Frettenham January 13^th, 1837

Dear daughter and son in law and grandchildren, this comes with our kind love to you all, hoping to find you all in good health as it leaves all of our family at present, thanks be to God for it. We received your letter on the 5th day of November with the greatest of joy and pleasure. We were [glad] to hear you landed with so little sickness and trouble and are glad to hear you are so comfortable in a foreign land. We hear so many different accounts from America, we know not who to believe. We are satisfied by your kind letter that there is a living in America with industry. Pray excuse my not writing before. Ware [William?] a young man, a son of Mr. Hall[1] [at] Frettenham is over, he says that he lives about 30 miles from Toronto City. His father is steward for someone. I waited for his return, [but] he does not return before the spring. Your brother William's wife[2] was confined on the 17th of October with a daughter and is very well, thank God. I am sorry to say that we hear no good better account for industrious people that there was when you left England. The workhouses are altered and divided so as to separate the man from his wife and the boys from the girls. That makes things very unpleasant. We hope for better times but God knows when we shall see them. Sister Mary is removed to Lyng with Mr. Evans[3], and Susan and Hannah is in Norwich, and your uncle Richard and cousin were at St. Faiths fair and desire their love to you all. And John[4] desires his love to you and you may expect to see him if he can get over. Your uncle Henry[5] and wife and family do all well and send their love to you all. And give our respects to all that enquire for us if you please. John Fryer[6] has been at New York. He gives a very good account of that place. People will go from Horstead and Coltishall with Fryer in the spring. His brother James, and family from Hainford, has made up his mind to see New York. Dear daughter, your mother was a little uneasy about you by hearing so many different accounts. After she saw Mr. Myatt[7] she was more satisfied. He says you were the first woman that went on board the ship and you were in as good spirits as ever he saw you. She often talks about you and children and husband. Thank God she is more comfortable than you may [think], I mean by hearing so many different tales about America. Gran sends her love to you all. Your sister Hannah particularly wishes to have a lock of your hair and wishes to hear if there is either church or chapel and particularly if there is a school for the children. She was very sorry you forgot to leave her a lock of hair and she excuses it considering the many thoughts you had about such a fatiguing journey as you had to go through with. She was glad to see your letter and to find you so comfortably situated. She sends kisses to the dear children. We have had a very rough and severe Christmas. The different parishes have been obliged to clear the road in different places. The coaches and mails were obliged to return to London on account of the large drifts of snow. We have not had so much snow for 23 years past. I wish to know the particulars of the winter in your part of America. Dear daughter, write to me as soon as it is convenient, the particulars of your part, of the harvest and winter season. Your mother saw Mrs Blake about a fortnight back. She was well as usual. Mrs Ducn[8] and husband and family are as well as usual, and all desire their love to all. Your uncle Henry and wife and family say that they will come to New York in the spring if they can settle about the house and shop. All the neighbours and friends send their respects to you all. So no more at this time from your loving father and mother, William and Christain Remmington. Dear sister, pray send us every particular about America. Pray send us word how they dress in America and in what fashion. Pray send us word what caps they wear and what there gowns are made of, and send us word what you give per stone for flour and whether there be any flowers in America. Dear sister[9], we often think of you and your husband and dear children, and were sorry to hear your dear little Christianna was so ill on her journey, but were glad to hear her so well when we received your letter. Pray let us hear from you as soon as you can, for we think long to hear from you again. Ann's baby is a girl child, and its name is Christianna. They send their kind love to you all. Dear sister, kiss my little William and Christianna for me. Mr. Taylor is dead and was buried on 27^th of December at Hainford. Dear sister, we heard the ship was lost that you sailed in. We heard the ship tacked and was obliged to go on shore to be repaired. We heard there were 9 children lost going to America. So my love to you and your husband and dear children. So I remain your ever loving sister, Christianna Remmington. Pray send us word whether your house is all on one floor and whether there be any apples in America, and tell William that his little bird is alive and singing.

Pray send word if you remove, as they may have written to find you. They will stay in New York for a time.

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