before the House. John talked about pending legislation–of appropriations before the body, of a canal bill to find a route of a canal from Baltimore to the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, of building a bridge across the Juniata at Mifflintown, of an ongoing effort divide a new county, the future Juniata, from Mifflin County. Reports on this effort began optimistically, but hope faded as the plan was scuttled.

Why had these five letters been saved? Surely others had been written. And who was the last person to see them? I’ll never know.

Harrisburg, March 7, 1827

Dear Son,

When I last wrote home, the appropriation for the creek had passed second reading in senate. It has passed the third reading and of (illegible) in a (illegible) as soon as the governor signs it. Just as soon as he has signed it, I will write to you and let you know how to proceed for to draw the money from the treasurer there will have go he a govnt bond given by all the commissioners that is appointed to draw the money to the treasurer. I think I will get a bond drawn here such as the treasurer will approve of and enclose it in a letter to you and the rest of the commissioners can sign it and perhaps by sending it to me with an order to draw the money. I can draw the money and save the trouble of any of you coming down however before I write again I will know how to direct you. I have been making a more particular calculation of what money I will need to clear my way here and say of the patent for our land and I find that by your (illegible) sending me sixty dollars I (illegible) have about two dollars left to bring me home that is if we adjourn on the 10th of April. I think you had best send me ten or fifteen dollars more I would not like to be here with a bear allowance if you and Andrew can’t make it up by sale of some grain to advantage. It would be best to borrow some til we would get a return of our flour. Cummer made an attempt this week again to get the division of the county recognized in the senate but failed in getting it renewed(?) by now through all the blame of losing the division on Judge (illegible) and Judge B(illegible). It is said that both judges took measures to defeat the division for fear of having to judge in the new county. The canal bill was made the order for this day but we did not reach it. It will be up on tomorrow. I think it will have a hard struggle to get through. Give my compliments to your wife and to your mother.

I am sir your affectionate father.

John Patterson