2021 
                                                    Peterboro, 20th June 1851 
Dear Sister 
 
I duly received yours of the 19th March and 21st May as also the map.  I 
wrote Peter on the 28th April as Daniel wished me to do and say that the 
money you two were sending would follow soon.  I hope you are and find 
yourself comfortable in your new abode.  I was quite astonished at your 
adventure up the Delaware and think it was not very prudent for you to 
undertake such an adventurous journey alone and upon the whole I cannot but 
think you are taking two much interest in the Andersons for the more I learn 
of them the less I think of them.  They are both deserters of their wifes and
possibly if the wifes stories were heard their case might not look so well.  
At all events the more you wait upon your own line of business while you are 
in it the better you should keep in mind the trouble you had with Watson.  
As I am in the mood of sensuring I will also mention that James Dougall had a
heavie complaint against you when I was there last fall in interfering with 
his Cistern so that he had to put off his plowing to get it right which if 
the weather had not been more favourable than usual would be to him a loss of 
$100.  You are likewise in a mistake about his remuneration to Duncan who 
received $20 which was 5 or 6 dollars more than his travelling expences.  You 
did well in not sending Mr Anderson here as without a wife and some money and 
no expence he must not think of either hiring or buying a farm but should be 
glad of hearing of James Andersons coming altho I have not wrote him.  We are 
completely Totalists in Smithfield as there is not a licence granted or a 
drop sold for anything I know except for medicinal purposes any where in town 
and our hollow Tavern is shut as a Tavern and the late Landlord gone to 
another town.  I had a visit from Duncan week before last.  He came on 
Thursday per Railroad and staid till Monday.  His health upon the whole is 
better but that is all and it seems to me that his constitution is not as 
good as it was when I saw him last.  He had a letter from James since I had 
one and has wrote him since.  He was much disappointed he did not meet Daniel
and his wife here who ought to be at the time but since have learned that the
reason is that Mr David Donnans wife took suddenly sick and was not when he
wrote last expected to live any time so that there is no certainty when they
may be here.  My ***** scrip is only Virginia publick domain land.  I have 
not sold apples or wool of which reports do not speak well.  I washed a part 
the larger part of my sheep tomorrow will be a fort night and is to be 
shearing them tomorrow if the day is favourable which is uncertain as it has 
rained this forenoon.  The weather is still cold but the crops look tolerably
well.  I see our old friends and acquaintances are droping off fast.  It is 
only now about 12 years since we came to this country and if we were now to 
return we would find but few of them alive and in health.  This to us is line
upon line   May heed the Warning as our time is every day nearer. 
 I will expect to hear from you as soon as you get hold of the postage altho 
it is not all we ought to have it will be better than now. 
  I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell 
 I forgot to mention that all our friends in Scotland were well but James 
himself who speaks very dispondingly of his own health.  He says the Youngs 
are all hipocondracks. 
					H.C. 
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2022 
                                                   Smithfield, 25th July 1851 
Dear Sister 
 
It is now more than six weeks since I wrote you an answer to yours of the 
21st May which a little astonishes me since you promised to write oftener 
after the reduction of the postage.  I hope it has not miscarried as a former 
letter did or have you been out of town or what.  I have not seen or heard 
also anything of James Anderson nor has Daniel and wife yet come up as 
expected.  The excuse for their delay was the illness of Mr D. Donnan's wife 
and have not heard whether she is dead or alive this some time past.  Mary 
Campbell had a letter from E. Dayell some time ago saying that her father 
and I think uncle had gone out west as far as Michigan in the western part 
of this state with a view to buy a farm for the latter.  Have you any 
thoughts of paying us a visit this summer?  If you have I hope it will be 
soon as I mean to commence my hay next week.  Almost all around has commenced 
this week and the 3 first days of it were favourable but it rained yesterday 
and last night and the season has been rather unfavourable and wet for corn 
and hay making altho there is a good prospect of a good crop of grain and 
grass all round this place.  I will have double the hay this year as last 
owing to my turning the sheep off earlier.  I had about 80 lambs this year, 
50 of which have sold at 12/- a piece.  This is the best price I have got 
for lambs in this countrie and is about the price we used to get for them at 
Monzie Markett in Scotland, but have all my last and this years wool on hand 
yet, say upwards of 400 fleeces.  The Beares have made a strong effort to 
bring it down in price but I expect in a short time it will be hyer than last 
year.  Those that sold theirs here this year got 5 or 6 cents more for it 
than last year.  I see the price of clothes are gradually comming up so that 
Manufacturers will have less excuse for small prices. 
 I understand R. Stewart's sons has or are going into the Distillery 
business.  This I think is a step lower.  Gerrit Smiths plank road between 
Morrisville and Canastote is going on which will go nearby John and 
Archibalds both farms.  The other Company has now been able to finish theirs 
and Gerrit has offered them a thousand dollars a mile for their plank which 
it is suposed they will be obliged to take.  Have you any word from Peter or 
from Scotland since you wrote me.  I have no word from Duncan s[  ] was 
here.  The most of my dried apples are yet on hand and will be in good time 
for next season.  The new crops will be moderately small this season. 
  In hopes of hearing from you in course. 
  I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2023 
                                                  Smithfield, 8th Sept 1851 
Dear Sister 
 
