My Dear Sister & Brother I received your letter the 11 of Dec and was glad to hear from you and to hear you are all well as thank God it leaves us now Dear Sister I hope you will excuse my not writen to you before I have thought about you many times but felt as if I could not write for we have had meny troubles and illnesses in our familey and Deaths my husband have been ill and my Daughter Hannah have buried her husband and one child they went to London to live about three years ago he thought he could get a better liven there instade of that they made off with all they had it did not agree with any of them they buried one child there then they came and he died aboute three months after he died last June left her with four children he was only 35 years old and one daughter in law have been in Norwich hospetell with an internel Desease she had to leave three little children but thank God she is prety well now we have been very unfortunate we have lost two horses this year besides other loses but I trust in God we shall get over it in time so I think you will excuse me I never heare anything of your brother Charles but they live in Haynford in the publick house that William died in his wife is dead. Charlot is as well as usel she is never up to much she have not been to Lyng since I hurt my ankel and I have not seen Hannah since though she might come if she liked she allways is so busy she is a rear old maidesh customer they are got into a better farm last year I dont know how they get on for she never rite I supose she can never make time My oldest son have seven children they are always out and in so I have plenty of company sometimes too much I have not sent you my husbands likeness this time he got three taken of a man that go about they are not good so I have not sent it this time but if he don’t get any more taken I will send it next time I right if I am spared so long now this is my birthday 16 Jan 77 getting an old woman but thank God I have my health never better now I think I must come to a close with our kind love to you all wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year I wish I could come and dine with you and hear your grandchildren play there organ for I am very fond of musick good buy God bless you all I hope we shall meet in heaven that will be a happy meeting I remain your loving Sister M. Burton we have very cold wether frost & snow