I will continue to update this page until I have all of them transcribed. I'll post as I do them, and then rearrange into chronological order...
I.
Letter copy received from Patsy Davies, transcribed July 29th, 2009 by Susan Fairchild Barry. Letters in ( ) are “not sure” and personal comments on the letter are in [ ]
[this letter is fairly clear to read, but has some “overwrites” making a few words difficult]
[This letter is from Walter Rhodes and his wife Maria [maiden name Hill] who were living in Philly to Elizabeth Sparks Edwards about a month after Elizabeth’s daughter Sarah’s marriage to Perry Wagar. He adds an H at the front of several words- maybe how he pronounced them? And he almost never capitalized words or used punctuation.]
Philadelphia
March 18/85
Dear Cusin,
I now sit down with pl(use) to
answer your kind & welcome letter
and we was glad to find that you and
your family was in good health as it
leaves us all present and you still
the same & i am sorrow to say that
i cannot say anything about Aunt
Ruth Chadwick as i thought ye
where one f them has I never heard
much about Aunt Sarah much
and when I mention myer in my last
letter he was (w)ith Chadwick but he
could never get to see his Aunt Ruth
nor now where she was uncle told him
that she was living out in the so Country
he never got to see his aunt ruth
so now I will tell you about
uncle and Aunts that in England
and I sorrow to say that
[next page]
No. 2
your uncle Josh is dead about seven
year since and uncle frank living
a retired gentlemen but he had gone
nearly blind when I left England
and uncle Matthew his dead to
and uncle Charles suffer a great deal
with ruemiethism and he Could
hardly walk about and your uncle
John that was my farther and he could
not walk for about four year as
i and my Brother Sam had to
lift him into bed and out every day
but he as got well again but I am
Sorrow to say that my Mother his
dead a year ago this March and
aunt Jane was very lame with rheumatism when I left England
but I am very sorrow to tell
you Cusin that a friend of mine
wrote to me saying that my
Farther has had a Stroke and
taken the use of one side
[page 3]
No 3
and effected his speech and so
now I will tell you about
my hown family as you wish
to now there names our oldest
his a boy and his name John
and the next one is a girl
her name his Emily and the
next is Ada, next Ernest
next Armitage and the baby we call it Mary
Hannah she eight month old [it is not clear if one or two girls here]
So you see that we have not
got any old enough to be
married yet and we wish
your Sarah and her husband
much happynest and we should
like to have been with you at
the time had it not been to
faraway but Ive hope we
[next page]
4
shall have the pleasure of
seen you and your family sum
day if possable Cusin i have
had a notions of going farer out
and i wish you would send me
word if there is any better prospect
hear than in Philadelphia
(ha)s i have been idle six or seven
(wee)k now and likely to be longer
yet as the weather his so very
Could and hard frozen yet
I myself his a Carpenter betrade
and if you think i could make
out better whare you are please
to let me now and then i
will try to get there if posabl
So now I will Conclud
by wishes you all good
night and god bless you
all
[last page]
5
I remain yours Effection
Cusin Walter & Maria
Rhodes
This Card his with love
from Mrs Rhodes
to Mrs Edwards
Walter Rhodes
Adli(n)e St
70th Darby Road
Philadelphia
PA
II.
Transcription of a photocopied letter I received from cousin Patsy Davies. My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.
It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. Wish we knew whether the aunts and uncles were surnamed Rhodes (maternal) or Sparks (paternal).... This is from Samuel Rhodes, brother to Walter Rhodes. He remained in England, rather than traveling to Canada or the U.S. like others in the family.
[booklet type, page 1]
Jan 20th 1891
I write these few lines for you Dear
Cousin hoping to find you all in
good healt as it leaves us at present
You must excuse us for not writing
sooner Your Uncle John is dead he
died four years. Aunt Jane is
dead 3 years since. And her son
(Oliver ?) is dead he died 3 months
ago and leaves no children only a
wife. He has only a brother living
Jessie. Your Aunt Mary is dead
12 months ago. Uncle Charlie is
dead the week before Christmas he been
in bed four years and hasn’t walk
of six years. Uncle Charlie has a
son in Michigan
he has married a Yank(e)e girl Uncle
Matthew wife is dead. Uncle Charlie
wife is living. Uncle Bill went to
living or not. And Uncle Frank
[p2]
is dead 5 years ago Uncle Joshua
is dead along times since. We saw
five or six of his sons and daughters
they were at Uncle Charlies furnel
and I and my Misses who (were?)
