DAVID FRANCIS HUGHES
– LETTERS
26 September 1863 to
Harriet Davies - Transcription
Morriston, Saturday, September 26th
1863
My Dear Harriet, inasmuch as you wished me to write to you I
feel that I might as well do it this morning as some other time. I am very much
happy to inform you that I am much better in health at the present time than
when you saw me at Neath; the pain that I had to
suffer in my side has considerably decreased for which blessing I feel very
grateful to my Heavenly Father. I washed my brest and
sides this morning in cold water, and I went to my bedroom and had a fine
feeling to pray to the Lord, to bless his kingdom upon the Earth; and to bless
you and all his children that I am laboring among; and to bless me with the
spirit and power of my holy calling and Priesthood, that I might have wisdom
& Council and dictate, according to his desire, and to feel the weight of
the great responsibility that is upon me as an Elder in Israel, and a President
in the Church of Jesus Christ. While I was praying I felt the Spirit of God
whispering that I should soon recover my health, and realize the blessings that
bro. Jeremy sealed upon my head at Aberavon last
Thursday morning. Some of the blessings were that I should live upon the Earth
to see a great many good things and go to Zion
and dwell upon
the Mountains of Ephraim.
My dearest Harriet be a good girl and pray often that the
Lord may bless you with power to overcome all your weaknesses and to be
faithful unto the end in his Kingdom. And if we will continue to serve the Lord
with all our hearts we shall soon be gathered to Zion and live together to see
the happy times when this fair Earth will be full of joy and gladness and when
we shall meet in in every man a friend and a brother,
when the spirit of God will rest upon all things: and the Lamb and the Lion
shall lie together and the sucking child shall play by the Serpents hole and it
shall not hurt him. Such a happy time is worth suffering a few tribulations
for. I can look this morning by the eye of faith into the glorious future and
my soul doth rejoice that the Lord in his kindness saw me worthy of being one
in the bringing about of his glorious purposes upon the Earth. After I had
prayed this morning, I went to the parlour and sat
down, and as I have a little poetical fire within me, I was inspired to write
this piece of Welsh poetry and it came from the inward recesses of my heart. I
do not know whether I have spelled all the Welsh words right or not; I do not
study much Welsh language. My letter is nearly full, so I must close my
epistle. Praying that the blessing of Heaven may rest upon you, I remain your
Affectionate and faithful friend. Francis D. Hughes.
Poem by Francis David
Hughes – Translation
1
The rejoicing of my heart is to see the countenance
Of a certain girl who lives in the town of Neath.
I learned to love her without knowing why.
And I shall love her forever, in spite of her mother.
2
When I first saw her she won my love,
And I had not even thought about women.
She is virtuous and loves the truth.
She gave her heart to me without skipping a beat.
3
When I disclosed my feeling the two of us were one.
We fell in love on a Monday afternoon.
It was in the town of Aberavon where I declared my love
Cheerfully and happily to dear, gentle
Harriet.
4
She said happily and cheerfully in her way
That she loved me, too. Oh, what rejoicing!
May the Lord’s blessing always be with the two of us,
And may our love continue for eternity.
Near Swansea.
By a poet in his poetic gift.
13 May 1863 – From D.
E. Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Mount Pleasant
Square, Carnarvon, May 13, 1863
Mr. Francis D. Hughes
Dear Brother, In possession of good
health both body and Spirit I embrace this opportunity to inform you how I am getin along. I am proud to say that I am quite Conferatable and happy. The Saints in the north are few as
you have heard, but most of the few is a good pepole,
very kind and warm hearted. I visited most all but those that is in Anglessyshire little Island.
This one is opposite Carnarvon. I attend to go there soon to visit the Saints
and tto Preach. I preached in this town last Sunday
to some Hundreds of pepole. They did leson well. I was at Machynlleth
last Sunday week and called at your Perants house
Saturday night, and they invited me to dinner Monday so I went. After they
invited me to Tea (but water for me) I atend again
and they acted uncommon kind to me. I went out for a walk with your sister after
and Brother Arthur’s daughter that was in Birekin
head in Service. Your Sister said she would like to see you very much and to
come with you to the South for a while. She seems to be wise, quiet and
intelligent young girl. She is bout the height of Emma Lout. All the Saints of Machynlleteh sends their kind respects to you and Brother
Edward Roberts of Dinas Mawddwy
(weaver). The Saints of Machynlleth is very kind and faithfull pepole.