 Yours of the 18th August from Brooklyn I duly received by which I am happy 
to hear of your welfare and that of James convalescence.  From what I learned 
from Duncan from James it was not unlikely some of them would have to give up 
their farms.  James McEwen would be a more likely person to take my farm and 
succeeed in this countrie than any of the Andersons.  Were he to get married 
and come here I could help him some.  I think his prospects would be better 
here than at home.  Mr Anderson does not get as good wages as is going in 
harvest here.  A dollar a day is the general wages here during harvest with 
board.  I paid a dollar a day for all my hands and 10/- a week board and were 
not satisfied they do not get 12/- and paying for a team besides.  I paid in 
all $50 but had double the hay I had last year.  I think the old newspaper 
you had was from me.  I had it from Duncan and which I sent you where I saw 
the proceedings about Dr Young.  I see from the last Tribune that sheep and 
wool is doing rather better.  I do not fear the prices of both to continue as 
good at least as it is if no revulsion in the Money Markett does not take 
place.  Daniel and wife Mary and child came up week before last.  John met 
them at Canastote and they got the best weather we have had this season.  So 
far it is the likest season of the year we came here that I recollect of. 
They are all to be down on Wednesday to see me but scarcely expect any of 
them to stop here a night.  If they do I have bespoke a bed for myself with 
Hants during the time.  Altho Daniel is tolerably smart he shrinks visibly 
in appearance.  I do not see but Mary is as well as usual altho I do not 
expect she will ever look so flush as she was.  I almost expect they will 
return next week as Daniel says they means to call at Duncans as they 
return.  I am glad to seen Samuels Duncan is resolved to be at the top of 
his profession.  At all events I expect Gardeners or Nursriemen in this 
countrie make well out.  I see from a Liverpool paper I had from some one 
that the Patent Law Amendment bill was thrown out in the Lords but of any 
benefit that that Peters discovery would be to himself or anybody else I am 
not sanguine.  Yes  A. Smith will allow them to send the road through his 
farm as it will open a beautiful level road to Morrisville which will be as 
near him as Peterboro and better Markett and will scarcely even be blocked 
up by the snow.  You have made up a bearer contra account against James 
Dayell poor man in his absence.  But the least for you and I will be to look 
well into our own affairs and with others.  Short accounts make long 
friends.  I forgot to say when speaking of the plank road that Johns farm 
will be $100 benefited by it.  He will get easier to Peterboro for altho 
level was a very bad road and it will take him short and safely to Canastote 
the best Markett in this countrie but I do not believe that a plank road by 
A's will soon take place.  I believe there is coalition taken place as far 
as Peterboro village and perhaps the plank road west of the swamp will be 
allowed to stand.  I hear yesterday Sunday that our free bootleg Cubans had 
got their deserts.  The most stirring incident here of late is about a John 
Rose.  I know not if you knew him.  He whiles dealt in poultry and he was 
married to one of Capt Petrees daughters.  He went to California a year last 
spring where he only stoped a short time who said he made his pile and soon 
returned home and left here for the west lately since which 2 men from 
California came here in PURSUIT of him said to be for Murder and Robery 
there who went in pursuit and it is rumoured that they found him and are on 
their way back with an accomplice which was said to be in jail in New York 
City.  They will make a short business of it there.  I hope to hear from you 
soon with all the news you may hear and please adress me to Smithfield 
Siloam as we have a mail twice a week by Wednesday and Saturday. 
 I remain 
 Your Loving Brother 
   Henry Campbell 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2024 
                                                     Siloam, 24th Octr 1851 
Dear Sister 
 