And Uncle Edward Wilson is
dead and left two sons he has
been married five time and
are all dead. We have got a
picture of five of your uncle
and we will send you one.
before long. And we should like
you one of yours picture.
I have had my brother wife
over here this summer from
Your Uncle John tried to find William
(Short?) Street is all hulled down
and a new railway station put
on We should like to now who
they called you mother and father
They was a Uncle called William
and he wanted us to go over with
[p3]
him to a America
years since and we haven’t
heard anything of him. They
was two aunts came to America
and we should like to now
whether they are living
[the following is the writer's family still in England
Samuel Rhodes Sophia Rhodes
22 Newton Rhodes Craven Rhodes21
Frank Rhodes17 Emma Rhodes 13
Harriet Rhodes 11 Herbert B Rhodes 8
one died she who have been
19 years old called Ann Rhodes
(4 ? +? I?) works at the mill they are
one strikes for wage my
father has been frozen out
for six weeks a very severe
winter we have had and
we should like to now what
sort of a winter you have
had.
[p4]
We will send you a
newspaper before long
and we come to a close.
God bless you if we don’t
meet on earth we hope
to meet in heaven.
Samuel Rhodes
Manningham
We could find your
direction of a long line
and you directions
in full
[following was written up the side of page]
Please write back
As soon as possibles
III.
III.
Transcription of a photocopied letter I received from cousin Patsy Davies. My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.
It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. This is from her Uncle William Sparks and his wife Elizabeth. transcribed May 1, 2010 by Sue Barry
Shipley December 26 1892
Dear Neice i now take up
pen in ansair to your
welcomb letter sorry to say
that i have not been able
through afflicton and other
matters i now send you my
best wishes for a happy new
year and my wife allso
your Ant has been very
of lateof the influency
but is now a little better
you wished in your last
letter that we would let
you now wear Thomas Futer was
direct. Mr Thomas Futer
[p2]
Cumberland maryland
US America
i wish to ask you if
you now anything
about the money my
father left or if he had
a will or not for i
shall have to giv it
up if you now
any thing about it
please let me now and
if i can get it you
shall be pade
[pg3]
so no more at
pressent from your
uncle and Ant
William and Elizebath
Spark wishing
you all a happy
new year
IV.
This transcription done on 44 May 2010 by Sue Barry of a letter photocopy received from Patsy Davies. My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
32 Southampton (S)t
Otley Road
Bradford
July 13, 1891 York
England
Dear Cousin,
In answer to
yours of June 8th 1891. I am
glad to say I received your
letter dated Feb 4. 91. and was
very pleased to hear from you.
Your Uncle Francis Rhodes
property sold for L 705.
there are about 30 relatives
for it: so you see after all
Solicitors expences are deducted
it will be about L20 each.
[p.2]
You must see a Solicitor and
get him to send an attorneys
order for all monies due
to you from your Uncle
Francis Rhodes estate.
Name of Solicitors to the
Estate.
Messrs Neil & Broadbent
Solicitors
Kirkgate
Bradford
Yorks.
England
I expect it will be divided
about the back end of August
1891.___
[p.3 sideways]
My Wife sends her kind love to you and
your Family and hopes you re all well
as it leaves us all here at present.
I will write you further particulars
after the money is divided.
I Remain
Your affectionate Cousin
Charles Butterwor(th)
V.
Transcription of photocopy of letter, received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. This letter is from Samuel Rhodes, remaining in Manningham, Yorkshire, brother of Walter Rhodes who went to Philadelphia.
Dec 4th 1891
I write these few lines to you
hoping to find you in
good health as it leaves me
at present. Dear Cousin
we have got our money
and you never send word
who had to draw it for you
is left in the trustee hands
waiting for an ansewerd
from you I have drawn
my brother I am going
to send it to him. [This would be Walter who went to Philadelphia, PA in 1882 or so]
Have you got those Photo. and
we have been looking
for a letter a long
time We have draw
L 21"11s"11d
[page 2]
If you wish me to send
you it you must sign
your name to it and
I will send you all
particulars after.