Sister Griffiths is a kind, steady and wise person. Also her Perants and Children his a very
stead pepole. Dear Brother my intention is to [be] in
Machynlleth on Sunday, June the 7th three
weeks next Sunday when I hope I shall have your Company. I intend to preach out
then there. I intend also to preach in Llanwrin the
Sea Side by Comin there (1 ¾ miles from Machynlleth). Plese to write back
and let me know when will you be up or wether
you will be there and inform me how are they at home. How is Father and the
Family and the Saints of Neath Branch & plese
give my kind love to Brother Hopkin Jones and his
family also to all the Saints of Morriston and
Swansea, Alltwen, and Cwmavon,
&c. and yourself to mind [?]. I remain Dear Brother Hughes your
Affectionate D. E. Jones. Care of Wm Hughes, Mount Pleasant Square,
Carnarvon, North Wales. Give my best
respects to Bro. Hornsby and Family when you will go there.
9 August 1864 – From
Francis David Hughes’ mother to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth, August 9th
1864
My Dear Children, I cannot tell you how glad we all were to receve a letter from you and glad indeed to find by it that
you Both are Enjoying good health after your toilsome Jornay.
I hope that you will get ovar the Last Part as Well as you Did the first. You gave us a good discrpshon of youar Rout from Liverpool. We Shall be Waiting anshous to hear from you and all the News of that Wonderful Place,
the Great Salt Lake
City. David Griffiths Was
so kind to Let me See 2 Letters that Came from poor
David Jones. Remember me kindly to him When you see
him. I am glad that he so soon Began to get Money. He Will be Rich by the time that he gets to the City. Poor
Grandmother is quite happy now that you have got ovar
the Water. She thinks there is no more danger of ouar
geting Safe to the Ende of youar Long Jorney. She had Littil hope of youar geting health and Strenth to pass
what you have. We passed meny Wavy and Seepless nights till we heared
that the Ship had got safe into New
York. We did not think that you had so menny Lats to travel ovar. We thought of nothing but of the Deep Deep See. I find by D. Jones’s acount
that you had hard time on the See. I supos that the
poor Ladys had so much See
sickness that they Did not think that they were in so much Danger of getting to
the Botom. I must say with Ann that I have not much
news to tell you, for We are much the same hear as you
left us. The potato crop was Complety spoild with frost, I mene Early
ones. Later fared Littil better.
The Cabbage was a complt familiar this year. Onions midlin. We have had gret Loss
this seson, but we have one great blessin
lef us, that is good health. We ought ro prise that more than all. We
were quite plesed with the acount
you gave of the Beautys of the Land of America.
I had no thought that it was such grand place with Such
large towns and grand stors and shops and hotels.
Well now don’t you think that I have wrote you a Long
Letter. I hope you will be abel
to Read it. Bad Wright and Spellin is Bad indeed. Youar Grandmother
sends much Love to you both. She is quite pleses when
she speks of David Jones. He told her that he Did not think her one bit old to come to Salt Lake City. The Saints all with out
naming send Love to you Both. It would be usless to name all that Wish me to
Remember to you, but I must name Mrs. Williams next door. She has been very ill
this summer. We thought that We should Lase [?] her, but now is gettin bettar. She sends much Love to you and to Mrs Hughes and wish you much
happiness in youar new home. Remember me free [?] in Utah.
