All of this letter has two pages effectively written on one side of paper by turning each page 180º an continuing to interlace more text between the lines of the original letter.  For continuity, the letter reads, page 1, p2, p3, p4, p5 is reversed under p4,  page 6 is reversed between text of page 3, p 7 is reversed under p 2, and page 8 is interlaced between text of page 1.

Metuchen April __ 1865

Dear Cousin Wllm

I suppose by this time you will think I have forgotten you it is not so. I think of you every day but as we grow older we become more careless about writing. I received your last letter about a year ago with your father’s picture in it and was glad to hear from you.  I can still say with Sutton of Nottm [= Nottingham]  “England with all the faults I love thee still”.  My health is comfortable but feel the effects of age daily. My wife is about the same. Chas (Charles) is well he is about my size is near 18. This is all our family except the Irish girl.  We live very comfortable except the work too much to do and next to impossible to hire man even at 300 dollars per year except  poor ones. So Charles and I is going to do what we can in reason and let the rest go. 

Brother Wm & family is well except his wife. She is putting on the old woman fast. His daughters are grown up. They are amiable good girls both members of the Baptist Church. His son is growing up fast.

Amoss buryed his wife about a year ago after a lingering sickness of consumption. A short time after he was taken with what they call dumb rheumatism not much pain but unable to attend his business. His doctor recommend him to go to the sulfer springs at Richfield in York state. He was their 6 weeks daily bathing & drinking plentifully till his nails became as yellow as gold .He says the water was clear as cristal but stank equal to rotten eggs. It broke his complaint he gradually got well in about 7 mos. His children are well his daughters keeps house for him at present. We now correspond with our cousins in NY state my Aunt Allice (Fathers sister) is 85 years old and in comfortable health.

p 2

she has 3 sons living, buryed her daughter. They are all well and doing well as far as this world is concerned.  She has 15 grandchildren.

 I received a letter from Thos. Jackson 2 weeks since. they was all well. He says he has sold more ropes this winter than ever before. In Jany 2 times as much. 

His daughter is married, has 2 children I think. 

Our neighbors are about the same as when you was hear .Wllm Johnson has 3 children is doing well. He is farming 130 acres on shares for a Prusian man. He does all the labour & has half the produce besides 3 cows of his own kept and poultry. 

Frances has lost his wife and married her sister.   I sold him 4 acres of land adjoining His place at 73 dol per acre he has just made the last payment. 

Mr. Howell sold out a year ago and moved to Brooklyn I have not heard from him since. 

I have 4 cousins in N York & 19 second cousins descendants of my Uncle John that came hear near 60 years ago so you see the name is not likely to become extinct very soon. I should like very much to come and see you but never expect it I hope to see you all in Heaven where the wicked cease from troubling and where the weary are at rest. 

I must now talk with you a little on our wicked war but I know you see the main war news in the papers from time to time   I know you are always anxious to hear. this is a terrible war from a small beginning the taking Fort Sumpter but slavery is the foundation and it is doomed, I have no doubt. My ideas of slavery are very different from what they wear when you was hear    American slavery had a practical origin and is inseperibly connected with man stealing all along which is placed amongst the greatest sins

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if you was to go through the northern states you would see no effects of the war nothing but prosperity in trade & agriculture principaly attributed to the credit of our government.  We have plenty of money in circulation on the government security no gold or silver fractional currency from 5 cents to 50 in paper, high prises for every thing.      I sold wheat at 2,60 pr bush, corn is 1,75 oats 100 butter, 60 cents pr lb, eggs 50 cents pr doz, hay 20 to 30 dol pr ton of 2000 lbs. I have just sold 2 beef cattle for 280 dollars weighing about 1500 lbs in the meat. Thousands of farmers have paid off their debts; property has advanced about double; laborers & mechanics are raised in proportion notwithstanding the high prises. Their has been plenty of every thing ,groceries have been very high sugar 25 to 30 cents pr lb tea and coffee in proportion. they are 30 pr cent lower now. dry goods has been very high. shirting has been 75 its per yardsuch as it was when you was here. Woolings not quite so high. I paid 23 dol for an overcoat for Chas [=Charles] about such cloth as we commonly wear here. Shoes & boots double price. My taxes this year is 129 doll, I never paid it so easy in my life before. I was indebted 1000 dollars to my Brothers at my Mothers death   I paid the last of it in Feby. Rents in NY are raised 25 pr cent I hear. 