 Yours of the 2nd Inst came to hand which scared me dreadfully and my first 
impulse was to look my pockett for Bank Bills but as I could not find any I 
breathe more freely and since my mind has gradually become more convalescent 
and have gathered courage to think a little about matters and the conclusion 
I have come to is that if the Tribune do not give the whole truth you and Mr 
Burgess give as far on the other side indeed I fear you two have a leaning 
to the BEARS and wish to buy in but time is far ahead of prophesying and we 
will see.  Scarce as money is about N.Y. I wish I had my Apples and Potatoes 
there along with other things as they would give 3 of our prices..  You 
could scarcely get a 1/- a Bushell here for common Apples, Grafts from 2/- 
to 2/6, potatoes 2/- to 2/6, Butter 13 cents to 14.  I have a lott of nice 
fatt sheep mostly full grown wedders of about 70 head.  I wish they were 
also at N.Y..  My lambs which I sold beginning of summer 12/- apiece from 
the dulness of the markett.  I supose he did not take up as he only paid 10 
dollars upon them and if I had my wedders sold there would remain about 180 
which I believe I could winter.  Securing my hay wheat cost $50.  So you see 
I should have some provision for them during winter.  I let my sheep and 
Neighbours have all my common apples except a tree or two in my best orchard 
which I have commenced saving to put along with last years which have kept 
well.  Have about 20 Bushells grafts in my cellar of very good fruit I had 
which in the Orchard 8« Bushells 15 Bushells good potatoes in a spot above 
the barn and orchard 18 Bushells corn in the garden with plenty Beans Onions 
Carrots and cabbages and more Mutton than I want is more than I can use and 
3 times as much.  You see I have my nest well feathered and that I have not 
been all the time idle.  Daniels wife with Mary and child was up.  They staid 
about 3 weeks.  I think they would be absent in all about a month as they 
stoped a short time at Duncans on their return.  Mrs Smith went down with 
them as far as Johnstown.  Every body observes of Daniel how feeble and 
bowed he is in comparison of what he was when he left here.  I had but a 
short visit of them.  They stopped a night and I went to sleep in John Hants 
but to my astonishment I found they had slept on the floor.  The bugs had 
driven them from the bed.  It was in the time of the hottest weather and 
altho I had not experienced much annoyance before they were bad enough 
before.  My intention was to get Mrs Hart when they were here to wash and 
overhaul everything when they were here but they got so frightened that they 
went off with Mary and Johns folks next day.  They had quite a stirring time 
of it at Peterboro.  About 14 days ago the School Teachers meeting for mutual 
instruction was held there when they had several publick men to lecture on 
various subjects.  The Seminary erected by a Joint Stock Company at a cost of 
about 4,000 dollars is to be opened the end of this month.  It is said they 
have engaged very eminent teachers  Mr Post of Philadelphia and Miss Sharp at 
a Salary of 800 dollars the professor 500 and the lady 300 a year.  It is 
thought Peterboro will not be able to board all the students and that they 
will be obliged to build a boarding house a new.  The Liberance will cost 
800 dollars.  This establishment will be a great acquisition to Peterboro 
and vicinity and if the United States were to make their President from 
Peterboro it would be the greatest blessing in a political, moral and 
religious than has been since the days of Washington at the least.  In 
contrast to the above you will see the Schoolmaster has need to be abroad a 
short time ago.  There was a meeting in the hollow  I mean said to be a 
Spirit rapping meeting.  I was not there but from what I learned it was 
held by a Mr Stone from Oneida and a Gent, the medium, from the same place. 
It was here the communication was with Father Abraham and the Apostles etc 
etc.  From what I learn from those that were there the whole is a humbug and 
was considered a failure by its friends. 
 I think it is a factor tho Anderson might not pay me a visit when he is so 
near hand.  Altho his wages may not be so large it is the steady work that 
makes the money.  I think you speak of him as if (I) would need his services. 
As at present I do not.  If I want to keep a man I would need to buy a team 
and break up the farm.  As you grain, this I have no wish to do.  You say 
any body but myself sees that I am failing.  If I do not see this I feel it 
and this makes me more anxious to sell it.  As Jorson wants in my opinion 
all the elements of a farm.  First he has no experience, no money and of 
his wife as great a requisite for him is not bejoint him.  Suppose he had 
the 2 first qualifications without the last he would not be much better 
than myself and if he was determined to be a farmer he ought to have gone 
with a farmer at any price.  If he is capable he will soon learn and get as 
good help as anybody.  Your hint that we should all join often as a throne 
grace meets my entire approbation.  God is not only the heaven but the 
answerer of prayers and at all times and in all circumstances.  You have not 
of late said how you have been employed only if I may judge from others as 
an excuse in not lonely and that you have been pretty often out.  You say 
that the days of Slavery is numbered.  So it is but I fear our own days are 
to be shorter than that.  However let us not despair.  You will have learned 
how nobly our Syracuse hour ***** have done. 
  I remain your loving brother, Henry 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 
2025 
                                                    Siloam, 16th Feby 1852 
Dear Sister 
 
 It is now 3 months and more since I had a letter from you an answer to which 
I wrote to you soon after.  Are you alive and in health and if so I cannot 
think that you have been so occupied all the time that you could not have 
wrote after you have not said in any of your late letters in and how your 
occcupied.  I might have some excuse for want of time in such a winter of 
frost and snow of sheep and hay and all the hardships of a Siberian winter. 
Neither has our friend Mr Anderson made his appearance nor have I heard from 
Duncan or any other of our folks since I wrote you. 
 Please adress SILOAM as I have not been in Peterboro for a month past.  There 
has been a deal of sickness from Typhus Fever and a number died this winter 
and Duncan Black's wife died lately of a cancer caused by a bad tooth.  She 
was ill about a year.  My sheep has done tolerably well considering the 
severe winter and so many of them together about 230 but my hay is done and 
will have to buy 6 or 7 tons.  It is about 5 dollars a ton.  There has been 
some attempt to rise it but as Feby looks more fav[...]  it is not likely to 
rise.  There was a great crop in the country last season. 
 I will expect to hear from you in course and without fail. 
 I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell