The following letters were written by Jason Oscar Packard (1845-1933) to Arathusa M. Studley (1838-1935) with whom he would marry in 1867. Jason was the son of Daniel and Betsy (Veazie) Packard of Rockport, Knox county, Maine. In 1870, Jason was employed as a house carpenter. But in 1864, when this letter was written, he was taking his mail at 23 South Street, the office of NYC Merchant, Benjamin Franklin Metcalf (1831-1918) and his partner, Duncan. Benjamin was a ship owner and ship broker and at one time maintained a line of sailing vessels between New York and Vera Cruz. He was one of the founders of the New York Stock Exchange and was also a member of the NY Maritime Exchange.
The second letter transcribed below informs us that Jason was a crew member on the Bark Rambler.
Arathusa, a dressmaker in 1860, was the eldest child of Charles and Mary Ann (Fisk) Studley of Camden, Knox county, Maine.
Note: These letters are from the collection of Kate Gilbert and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
Letter 1
New York [City]
September 25, 1864
Dear Friend,
I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. I suppose you think that I have forgotten you but I have not. I have had no chance to write since we arrived. I expect you are enjoying yourself nicely. I am here all alone. The Captain has left me to keep ship. I wish you were here with me. We would have a nice time a eating peaches and water melons. I wish I were with you today, We would have as nice a time as we had last Sunday over bear hill. If I could get where you was, I would have them four big kisses you owe me. You did not pay me last Sunday night. I want you to send them to me. I shall send you a dozen good big ones while I am sitting here a writing.
I suppose you are a having a gay old time. I suppose you are a going down street tonight, if being Sunday. I want you to keep watch of Toot Studley to see if she gets a beau. If she does, just let me know. Turn over.
When you see Clara, say good morning for me. When I was a going home last Sunday night [I got] in a bit of a fight with a skunk. We fought a spell and then he run like the Devil and I went home. I arrived there at three o’clock in the morning.
There is a fort right along side a firing in honor of the great victory. 1 She has fired one hundred guns.
You never will see my glazed cap 2 again. It got knocked overboard las night. I don’t know of anything more to write. I want you to write me a good, long letter. Fill it full of love and news. Write me all the news you can think of. Tell me if anybody has got a beau. Write me as soon as you get this.
I must now close and go and get a lump of sugar to eat. Please excuse this writing.
Direct your [letter] to Mr. Jason Packard, New York, in care of Metcalf & Duncan, 23rd South Street.
I will send you a specimen of the change we have.
1 The great celebration was presumably in response to the news of Sheridan’s victory in the Shenandoah Valley (Third Battle of Winchester).
2 A glazed cap is one that was made entirely of enameled cloth, making it waterproof.
Letter 2
New York [City]
November 7th 1864
Dear Toot,
I have just received a letter from you and was very pleased to hear from you. I am well and am glad to [hear] that you are the same. it has been a raining for the last two days and I am lonesome enough. I am glad that Deel has got well again and I hope she will remain so. I suppose J. M. is all right now that he has got a girl without going with married women.
You wanted to know what your compliment was. The mate said that your picture was the best looking one he had seen for a long time. You said that Deel F. had got home. I wonder if she has got well educated on manners yet? If she has, I suppose she will [ ] the rest of you soon.
It is election day. There is a big time here, I tell you. If anyone wants to get his head broke, just let him give three cheers for Old Abe. You tell Miles if he was out here, he would not have a whole head long if he went to spouting. You tell Miles if he does not let you wear Little Mac, I shan’t let you stay there.
We shall sail in a day or two. We have got nine passengers and six of them is ladies. We shall have a gay time. I wish you was with them, don’t you?
Deel did not get that fellow, did she? If you and Mrs. Leach wants Lincoln, I can get you one with old Abe hugging a Negro wench. If she wants one, I will send her one. Oh how I wish you could have seen me yesterday a going up Broadway with my long-legged boots on and the Captain’s rubber coat on that comes to my feet. I should have had you in and had my picture taken if it had been pleasant but you will have to wait until I come myself.
Last Sunday evening I was so lonesome that I went up town to kill time and to see the sights. Oh how I wish you was here to go to the Museum with me. But I shall soon be at home again and we will enjoy ourselves enough to make up lost time. You said that Mrs. Leach said that we could have a fire in her new stove. She can very well say that as I am not there to want it. I shall have to stop scratching for this time. So good night. Yours truly, — J. O. P to A. M. S.
Direct your next to Key West, Florida. Bark Rambler.
Photo gallery images courtesy of Kate Gilbert.
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