Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
This letter was addressed to Caleb Slater’s daughter, Sarah, on the envelope but was intended to be passed on to all his “dear cousins”.
TJ has gone to an expensive seaside resort on the New Jersey Shore but clearly is becoming “frail and weak” and recognizes that the resort is not “making much benefit to me.”
His sharp pen is directed to “the wicked ones” who set fire to his building a few months previously and the know-all rascally young doctor who he seems to blame for his plight.
Also includes useful update of his relatives in America.
Used by permission from the Fredrick F Thomas Collection See: www.HistoricLongBeach.org
Envelope Front:
Embossed with the seal of “Thomas Jackson, Patent Cordage Works, Reading PA”
Addressed to:
Miss Sarah Slater
Langley Mill
near Eastwood,
Nottinghamshire
England
Europe
Post Mark: Reading, PA OCT. 6
Stamps unfortunately removed.
Envelope Rear: Two post marks.
Nottingham
A2
OCT 19 74
Langley Mill
OCT 19
74
*****************
Long Branch on the New Jersey shore
Septr. 1874
My Dear Cousins,
Your kind letter came to Reading after I came here for the summer. I read it with much pleasure and would have answered long ago had I always been able to write. But sometimes I cannot hold a pen steady at all. I have been here ever since June. It is a summer resort for those that can spare the time and have the money where with pay their expenses, which are pretty high as they are at all such place. I cannot say that it is been of much benefit to me. But that I cannot help. It is the will of god, and I have to submit it to it with all the faith and patience I can command. But we are all frail and weak mortals more especially when we reach 70 years old as I shall be in about three months from now. I continue to have my losses and trials.
The wicked ones set fire to our walk again about May last and burnt about 300 yards of it entirely down. The lower lower 300 yards and left the upper end and all the upper end buildings and machinery safe simply because the fire could not get at them.
I am only about 30 miles from Watsons and have seen them all. John, William and Amos. They are all well, except Amos poor fellow who suffers very much from rheumatism and no hope of ever
(p2)
being any better. That, dear cousins is my hard case. and all through the rascally villainy of a daring know-nothing young Dr.. Well it is the will of a just and loving and merciful god, and intended for our good in the end if we only take it as a proper way. My sister Mary, many years a widow and over 60 years old has been lying low with fever at our cousin William Watson’s, where she was visiting, but is now better. Our sister Ann, 68 years old and the poor widow too is waiting on her and tonight I learned by telegraph, that she is better. My brother Henry, a stout hearty man of about 60 is here with me at present.
These boarding houses on the sea bank here are long lumbering places. The “Mansion House” as it is called, is 150 yards front on the sea 2, & part of it is three stories and will very comfortably accomodate (sic) 500 people. The one north of this twice big and will house 1000 people, and there about 10 of them & some 20 to 30 other private houses that take 20 to 100 each. Gen’l Grant President of these United States, has a very nice house 2 miles south of us. He is there now. Quite a plain farmer looking man only his wife drives a very fine coach and 4 fine horses.
I believe I must close now with my best love to all & hoping we may all meet meet in heaven.
I am, as ever
Thomas Jackson
This letter and others were discovered late in the considerable collection of still uncataloged family letters in the Thomas Jackson Collection. By researching the elegant and expensive hotels that were (and are) gracing that popular vacation area. we have found ,
We do not know whether Thomas Jackson had retreated to one of these hotels purely for his health or whether, as an old man of great wealth, he had concluded that rather than simply allow the government to take his money upon death, he would spend it on personal luxuries while he could appreciate them.