A Happy Christmas
And a prospores
New Year
Write back at once
and tell us who has
to draw it for you
mo more at present
[p.3]
Samuel Rhodes
376 Heaton Rd
Manningham
Bradford
VI.
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
Jan 11 1892
Dear Cousin I write
these few lines to you
hoping to find you
in good health as it
leaves us at present
we received your
letter Jan 4th 1892
and me and my
wife went to see
Butterworth and the
trustee and we
should have written
the next day but a
daughter of mine
was sick we asked
how it was that he
did not send your
money and he said
he could not send
it. You have to send
full particulars
about your mother
[page 2]
and what they
called your mother
and father and how
old you are and
where you was born
we wished the
trust to send you
it and he asked
if we knew any
thing about you
and we told him
that you had
written to us (a? 9?) year
he was frightened
that if he did not
pay it to the right
one he would have
to pay it over again
we wished him
that it would not
all go in law like
[page 3]
some of the (??)
had done becaus
you was in need
of it. Your Cousin
Walter send us what
they called his
mother and father
and his sisters and
brother the trust
told us that he
would see your
cousin (Husler?)
Watson and we
did not see Butter-
worth he would
not be at home
untill 9 o'clock it is
about 3 mile from
our house it is close
on a month since
we sent your Cousin
Walters he has not
[page 4]
Written back yet.
you want to know
(line illegible) I w(as)
(bo) rn March 8th 1844
48 years. We wish you a
Elizabeth prosperous
new year
Samuel Rhodes
No 376 Heaton Road
there | Manningham
is a | ____Bradford
newspaper| Yorkshire
as well | England
________________
trade is very bad
in our country do
you know what
they call Chadwick
your Cousin they
have been advertised
for and they can-
not be found.
[separate page, presumably an addendum to the letter (Jan 11, 1892)
we wish you to be
very nice with the
trust for your Uncle
Charley fortune there [ I'm confused as thought the estate was Uncle Francis', perhaps left to Charley?]
was L 17(9) in law we
each got L 21 11s 11 d
and yours is in the
bank we did not
know but Butter-
worth was going to
draw it and if you
had send word
[back of page]
for me to draw it
I would have drawn
it when I drew mine
so no more at present
please right back
when we was
writing this letter
the snow was on
the ground Good-
night and God bless you
This transcription done on 44 May 2010 by Sue Barry of a letter photocopy received from Patsy Davies. My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
32 Southampton (S)t
Otley Road
Bradford
July 13, 1891 York
England
Dear Cousin,
In answer to
yours of June 8th 1891. I am
glad to say I received your
letter dated Feb 4. 91. and was
very pleased to hear from you.
Your Uncle Francis Rhodes
property sold for L 705.
there are about 30 relatives
for it: so you see after all
Solicitors expences are deducted
it will be about L20 each.
[p.2]
You must see a Solicitor and
get him to send an attorneys
order for all monies due
to you from your Uncle
Francis Rhodes estate.
Name of Solicitors to the
Estate.
Messrs Neil & Broadbent
Solicitors
Kirkgate
Bradford
Yorks.
England
I expect it will be divided
about the back end of August
1891.___
[p.3 sideways]
My Wife sends her kind love to you and
your Family and hopes you re all well
as it leaves us all here at present.
I will write you further particulars
after the money is divided.
I Remain
Your affectionate Cousin
Charles Butterwor(th)
V.
Transcription of photocopy of letter, received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. This letter is from Samuel Rhodes, remaining in Manningham, Yorkshire, brother of Walter Rhodes who went to Philadelphia.
Dec 4th 1891
I write these few lines to you
hoping to find you in
good health as it leaves me
at present. Dear Cousin
we have got our money
and you never send word
who had to draw it for you
is left in the trustee hands
waiting for an ansewerd
from you I have drawn
my brother I am going
to send it to him. [This would be Walter who went to Philadelphia, PA in 1882 or so]
Have you got those Photo. and
we have been looking
for a letter a long
time We have draw
L 21"11s"11d
[page 2]
If you wish me to send
you it you must sign
your name to it and
I will send you all
particulars after.
