19th Century

February the 1 1870 Dear brother it is with pleasure that I take this present opportunity two right you a few lines two let you know that we are all well at present hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. I did not send you that money as soon as I thought I would as I had it owing two me but money matters is so tight that I could not get it when it was due but I have got it at last. I have got a new partly filled and all that could be done here you and Mary Jane will better take it two a squire and see if and have him two fill it out at the bottom and write it with the time that it is due I will send a stamp for you two have put on it and some money two pay the expenses on it. Please have it done as soon as you can for I am here two know whether it all goes through all right. I guess that the draft is all right if you get it for I got it from old Gridley. Your more Dickere two Joseph Dicken (Note: spelling reflects the original writer’s phonetic style.) Full Translation (Modern English) February 1, 1870 Dear brother, It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at present. I hope these few lines find you enjoying the same blessing. I did not send you that money as soon as I expected to, because although it was owed to me, money matters have been so tight that I could not collect it when it first became due. However, I have finally received it. I have obtained a new document that is partly filled out. What I want you and Mary Jane to do is take it to a magistrate (a justice of the peace) and have him complete the bottom portion and write in the date when it will become due. I will send you a stamp to place on it, and some money to cover the expenses connected with it. Please have this done as soon as possible, because I want to know whether everything will go through correctly. I believe the draft is valid if you receive it, because I obtained it from old Gridley. Your brother, Joseph Dicken

This letter reflects the importance of family networks in managing financial obligations during the nineteenth century. In rural communities, formal banking systems were often limited, and individuals relied on personal drafts, promissory notes, or agreements witnessed by local officials such as justices of the peace. The writer’s phonetic spelling and informal grammar illustrate the writing style of many ordinary people of the time, who frequently wrote letters according to pronunciation rather than standardized spelling. Such letters provide valuable insight into everyday economic concerns and family cooperation in the post–Civil War period.

Description

This handwritten letter dated February 1, 1870 was written by Joseph Dicken to his brother concerning family well-being and financial matters. The letter discusses the delay in sending money owed to the recipient and provides instructions for completing a financial document with the assistance of a local magistrate. Family correspondence of this type offers a glimpse into everyday life in the nineteenth century, when relatives frequently cooperated in handling debts, drafts, and other financial arrangements. The writer’s informal spelling and conversational tone reflect the personal nature of such letters and illustrate the practical concerns of ordinary individuals managing financial responsibilities within extended family networks.