They say their is 40 thousand southerners their of loyal principals they are oblige to take oath to that efect, Last summer I paid Frances 2,50 pr day in hay and harvest. This sumer it will be higher.    emigration from Germany & Ireland has been imence their is plenty ready to give them employment as soon as they land they list into the army at their own pleasure. Their never was a better time for emigrants than the present.

p 4

We will now glance at the south. I have not been their but I read the news and correspond with 2 or 3 soldiers of my accuaintance.   Many parts of the country is terribly devastated with the conflicting armies. A man that has been their says it would not be possible for the farmers to find their landmarks again.     Scores of towns and cities burned and private property I have just seen an account of Shermans destroying 14 cities in his last march.. their is terribly suffering the want of provisions.   the union refugees have sufered terribly also from Gurilos (?guerillas) and bush whackers

 I expect to hear of Sherman taking Raleigh every day the Capitol of N Carolina. I see by the foreign news that you have heard of the capture of Charleston, Columbia & Savanah etc . 

Cousin Wm I have been surprised to hear from time to time of the slaveholding rebels receiving so much sympathy from England in supplying their wants both in war material and clothing by running the blockade    I am glad that is stopped. but the greatest mischief they have done us was in building those war ships and manning them with English men principaly expressly for the rebels, with which they have made such cruel devastations on our comerce which the English government have prevented the fact is the English aristocracy have a secret wish for the downfall of this republic but I think it will be far stronger then ever and their is a Ledger kept here recording the value of all the losses of our comerce which the English Government might’ve prevented. The fact is that  the English aristocracy have a secret wish for the downfall of this republic but I think it will be far stronger than ever and there is a ledger kept here recording the value of all the losses of our commerce by rebel pirates of English build and after this war is over, the bill will be presented and must be paid at the risk of losing Canada. 

I have no doubt but Napoleon took advantage of our troubles when he invaded Mexico and set up a Monarchy their. contrary to the resolution passed here in the time of Pres. Monroe that their should be no monarch allowed to live on this continent I don’t think Maximilion will be alowed to stay in Mexico as he is only a deputy for Napoleon.

 John Smith’s family is well except his 2nd son who was taken prisoner by the rebels near a year ago they think he is starved to death like thousands more whom they take prisoners. His eldest son is home he served 3 years he is now steward of the hospital at Newark. John is doing very well has 6 children

page 5 (inverse script between text on page 4)

Cousin Caleb I hope you have made a public profession of religion many years ago as the Christian church and sacraments gods institutions and not man’s hence they cannot be neglected without disobeying God’s commands for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Do this in remembrance of me. Is as express a command as though shall not steal. And although we can do nothing towards our justification yet by the grace of God we may do a great deal towards promoting gods glory by the spread of the gospel and the good of our fellow man. Why if it was to say it is it not necessary to make a public profession of religion the church and means of grace would become extinct in less than a century for when and as soon as we repent and believe the gospel and obey God’s voice in his words and by his providence our sins are all forgiven then the blessings of sanctification and adoption take place then we may call god father with impunity and not till then. Then we will all justified by his grace and have peace with God through Jesus Christ through whom we have received the atonement that is made at only with our reconcile father through the marriage and intercession of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To whom with the father and the Holy Spirit be glory forever and ever amen. Praise God from whom all blessings flow and be glory forever Amen 

I forgot to speak of William of my good old friend Ralph Burroughs I should love to hear from him again What a happy meeting it will be to meet with our distant friends so parting is no more where we shall have the company of God the judge of all, Jesus the meditation and inumerable company of angels and a multitude which no man can number of the spirits of just men made perfect where parting is no more where the wicked cease from troubling and where we are at the farewell where we are at rest

farewell my dear friends.    may the blessings of God rest upon you through life and preparation you are all for this heavenly Kingdom is the prayer of your friend and cousin 

John Watson

Page 6 (= inverse of page 3)

Metuchen Post Office, Middlesex County, New Jersey

William you must excuse me writing this way as I am going to send you our pictures and I thought the letter would be too heavy. It is two weeks since I wrote the above during which time wonderful events of come to pass but you will have heard of it all before you receive this as I sent you the two papers a week ago and Amos has sent you one cents. Your cousin Charles Slater was here last summer with his daughter stayed all night he had five or six children he was working in the Navy Yard at Brooklyn at 3 1/2 dollars per day he had 2 narrow escape. A scaffold fell with him and hurt him much. As soon as he got well he was working under a ship in the stocks and ran against a bolt broke his skull so there is a hollow in his fourhead but he was in comfortable health. Then I have not been to New York since or I should call and see him. I expect you have heard from him since he was here. I am sorry he has spent so much time evenings (when he should have been resting) making a model of warship his own invention and applied for a patent which he said would cost him about $100. I am afraid it will do him no good.   Ms. Plumley received a paper from you and sends his regards to you and would be glad to have another. We have put a steeple on our church 100 ft high.

