Quarto Bifolium (ca. 12 ¾ x 7 ¾ in). Brown ink on yellowish wove paper. Stamped, dated and addressed. Fold marks, glue residue and a couple of small holes (with several words affected) on the last page, but otherwise a very good interesting letter, written in a legible hand.

A captivating original autograph letter by an early English immigrant to Penfield, Georgia, with notes about her near-death overseas voyage and plans to acquire local slaves.

The author was apparently a woman from England who traveled to New York with her husband and children on board a steamer in the late autumn of 1843. From there, they continued by railroad, open boat, and large steam vessels to Penfield. At the time, Penfield was a small but developing town in Greene County, Georgia, known for its Baptist institutions and a growing community of planters and tradesmen.

In the letter, addressed to her “dear sister” in Warwickshire, the author vividly describes the nearly catastrophic voyage from England to New York on board a steamer. She writes that the steerage passengers “were almost starved to death,” her child nearly went blind, her husband suffered a paralytic episode, while the vessel itself collided with another steamer, becoming a “complete wreck.” In great detail, the author recounts her journey to Penfield, and talks about the expensive fashion, high cost of goods, and local customs. She then offers a candid account of slavery in the region, remarking that, “none of the whites do anything,” as most households own two or three enslaved people. Though at first unsettled by the idea, she writes that she is now considering acquiring a slave herself and insists that enslaved people are “much better off than even small farmers in England.” In the rest of the letter, she mentions buying a small wooden house, arranging apprenticeships for her boys, updates on common acquaintances, and asks Brother John to bring supplies from England, as things are much more expensive than back home.

Overall, a captivating original manuscript letter from an early English immigrant, with important observational notes about slavery.

Excerpt from the letter:
 “My dear sister through the kind providence of God I am spared to write once more althrou we experienced most meraculous prescation we sufferd more on the sea than i can tell you my little boy was nearly blind the owl of the journey. W. R. had a paralacic  fet and no Doctor on board we had such dreadfull rough sea at first that we were all ill in our births unable for days to rise to waight on eachother we provided sufficient for the usual voiage but owing to head winds and other causes we were 8 weeks on board so that for the last 3 weeks we were almost starved to death I had nothing in my mouth for a week we landed compleat sceletons but I have worst yet to tell you when we were reckoning of soon seeing land and being released from our sufferings in the night our ship cam in contact with another vessel and made ours a compleat wreck the cry was she is going down and so all expected even the Captain was to frighted to give orders but the first mate was a very couragois man and he cried out away - all out to work naked as we were and the cry was she is safe the scenes was dreadful the - evening about with there Gods in there hands some kneeling down in prayer the screem was dreadfull all the front of our ship lost open to the sea fog came on in the night the Captain could not tell were he was went out of his course hundred miles so we were 9 days longer with the remains of our vessel and some times every noun sea but the subject is too painful wone to dwell any longer upon. We cast anchor about 4 miles from NY Thomas - Adinson Richards came to meet us with some provisions we did not stay long at N York but on 11 hundred miles to penfield were we now are we had veriety of traveling during that journey railroad - open boat and large steam vessels like a street for - The Children were very patient and good the whole of the journey. - are about a mile from us and Mary Philips - - she is doing very well at - making and - making she has never heard anything of her sister or neither of her brothers at H N several times but can get no answer if you will make inquiry of her brothers at H N and send in your letter wether they have heard of them I should - her feel glad and if B J comes bring letters from her friend with him Grandmother disliked at first but she begins to like it now we have a - little wooden house Bought one cow and calf to give us milk and a number of fowls - per cow and calf 1 pound 1.5 shillings fowls 5 peace. We get best beef - - and everything else in eating way as cheap to make a - charge 10 shillings and - as much furniture and every thing in the house very - . I am very sorry that I did not bring many things now with me especially -. I had to send 30 miles for some - and gave 9 pence as we gave 1 in England and 4 pence a piece for the coronet white plates if Brother John comes I should be glad if he would bring me a mettle tea pot pan comon Japani waiters yard or two of net a peace of white muslang to make Sarah a frock and any other little thing as he has room for if the money should be divided he can deducted out of that we cannot get those things the fashons are much as in England only they are much more dresses here, expensive white dresses in the morning none of the whites do any thing but my self and I have no slave yet as Christmas is the time for - most of them rich in the Place and all of them two or three Slaves to wait on them – will have a Slave to – we have such an idea of Slavery in England but the Slaves are much better off than even small farmers in England and they are very contented happy race we intend to stay here this winter as it is called, but the winter here are much like harvest weather with you but we think of going to a Golden Climate before sumer out is 10 degrees warmer than with you and we shall never be able to – it this is called u money getting Country we are going to aprentice the 2 oldest boys to a respectable trade no premium is requested here they are fed clothed and found pocket money the land here bears cotton this year is very profitable I have not room to say half as I should like to tell you my dear sister what changes in life…”