Thomas SLEEMAN

  General Notes:

Sourced from "Wilton Family Web Site"

http://www.jcwilton.com// (no longer exists)

Source) The Sleeman Family Tree.

This letter was written on January 30, 1858 by Thomas Jackson, with the
purpose of convincing Thomas Sleeman to travel to America. Thomas Jackson
was the stepfather of Thomas Sleeman's wife, Catherine Elizabeth
(Wilton). In this letter he encourages them to emmigrate to America. The
Sleeman family left Cornwall for America in early 1858 and arrived in New
York on May 31, 1858.




Freedon, Carroll County, Jan. 30/58
Dear Children,
It is with pleasure that I sit down for the first time to write you these
few lines, hoping it will find you, with your dear little children in
good health, as thank God it leaves me at present through the mercy of
God. And, I have enjoyed my health good ever since I have been here with
one or two exceptions. And now I wish to give you some account about the
country. It is one large extensive woodland country extending many
thousand miles in breath and length. It is very thinly populated,
whereas, there is in England 60 inhabitants to a square mile, in North
America there is not more than 13 to a square mile. In consequence of
which there is a scarcity of people to break up or to cultivate this
woodland, and although for six months in summer there is a landing about
3 every minute, yet it will take many more years to get filled up. There
are 32 states in North America, besides British settlements, and many of
these states are larger each of them than England. Now Thomas, just fancy
what a country it is, you know nearly the size of England and if there is
32 states and (each) of them is larger than England what must it be. I
can assure you there, is all sorts of men wanted here and will be for
many years to come. And, as you are decided upon coming to America, don't
take any notice of the accounts coming home. I have been informed there
is some little depression in the winter but in the worst of times the
wages is double to that in England and I can assure you, you may rely on
the truth of this. I only wish I had come to America ten years ago. I
have seen a man and wife and a family of 7 children come here and are now
living in part of the same house that I am boarding and they had two sons
here before. The mans and his wife is more than 56 years of age and when
they landed at New York they could not come any further for want of
money, before they sent to their sons to come and take them away. This is
not an unusual thing with people coming to America and the man that has
kindly offered to employ you and John when him and his family come to
America with 7 children, they were obliged to beg their way more than 200
miles and now he has an estate of land more than 100 acres and many more.
I have heard of no friend to apply to when the Lettebs landed but yours
is very different, when please God you arrive at New York, if you have
not a farthing you will be right. Now Thomas, if you can get a ship to
sail from Plymouth. do so by all means, it will make the expense less and
the passage shorter. But, if not, go to Southhampton but not to Liverpool
and either of those places ship yourselves for Philadelphia and is she
stops at New York you will be forced on to Philadelphia. And, when you
sail, be sure and write me and give either the name of the ship and where
she is bound to. If at New York, here is a card to direct you where to
stop to. If it is at Philadelphia, you will be sure to inquire of Mr.
Heald at New York for Leonar Holly, Philadelphia, and ask if he please to
get you through ticket to Baltimore. And, as soon as I know of you being
in passage, my friend that I am boarding with knows Mr. Heald well, and
has kindly offered to write to him at New York stating of such a family
coming in such a ship, giving the name of the ship, and desire of him to
give you every accomodation that you require and send you on to Baltimore
and I will meet you in Baltimore. Now Thomas, it is 220 miles from
Freedom to New York. For me to get there will cost me (an) average 20
dollars or 4 lbs. English money besides lost time when the way I have
proposed will do equal the same and that same money will put many things
about the house or help you on from New York. If you need it now you will
consider of it and advise with Jane about it. She wrote on my last letter
to desiring me to meet her in New York and if she really wishes me to I
will but I have to send all I can in my next letter for my dear wife and
dear boy. And, he will want money for his passage, and, I am doing my
best for each of your welfare as well as my own. I have the offer of a
house and ground enough to keep a cow, for 30 dollars a year or 6 lbs.
sterling, and I think I shall engage with it. Now Thomas, be sure to take
all your bedding with you and you may pack (glass) if you please. (Glass)
is dearer here than in England but you may run a risk of breaking it
being tumbled over so many times from the steamboat in to ship and again
from ship to steamboat on landing at New York and then in to train. And
there is one thing be sure to remember when you land at New York. When
your luggage is taken ashore, be sure to be with it. some one to (keep)
your eye on it, as there will be more eyes than yours and you will have
it taken away unless you are watchful. And. then it is put in the train
at New York, you must be sure to have a check from the baggage master. If
you do not you cannot make them produce your baggage. Now I beg you to
read this attentively and try to stammer out the whole of it. And may the
lord bless you with a safe passage to this country with all the little
ones, not forgetting my own little dear boy. And, I hope, Thomas, you
will do your best with them as I beg for you to be their guardian and
when you get a ship you will choose your berth in second cabin altogether
and don't give more than 4 pound 10 shillings a head. Children under 10
years. half price. Please to give my best respects to your father and
mother and all that. Inquiry for me and accept the same to yourself,
until we meet in America, please to accept this from your poor
(disconsolate) friend and stepfather.
Please to answer this by return of post. Be sure to write just as soon as
you know when you are going to sail.

Thomas Jackson

Freedom Carrol County

Maryland North America

Thomas married Elizabeth Catherine WILTON, daughter of Richard WILTON and Jane BRAUN. (Elizabeth Catherine WILTON was born in 1832 in Werrington, Devon, England and died in 1910 in Vale Summit, Maryland, USA.)