1835 - Letter from John Hankins to Susan Hankins

 On 28 April 1835, John Hankins wrote to his wife Susan from Philadelphia. [1] The letter was addressed to Susan in Cochecton, Sullivan County, New York. John was in Philadelphia to sell lumber he had brought from Sullivan County as a raft. He asked if Chauncey [2] (Susan’s brother) was tending to business. John had sent a gift to Susan with Kiney Skinner. John had been ill while in Philadelphia, but had recovered. He was thinking of stopping rafting, since he missed his family. He asked his wife to kiss their children Lucas and Mary.[3] There may have been a second letter written to Chauncey Thomas on the original paper, since John asked Susan to tear off part of the paper and give it to Chauncey. 



At 4 oclock P.M


Philadelphia  28 April 1835

Dear Wife I Know Take
my pen in Hand to Inform you that I am
in Tolerable Kind of Health at present and
hope these lines will find you in Good Health
at home I fell anxious to get home but
Cannot until I Sell the Wind Still Blows, So
that We Can Doe but Little or Nothing toards
Selling If things to not got write at home
I wish you to Rite as soon as You Receiv
this and let me No how things Goe, at home 
and Wether Chancey is tending to his business
as he ought or Not  I Sent You a present
by Kiney Skinner [torn paper so missing word] I Suppose you will
Accept and Keepe A Token of friendship 
from one who Loves and Respects you and
my Children and am anxious to git home
but my business Will not permit at present
I my self was Very Sick one Day and one Nite
but feel Tolerable Well at present and if
Kinde providence permits me to once more
Reach home I think I will throw Aside Rafting 
for a while I have bin Both home Sick and
hart Sick You must kiss Lucas and mary for me
no more At present But Remain Your most
Afectionate husband 

From Mr John Hankins

Mrs Susan Hankins 

N B I Wish You to Tear of the other Half of the
Sheete and Give it to Chauncey 

Mrs. Susan Hankins
Cochecton
Sullivan Co NY


[1] John Hankins to Susan Hankins, letter, 28 April 1835; Hankins Family Papers, privately held by Patty Hankins, Bethesda, Maryland. 

[2] Chauncey Thomas (1813-1882) and Susan (Thomas) Hankins (1811-1885) were the children of Moses Thomas III (1777-1857) and Rebecca Monington (1782-1841). 

[3] John and Susan's two oldest children were Lucas Wurtz Hankins (1831-1910) and Mary Hankins (1833-1907). Their third child, Rebecca Thomas Hankins (1835-1918) was born 20 October 1935. 


Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA

Comments

  1. Marian B. WoodSeptember 22, 2025 at 10:32 AM

    This letter is in surprisingly good condition! Interesting to read too.

    ReplyDelete

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