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Worcester March 19 1835

Father Dear Sir

I received your letter dated
the 7th of Feb. I got it about the 20th it give me
great pleasure to hear from you and Mother likewise
as I had been expecting a letter for some time. I arrived
in Worcester last evening where I expect to remane until the
first of april I have been to see Mr. Merrifield as you
requested he says that he cannot tell what William might
do if he should continue the traid but he has serious doubts
about his making a good workman he says that he was
willing to have William stay and try but under the
curcumstances which he came there he thought that he would
let him go home. Mr Merrifield sends his compliments
to you and wanted if you came to Worcester to call
upon him. as respects my coming home this spring
at this time it is imposible for me to tell. there has
been three different applications for me but where I shall
be I know not. we shall finish the work that we are
now doing about the first of april and then I think that
I shall come home for a few days. there has been a dreadful
explosion here on the rail road I suppose that you have seen
it in the papers but it was a dreadful thing. I passed
by the place yesterday where it was done. they had first
drilled into the rock and put a blast to it which cracked
and made a large seam which they put from two to six
berrells 25 pounds each of powder in generally. they had got in about
two berrells in when the explosion took place they ware carless

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Farming in the Connecticut River Valley where Deerfield, Massachusetts, is located and where Dennis Stebbins lived became a difficult means of making a living in the 1830s. The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 opened up the higher productivity of western lands to the eastern markets making New England farmers hard-pressed to compete. The use of the canal cut transportation costs considerably. Younger sons, like William and Dennis, Jr. in the Stebbins family moved away from hometowns to seek work in occupations like the new railroads.

 

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Letter to Dennis Stebbins

author   Dennis Stebbins, Jr. (1812-1878)
date   Mar 19, 1835
location   Worcester, Massachusetts
height   9.75"
width   7.75"
process/materials   manuscript, paper, ink
item type   Personal Documents/Letter
accession #   #L99.153


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See Also...

Auction bill of Dennis Stebbins

Business Letter to Dennis Stebbins

Hoosac Tunnel, Looking out from West Portal, Mass


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