A Happy Christmas
And a prospores
New Year
Write back at once
and tell us who has
to draw it for you
mo more at present
[p.3]
Samuel Rhodes
376 Heaton Rd
Manningham
Bradford
VI.
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
Jan 11 1892
Dear Cousin I write
these few lines to you
hoping to find you
in good health as it
leaves us at present
we received your
letter Jan 4th 1892
and me and my
wife went to see
Butterworth and the
trustee and we
should have written
the next day but a
daughter of mine
was sick we asked
how it was that he
did not send your
money and he said
he could not send
it. You have to send
full particulars
about your mother
[page 2]
and what they
called your mother
and father and how
old you are and
where you was born
we wished the
trust to send you
it and he asked
if we knew any
thing about you
and we told him
that you had
written to us (a? 9?) year
he was frightened
that if he did not
pay it to the right
one he would have
to pay it over again
we wished him
that it would not
all go in law like
[page 3]
some of the (??)
had done becaus
you was in need
of it. Your Cousin
Walter send us what
they called his
mother and father
and his sisters and
brother the trust
told us that he
would see your
cousin (Husler?)
Watson and we
did not see Butter-
worth he would
not be at home
untill 9 o'clock it is
about 3 mile from
our house it is close
on a month since
we sent your Cousin
Walters he has not
[page 4]
Written back yet.
you want to know
(line illegible) I w(as)
(bo) rn March 8th 1844
48 years. We wish you a
new year
Samuel Rhodes
No 376 Heaton Road
there | Manningham
is a | ____Bradford
newspaper| Yorkshire
as well | England
________________
trade is very bad
in our country do
you know what
they call Chadwick
your Cousin they
have been advertised
for and they can-
not be found.
[separate page, presumably an addendum to the letter (Jan 11, 1892)
we wish you to be
very nice with the
trust for your Uncle
Charley fortune there [ I'm confused as thought the estate was Uncle Francis', perhaps left to Charley?]
was L 17(9) in law we
each got L 21 11s 11 d
and yours is in the
bank we did not
know but Butter-
worth was going to
draw it and if you
had send word
[back of page]
for me to draw it
I would have drawn
it when I drew mine
so no more at present
please right back
when we was
writing this letter
the snow was on
the ground Good-
night and God bless you
VII
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. This was the most difficult to read, as the ink had bled through the page or it was thin, and the photocopy had both sides showing equal.
Dec 29 / 91
Dear Cusins I have
great plesure in answering
your kind & welcome
letter iwill would have
writing sooner has i have been
waiting for a letter from
my Brother Samuel and
have only got this week at post office
he his sent me a Chack
for L21 5 s (??) d and i drawn
the money today and i only
got (102?) 90 and i wish you
would let me now how much
you have got for your share
when you write again and
you wish to now my age
and how many Children
[page 2]
We have got (8?) Children
4 boy & 4 girls and my
age his 42 years old
January 25, 1892 and we
are all well at present and i
hop you are all the same and
i hop you have had a merry
Christmas & a happy new
year to you & all and might
say that we have had very
little work for the last 4
month back as every thing
as been so very bad around
this part of the Country
and the wether as been so
wet and we have had no
snow yet this winter and
very little frost
[page 3]
you said you (illeg) we
should see each other
sum time but i am afraid
we are to fare from each
other but i will send
you my photo as soon
as i get them taken and
hope you will do the
same hoping you will
write soon
I remain Yours
Turly Cusin
Walter Rhodes
Darby Post Office
Del County
P A
VIII.
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants. This was the most difficult to read, as the ink had bled through the page or it was thin, and the photocopy had both sides showing equal.
