Letters to John Daly 1903
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Location: Santa Catalina Island, New Brunswick NJ
Surnames/tags: Daly, Santa Catalina Island, New Brunswick NJ
These letters were found among my mother's belongings after her passing. I believe that she found them when she worked at the Santa Catalina Island Company in Avalon, Los Angeles County, California in the early 1970s.
I can't bring myself to throw them away, as I am sure the descendants of John Daly would want them if they only knew. I don't know why mom kept them or how she came to have them in the first place. Perhaps they were being thrown away.
I transcribed and posted the letters in the order they were written, but they appear instead in reverse order, from last, #4, to the first, #1. So it is best to begin reading from the bottom.
I am not sure what I will ultimately do with this little, rusted tin box and the letters. I'll see if the Avalon museum would like to have it.
Jamie Nelson found this passport application, and it might be the nephew Frank. This man was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1882, was in the navy and has a father named Matthew: Francis James Daly Thank you Jamie!
Memories: 4
- Santa Catalina Island Company
- Isthmus
- Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, Cal.
- June 30, 1904
Dear Messrs
We got a tin box with $12.50 silver from John Daily's room but Jack Warren ----- told me that very short time ago he got about $100.00 in gold to pay his way to go Back East but we could not find it. We got two letters from his Nephew on which you will see one inclosed with it and he had 2 row boats one fine one that Mr. Frank Whittley offered $18.00 for it and few carpenters tools nothing unfit and can goods and about a thousand pieces of tin and boxed in his room.
I have the keys and tin box with cash.
Please let me know What I shall do with it.
- Yours Respectfully
- J M Raggon (could be Raygora? - I can't make it out)
Letter from:
- Frank J. Daly
- 47 Bayard St.
- New Brunswick, NJ
- June 4, 1904
- Addressed to:
- Mr. John Daly
- Avalon, Catalina Id., Cal "lives at the Isthmus"
Dear Uncle John:-
Your welcome letter of Nov. 4th, 1903, was received in due time. I should have answered it immediately but put it off from time to time hoping to find time to write a long letter.
For the last few months my delay has been the hope to have better news for you, but it seems the other way. Thomas has been sick in bed since Christmas and he is very weak now; so weak that he may not live two weeks. The large vein in one of his legs has been inflamed and closed, and for the last month he has had several abcesses on the leg caused by the poison in the vein. They have exhausted him.
Father told me to tell you that if you were coming on this year it would be better for you to come now, for he does not think Thomas will live over two weeks.
Let us know if you are coming. If you are not coming right away I will send you some photographs as soon as I hear from you.
Tell me which one of the persons in the pictures you sent is yourself. Some of the family say you are the big fellow and others the little one. Which are you?
- In haste,
- Your nephew,
- Frank J Daly
Letter from:
- Frank J. Daly
- 47 Bayard St.
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Oct. 26, 1903
- Addressed to:
- Mr. John Daly
- Avalon, Catalina Id., Cal (lives at the Isthmus)
My dear Uncle John:-
This letter and the fact that there is such a person as myself may surprise you but it cannot compare with the happiness in the family over news of you. Mr. Philip Weigel, Sr., who met you gave us your address. This is the first news we have had of you since the letter you wrote to your mother in San Francisco before going to Mexico, except when the son of a gentleman in Somerville, N.J. who had been in the West told your father that he had seen you.
Great changes have occurred since you left New Brunswick. Your mother died about 17 years ago, and your father about 5 years ago; James died about 7 years ago. Of the remaining ones Mary is the only one single. Kate has two sons, one of whom served in the 3rd N.J. regiment and in the 28th Volunteer In the Philippines. Thomas has three daughters, and Dan one son of 15, Patrick 4 small boys, and in our family (Matthews) six including myself, the oldest.
Every one of your family want you to write as soon as possible and tell the story of your travels, and we all promise you a warm welcome when you come on here, which we hope you will not put off.
I am very sorry I did not hear of your location when I was in Mare Island, Cal. Navy Yard where I had been stationed 2-1/2 months on the old "Independence" this spring. Uncle Thomas told me you went around the Horn on the monitor "Monaduock" in 1866. I was aboard the new "Monaduock" in Manila Bay several times and served on another monitor, the "Monterey" three weeks. You see I served four years in the Navy until June 6th of this year and was on my way home from the China station when I was at Mare Island. I had no work on the "guards" and it would have been easy to get a week's leave to see you.
Now write to us as soon as you receive this and let us know when you will come on. Remember we are all anxious to see you. As soon as we hear from you we will send you a lot of family pictures. Send us yours when you write.
Hoping this finds you in good health, and that you will answer it quickly, I am
- Your nephew,
- Frank J. Daly
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A pink receipt