Fringford

Dear Uncle. I wrote the letter for father. He is very much altered and has been very ill since he left of going to work though he is a little better this spring. Again Dear Uncle, I myself have a great wish to come to America and have for some time. I go out to service myself. I am the second daughter, Sophia. I have been out some years now but can not do myself much good here. Can you advise me how to get there the best way, whether to emigrate or what [end of page]

[page 2] also what it would cost and if when I got there you could recommend me to some good religious family - if you will let me know I shall be glad. Father is quite willing for me to ____ now he has heard from you but he was against it before. I am at home now for a week or two but shall be glad if you will write to father about it as he will send one good letter - my youngest sister Sarah is in service also, but she has no wish to leave England. Her and me called to see Philip Claydon last Christmas, twelve months

-- Your affectionate niece, Sophia Claydon

---

Fringford, April 17th 1873

My Dear Brother, I received your most kind and welcome letter the second of April and was very pleased indeed to hear from you, also to hear you was quite well and happy, I never expected to hear from you again in this world, but live in the sure hope and trust of meeting you in a happier and better country above, were parting will be no more, though the merits and intercession of a savior Christ who we all know is gone to prepare to place for everyone who believe and put there trust in him and look to him for help and strength to enable them to reach that happy land, may you and I and all our dear and near friends be there found at his right hand, I myself but my simple faith and trust in a god who I believe will in no ways cast me away __________ ___ him truly and earnestly. Dear Brother, I was very pleased to find you still value your religion and find so much comfort from it, also that you are so happy and comfortable in your worldly affairs, also that you have a good wife. I am glad you like the country, but I myself should not care to leave England, however I am got too old now to change or move much more. Dear Brother, our mother died June 1851 and Father August 1852 about 14 months apart. Our Sister Elizabeth died Febr'y 1866, aged 56 years, Thomas Gibbard died in March last month 1873. I have sent your brother Thomas address but I don't know much about him, only from his son John who is married and lives here at Fringford. He writes to him and I have sent your address to him so perhaps he may write to you now, he is I think quite well himself, but as regards his spiritual things I know not much about it excepting that I have been told he is still a good believer in Christ [end of page]

[page x] he has married his third wife now just before Christmas. His other wife had been dead a year or two and most of the children dead, also his son John who lives here married Robert Smith's widow, Sarah Gee. that was Thomas Dayly of Goddington is still living and his sons and daughters and are all married and comfortable. Dear Brother, now for myself. I am better than I oftentimes am now, I have not been to constant work for this last two years but of course I am got into years now and cannot expect to do much more a little work in the gardens or something, of that sort is all I do now my wife is still living, but like me much altered by four children are still living. Hannah the eldest settled near Woodstock and has got quite a family of her own now, four living. Richard my son is married and lives in the cottage west mine. He has a family of four children living, the other two all in service. A great many of the old people about here are dead that you know - Richard and Nancy Judd are living, John and Bet [Elizabeth] Worrill and Jonathan Hinks are also alive. I have enclosed a letter to you from Maria Lake of Hethe. We had heard from someone that Thomas Claydon was dead. But most of the people about there also are dead and gone. Dear brother, I do not know anything about Philip Claydon nor have heard nothing from him since last Christmas twelve months when my two daughters called to see him in London so that I cannot send you his address. He talked of moving then but perhaps by this time you may have heard from him. I forgot before to say Mr. Boundell died the same day your first wife did [12/11/1852], and I hope he is at rest. I shall be very pleased indeed to hear from you again any time you will write to me and I will then write to you again. Also your likeness I should be very glad of and should prize it very much. I have never had my own taken so that I cannot send you one of them. Dear brother, all join with me in best wishes and kind love to yourself and your wife. Also kind remembrances from old friends that knew you. Your ever affectionate brother, John Claydon.