Dec 29 / 91
Dear Cusins I have
great plesure in answering
your kind & welcome
letter i
writing sooner has i have been
waiting for a letter from
my Brother Samuel and
have only got this week at post office
he his sent me a Chack
for L21 5 s (??) d and i drawn
the money today and i only
got (102?) 90 and i wish you
would let me now how much
you have got for your share
when you write again and
you wish to now my age
and how many Children
[page 2]
We have got (8?) Children
4 boy & 4 girls and my
age his 42 years old
January 25, 1892 and we
are all well at present and i
hop you are all the same and
i hop you have had a merry
Christmas & a happy new
year to you & all and might
say that we have had very
little work for the last 4
month back as every thing
as been so very bad around
this part of the Country
and the wether as been so
wet and we have had no
snow yet this winter and
very little frost
[page 3]
you said you (illeg) we
should see each other
sum time but i am afraid
we are to fare from each
other but i will send
you my photo as soon
as i get them taken and
hope you will do the
same hoping you will
write soon
I remain Yours
Turly Cusin
Walter Rhodes
Darby Post Office
Del County
P A
VIII.
Transcription of photocopied letter received from Patsy Davies. Transcribed 4 May 2010 by Sue Barry.
My editorials are in [ ] and transcription unsureties are in ( ). I have left spelling and punctuation as found.It is hard to tell to whom they are addressed, although we are fairly sure it was Elizabeth Sparks Edwards as it has passed down through her descendants.
Oct 6th 1891
Dear Cusin, I write
these few lines to you
hoping to find you in
good health as it
leaves me at present
and you must excuse
me for not writing
sooner I have had to
write to you a my
brother so often and
Butterworth said that
he would write to you
and your Cousin Frank
and Cousin Wilson Mrs.
Butterworths brothers are dead
We are glad to hear from
you I heard that you
sent your certificate
for your fortune. They
would not have told
known about you all
but for I showed them
that letter you sent my
father and I gave them
your directions. There was
one of your Cousins asking
[page 2]
if your husband is living
because you never men-
tion him. We have
not got no pictures
belonging to your
aunts and we send
your uncles pictures
with a friend that
was going to Philadelphia
and I payed her to post
it up to you we gave
her two one for Brother
Walter and one for you
and we hope you will
write to tell us whether
you have got it or not.
So no We do not know
where Uncle Charlie's
son is he has removed
from Michigan.
So no more at present.
and God bless you all.
[page 3]
Samuel Rhodes
376 Heaton Road
Manningham
Bradford
Yorkshire
England
____________
Walter Rhodes
Darby Post Office
Del County
PA
America
[page 4]
Dear Cousin we will
warn youwe can't
tell you that if you
die before it is paid
and you do not make
a will your children
will not get it and
your cousin Frank
died without making
a will and his
children will get
nothing and you
must not say any-
thing to the others
about what we have
sent you. I cannot tell
you when you will
get it, it is in the
bank ready for the
lawyer to pay it.
Dear Cusin, I write
these few lines to you
hoping to find you in
good health as it
leaves me at present
and you must excuse
me for not writing
sooner I have had to
write to you a my
brother so often and
Butterworth said that
he would write to you
and your Cousin Frank
and Cousin Wilson Mrs.
Butterworths brothers are dead
We are glad to hear from
you I heard that you
sent your certificate
for your fortune. They
would not have
known about you all
but for I showed them
that letter you sent my
father and I gave them
your directions. There was
one of your Cousins asking
[page 2]
if your husband is living
because you never men-
tion him. We have
not got no pictures
belonging to your
aunts and we send
your uncles pictures
with a friend that
was going to Philadelphia
and I payed her to post
it up to you we gave
her two one for Brother
Walter and one for you
and we hope you will
write to tell us whether
you have got it or not.
So no We do not know
where Uncle Charlie's
son is he has removed
from Michigan.
So no more at present.
and God bless you all.
[page 3]
Samuel Rhodes
376 Heaton Road
Manningham
Bradford
Yorkshire
England
____________
Walter Rhodes
Darby Post Office
Del County
PA
America
[page 4]
Dear Cousin we will
warn you
die before it is paid
and you do not make
a will your children
will not get it and
your cousin Frank
died without making
a will and his
children will get
nothing and you
must not say any-
thing to the others
about what we have
sent you. I cannot tell
you when you will
get it, it is in the
bank ready for the
lawyer to pay it.
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