 I have sent you several papers but don’t receive many in return. I hope you will write as soon as convenient. I should be glad to hear from your brother John again and your sisters.   I prize your father’s pickture.  we have not had any taken from aunt Riley. 

Let me know how the stocking for me trade is when you write. I would take the liberty to ask you to go once to KIrkby Woodhouse would house for me and see my uncle Jos Smith if he still lives. I think he is near 75,    tell him I wish he would write me a few lines and direct JW Metuchen PO New Jersey North America. I wish you would see my second cousins John and Jos Smith     I think they live about half a mile further. I want to know all about them    we went to school together.   I want to know if KW [KIrkby Woodhous[ has improved much it is 49 years since I left there and I think a great deal of my birthplace do you burn American kerosene oil in England and how do you like it there was 15 houses in KIrkby Woodhouse when I was there and I remember every name.

P7. (= page 2 reversed)

Richmond was taken after three days hard fighting by General Grant their supplies was all cut off and the rebel army ran away the last night after setting the city on fire cruelly   Grant’s army of the president entered in he went to immediately to Jeff Davis’s mansion and staid there two or three Days.  Grant followed the rebel army, over took them the 3-days.     guns and wagons and other things strewed the load all the way      he sent a note to General Lee recommending him to surrender to save life he did so they delivered up there arms and was let go on taking oath never to take up arms against the government again     There was a great many killed and taken prisoners during the battle      our prisoners 90 was immediately left out of the rebel libby prison and 3000 Rebs put in    Petersburg was taken the same time.    about 1/3 of Richmond was burned before our men could put it out. Soon after Mobile, Alabama and Salisbury was taken with many prisoners and stores of all kinds. So the rebellion is virtually over. The remaining Rebs are fast coming to terms. Reb Davis robbed the Reb treasury of the gold that was left. They think he has gone to [?] Melico Cove.      I hope him and many more of the Reb leaders will be caught and receive the doom of traitors. Many of the citizens rejoice to see the old flag raised again for it has been a reign of terror And how many widows and orphans and wounded has this war made N & S.     We have had several neighbors killed all dead. There was a day appointed for thanksgiving to God for our victories and I think the day previous the dreadful news came the president was assassinated and the secretary of state and his son stabbed at the same time which covered the nation with mourning instead of rejoicing. This was carryied out the spirit of succession to the letter,   it was done at 11 o’clock at night the murderers are not yet court. There is a report just come in that one of them is caught. I hope the other will       almost every building is draped with mourning. Churches & all business not help the rebel cause any      it did not hinder the proceedings of the government and during day the vice president was immediately inaugurated. He is a thoroughgoing union man he will show no leniency to rebels that resists the power. I have discovered that slavery is of a hardening nature

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Wllm I shall try your patience. I want to say a little about the sanitary and Christian commissions     these are institutions and unparalleled in the annals of history for the promotion of temporal and spiritual willfare of the army and navy. The sanitary commission employees hundreds of men and women and ambulance wagons loaded with medicine and eatables  for the wounded keeping up with the army and caring for the wounded as soon as the battle is over thus taking a great deal of care from the government and Illinois.     they gave out that they wanted vegetables for the wounded and appointed a day for farmers to bring them.  An eye witness told me he saw a string of wagons near a mile long loaded with potatoes cabbage onions beans turnip etc     [?]Sentra more than enough to load three boats. The Christian Commission has employed hundreds of colipipeurs [a type pf wagon?] distributing millions of tracks pamphlets testaments and brown volumes and praying with, and for the wounded and giving them council,  writing letters home for them they’re attend every hospital hold prayer meetings frequently and commissions assist each other      there has been thousands of conversions in the army and navy these commissions have been supported by the voluntary contributions of the people. There has been many millions collected and God has blessed our efforts and no doubt but there is an over ruling Providence in the death of our president his work was done. I think he was too easy with the rebels and traitors. God can cause the wrath of man to praise him and restrain the remainder (of Gods wrath) but I must draw to a close hoping soon to hear from you. I hope we shall both write oftener in the future 

my wife and Charles send their Love to you alI

I remain as ever 

J Watson. 

Give my love to your parents and brothers and sisters. I should love to hear from them

My dear cousin Caleb 

how can I close without writing a little to you but I have only room to say how do you and goodbye. May the blessings of heaven rest upon you and your old age. May your last days would be your best “the hoary head is a crown of glory when it is found in the way of uprightness What a trifle is earth :what a treasure is heaven. 

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of God is in no man’s hands they cannot be neglected with out disobeying God’s  command for he that believe earth and is baptized shall be saved. Do this in remembrance of me is an ex