Middlesex County

Letters of John Marsh D'Camp #6 ~ 1837

Letter 1 | Letter 2 | Letter 3 | Letter 4 | Letter 5 | Letter 6

To William E DeCamp
25 Rahway Middlesex County N. Jersey
on the back: Receive'd This Letter October 26th 1837

Camden 10 mo. 8th 1837

Dear Brother,
T'hy favour of the l 6th of August last fell into my hands this morning in which I am glad to hear from thee and thy family, not having heard from any of you for more than one year during which time I was often on the eve of writing to thee or Gideon yet withheld expecting that one or the other of you would write. I should be glad if Gideon could & would send me the balance due me it being twenty five dollars as I am very much in want of it this fall it would be of great service in assisting me pay my debts. (I'm not complaining) still I wish Gideon would send me a few lines and let me know how it is with him and whether he can send it or not, or if thee concludes to move out here this fall thee can bring it. T'hee wanted to know how times were here. I got a dollar a day at this time and boarded, at building cider mills & screw props and would have been glad to have had thy help as I cannot attend to half the calls, as it is difficult to attend to farming & mill making. Last evening I got home having finished two mills and I have two more engaged yet. I expect to commence one of them tomorrow morning ( if well) I have had 5 other applications that time would not let me engage most of which are laid over for another year. Carpenters wages this summer and fall have been $1.25 pr day & found. Thee knows I have ever had some hopes of thy moving out here yet I have never advised thee, having stated things as they were from time to time in my communications in order thee might judge for thyself, at same time could not help believing this to be thy country, that is, if thee could see it so, it is not much more of a wilderness than Jersey. I live within one mile of the thriving little village of Camden, eight miles north of Camden is our county seat Eaton. Five miles south of Camden lies Yankee town in Butler County and 12 1/2 south of Yankee town is Hamilton County seat of Butler. The turnpike through all these places is in rapid progression and will be finished next summer from Cincinnati to Eaton a distance of 52 miles. This country is celebrated for corn and pork many farmers clear 1000 dols. a year in the article of pork. Corn generally sells from 25 to 37 1/2 a bus. and pork sold last fall from 5 to 7 dols pr. hund. wheat at this time 87 1/2 Oats .25. this to the farmer dry goods, common shiring 14 & 15 cts pr yd. calicos from 16 c to 50 c per yd. coffee 6 Ib for one dol. Orleans sugar 10 c single pound &. I must inform thee of death of John A Williams (uncle Marshs son) who was burried 25 April, uncle Johns wife, that is. aunt Diadama died 24 of March uncle John sold his house and 6 acres land in Yankee town and has moved up the Mississippi in the Illinois Country which he says is the handsomest he ever saw, Congress land for sale out there yet. I have not heard from Sally Dunham for nearly a year. John Williams left about $7000 in specie besides much other property, having follow'd Butter Huckstering about 7 years often times he clear'd 100 dols a month which was divided among his Brothers and sisters. As I had no barn on my place I put one up this summer which has involv'd me some in debt, yet I hope if health permits to get through yet I have a large family to struggle with, If Gideon concludes to send me that money this fall I want him to send me a few lines before to let me know when he puts it in the office there then I may know when to call and take it out of the office here, He may put up two bills on the Rahway Bank in the form that certificate was and send them. I had some difficulty to get the money for that certificate having to pay discount 3 pr ct. I think Rahway bills will do better. Remember me to Mother Brother & sisters, to thy wife and accept a share thy self, at same time excuse the many blunders in compositions of thy friend & Brother John M D'Camp
I had almost forgotten to inform thee that the mill seat and place are sold.