Letters of Ann Jones to Isaac M. Jones

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Provenance

On May 22, 2002, Cossy Ksander received an email from the Rev. Marion L. "Chick" Putnam, 3600 Martinwood Ct., Tallahassee FL, containing his transcription of the following two letters, from Ann Jones (1790-1867) to her son Isaac M. Jones (1818-1878). The letters came through his family from Isaac M. Jones to his daughter Mary Jones Holmes (1848-1894) to her daughter Ruth Holmes Putnam (1868-1944) to her son Victor J. Putnam (1893-1987) to his son Marion L. Putnam (1926-2016).

Chick and I are third cousins. My line follows Isaac M. Jones to George M. Jones (1855-1930) to Lester S. Jones to Margery Jones Veatch to Kathryn Veatch "Cossy" Ksander.

The Letters

---

To Issac M. Jones, Miner Nesquehoning near Hauch Chunk Carbon County, State of Pennsylvania North America

Ponty Pool, Wales

February 14, 1844

Dear Son and Daughter I have after a long silence endeavored to answer your most welcome letter which came safe to our hands on the 1st day of February and we was happy to hear that you were in good health as I am happy this leaves us with the exception of your sister Leah who has been very ill indeed and very near leaving us she was confined on the 14th of January since which time she has been very ill but we hope she is now in a fair way of recovery which made me longer than I should have been in writing to you.

We were rather surprised to find you had taken a wife but as you have done so I hope that you may be both happy and live for each others happiness in this world and that which is to come. I am sorry to say there is no alteration in the times in this country every thing here is very dull and at present we see but little hopes of things getting much better very soon. I am very sorry dear son to give you any bad account but I must do so with respect to your brother Jacob who I am sorry to say has given me a great deal of unhappiness. He seems to have given himself up to drunkenness and keeping bad company and seems to think of nothing else. He is gone a great deal worse than ever he was before. William Marshall was very happy to hear that you was settled, he thinks it was much the best for you and both him and your sister Leah desires their love to you and your wife.

My dear son I am very sorry to say that in consequence of things being so bad here I am in much trouble about what you promised when you left us -- Phillip Williams and his wife is both in good health and desires to be remembered to you wishing you both health and happiness. Mr. Rowland was very happy to hear you were married and he desires his love and respects to you and your wife. William Janes of the chapel is dead and buried since Christmas.

I have to tell you that Thomas Jones arrived home safe and had work on the following monday at his old place. You age dear son is 26 years of age on the 3rd day of December last. Vaughan Richards and P? desires their best respects to you and was happy to hear you had comfortably settled. Jane Thomas desires love to you. W. Thomas Legg and wife and Mr. Garway wishes you much joy and prosperity. Edward Thomas of Liowy? called on me and his journey home and I was very glad to see him because he told me all about you. You will tell James Livingston his mother sends her love to him but she is vary badly off and if it was in his power to assist her he would do a great kindness to his parent. Thomas Richards would be obliged to you to send a letter to Thomas and tell him to write home as they are very worried about him. Thomas Williams and George Williams and family are well and desires their love to you.

Your sister Ann sends her love to you and she says you must send her a keepsake. Enoch Williams and family is well and sends their love an well wishes to you and should very happy to see you and your wife and more in the old country and I have nothing more to add but that you have the well wishes of all and ? Dear son wishing you health, prosperity and happiness and remain your affectionate mother.

Ann Jones

Your sister Leah has got a fine girl, her name is called Ann and we shall be happy to hear from you as soon as convenient. _______________________________________________________________

Ponty Pool, Sept. 9, 1845

Dear Son and Daughter We received your letter last spring and we never had another since. I suppose you expected us to answer that one before now but we have two reasons for not writing. As one is we sent a parcel in May last, for you with Morgan Jones of Cwmofantddy? a brother-in-law to Zurababel Thomas of the Valley formerly containing 2 pairs of black wool stockings for you and woolen apron for Ruth, and a frock and 2 pairs of socks for the little boy. We were in hopes you would receive them safe and write to inform us before now.

Another reason is you poor mother is in very bad now this 4 months and we were in hopes I would recover before now, but am not, and but very little symptoms of it now. What will be the result of my illness I do not know. But may the Lord order it what it may end well with me. Jacob and Sarah are both well she expects her confinement and her brother is very bad most leaving this world. They both send their love to you all. William and Leah's little girl is dead since the 20th of May, they have been very bad after her. They wish you all the good that heaven can bestow on you though in a foreign land.

Ann also is quite well she is like a little Brithell in the spring, she wishes you all well. Thomas Jones and his wife do send their kind love to you he wishes to know what wages do the men get there now and how do the money go there. he has a great mind to Come there to keep you company again if you have no objection. he should like to have a list of the prices of all things in you next, the tax here is enough to crush the country. Mr. Legg and ms Legg and family join all in sending their kind love to you and family and indulge a hope of seeing you again in the land of the living, but if not we thought hope of meeting in the other and better world and never part no more. Mrs. Legg is sorry that she did not send some thing in our bundle but if it is lost and some things are better as they are, they may have another chance and Daniel Williams fell a bunch of more of but potatoes (illegible) Thomas Richards begs or you to inform him where is Thomas Brooks and beg them to write home and let us know is it true or not that George Brooks is kilt. So no more from your affectionate Mother

Anne Jones _______________________________________________________________

Acknowledgement

Gratitude to Chick Putnam and his ancestors for preserving these letters. Veatch-455 19:15, 23 April 2022 (UTC)