I have taken the opportunity of writing to you hoping you are all well as it leaves us at present, thank God. We have been looking for a letter for a long time to know how you and you husband and family are, and when you do write, let us know how much family you have and what you are doing - whether you are large farmers or small farmers and how the crops are in that part of the world. We had a good crop of corn last year but are selling at a very low purse. Wheat is 19 sh to 20 shillings per comb, barley 9 to 12 shillings. Our potatoes are very bad in England. They have been selling from 15 shillings to 20 per sack, but we can get them from 6 to 7 shillings now. And trade is on a flat key now, for the farmers are very careful how they lay out their money. Labourers are working for 7 shillings per week and there are a great many in the work houses in this country. But I do not know you get on in your part, whether you have places of that sort for the poor, but I suppose you are all rich people in America and do not want such places. But I should like to know how you are getting on for that is so far that I cannot come to see you. But you can send a letter to the old house, for that is as close to old Frank Foulger's as it was when you left England. But your poor father is dead. He died in January 2, 1846. And mother is as well as usual and Charles is carrying on the shop. And the old lady, his missis, is just the same for Charles is not married. Nor, he says, he shall not till the old lady dies, for they are going on very well together. For he had a touch at the America plan. At Frettenham the common is all enclosed and Charles has about 3 acres of it. And last Michaelmas he got Henry Remmington's piece of land up the Buxton road, so he has a small farm. Sister Hannah and Lottie are not married but on the point of doing so. Mary has 5 or 6 children. Christain has 5 or 6 so there is plenty of young joy. And when you write, let us now how many boys and girls you have, for that is as thriving a place for children as England I, have no doubt. Mrs. Dewing of Caston has been dead about 2 years. We send our kind love to you and your husband and children, and hope you will send all the news you can, whether good or bad. Young Dick from Eye came to see us last Christmas, and his father is dead. He died before my father, about half a year, and old Grandma is dead. And the snuff box I have not seen it work without the old wheels make we of, it but I believe Susan has it. And old Chris is in the workhouse. John Broughton and wife are well and have 4 children living at Spixworth in the old shop.

Dear aunt[1], my grandmother hopes you will not be so long before writing for she has so often wished she might have a letter from you before she departs this life. And if you cannot find time to write you must get one of my cousins to write and then I will send and answer to you. For I shall have plenty of time, for I have no brothers nor sisters to disturb me, and I shall leave school next Michaelmas. And have yours left school? Dear aunt, send word whether you have sons in any business or daughters out to service.

My daughter say she will write to you as you send to us. And I hope you will not be long after you receive this letter, for mother will be expecting it. She thinks long long to hear from you. My wife sends her love to you and your family, and we will send you all we can when I write again. So I conclude my short letter. So I remain your loving,

Brother William Remmington

Footnotes

1: This section written by Christian Remmington (b.1837), daughter of William and Ann