6 August 1864 – From
Anne Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Dolgelly, August 6, 1864
My dear Brother and Sister, I was very glad to hear that you
have arrived so far in safty. I hope and trust you
will reach the end in safty. I was also very glad to
hear that you enjoy your health so well and that you are so happy. I hope you
will continue so. I should have being glad to see my sister before she went
away for there is little chance of me ever of seeing you or her now you are
going so far. I was at home once since you were there. I am glad to tell you
that I like Dolgelly very much and am getting so very
well with my business. I hope I shall come to Salt Lake
some time to do it when you reach there which I hope will be soon. Please give
my kind love to all Evan Arthur’s family, also John Davies and his family and
all old acquaintances. I have nothing particular to tell you this time. I beg
of you when you write next time to enclose a few lines for me in Mother’s
letter and then I shall write you a long letter with all the news I can get. I
hope my dear Brother and Sister you will be able to write us a few lines again,
for we should think them very precious so. I must conclude for the present
hoping you will forgive this short and simple letter for the present with my most kindest and warmest love to you both. I remain as ever
your affectionate Sister, Anne Hughes.
28 April 1864 – From
David E. Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
4 Mount Pleasant
Sqr, Carnarvon, April 18, 64
My dear brother Hughes, in possession of good health both
body and spirit I embrace this opportunity of writing to you hoping this will
find you the Same, and also your wife. And believe me brother
Hughes I am glad that the Lord have bless you with Such blessing. And I hope
Harriet will do [be] a good humble and obedient wife, and that she will feel
toward you as our old Mother Sarah, the wife of Abraham felt towards him, that
she will feel that
you are her Saviour here and hereafter.
I have to inform you that your last two letters was received
all Safe, one here and the other at Machynlleth, and
you will please to excuse me for not answering them sooner. I should not like
for you to think that nothing have kept me from writing to you but circumstances, and that only.
I am glad to tell you that we had good times at Machynlleth in the Conference and the same in the other
three Confce [conferences] we held in North Wales
Conferences. I enjoyed meself very much indeed at Rhosllanerchrugog. We had very good times there. Brother
Price and the Saints were asking to me about you, and they told me to remember
them to you when I would write. May be that brother Amos Clark will emigrate
with you this time.
Several do emigrate from this Conference. One is gone by the
first vesel and it is not impossible thing for me to
come with them this time. And I know if President Jeremy can that will be the
case.
Brother Wylett was in Liverpool few days ago and President Cannon told he
wished for me to emigrate this time if Pres. Jeremy could find one to fill my
place. I know whatever be the case. Our dear brother
Jeremy will do his best. Please receive of my respects and give the same to
your dear Harriet.
My mother is still quite busy in performing her infernal
habits. You know well what a trouble we have had with her since you came
acquainted with us. Please write back at your earliest convenience and let me
know how things are getting along. I am your most sincere brother in the
Gospel, David E. Jones.
24 February 1864 – From
Francis David Hughes to Harriet Davies – Transcription
Neath. February 24th
1864
My Dear Sister Harriet, I am in receipt of your favour of the 21st instant. I am glad to
understand that your health is improving. I intend comming
to Alltwen on Saturday next by the 5:14 p.m. train
unless prevented by some unforeseen event. Elder Richards will probably arrive
sooner. He has gone to vissit his wife and will
return by way of Merthyr. With much
love, praying God to bless you. I Remain as
ever Your Sincere friend, Francis D. Hughes
A
comment and a poem – no date – from Francis David Hughes [?] to [?] – Transcription
Brother and Sister Hodson wishes
to be kindley Remembered to
you.
I’m happy to tell you despite of all plage
That brother James Hodson now
lives at Maesteg.
His wife is as happy as woman can be
In faith that she’ll soon have a trip o’er the sea
And since they are there living midst people afar
They find a great comfort in reading the Star.
1864 – From Anne
Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
This is from Anne Hughes, sister of Francis D. Hughes,
written in 1864 at Dolgelly, Wales, and addressed to him at Salt Lake City.
Elen did dream that you had a
daughter, and we all agreed (before we heard a word) upon the same things. I
enclosed a curl of Catherine
Anne Lake’s
hair to her little cousin, and a few kisses: xxxxx ooooo xxxxxx Elen
is there at the same place, her [illegible]
12 March 1864 – From
Francis David Hughes to Harriet – Transcription (incomplete)
Machynlleth, March 12th
1864
My Dear Harriet,
It is with great pleasure that I take up my pen this evening
to write a few lines to the nearest and dearest friend that I have on earth,
and I hop my dear that you are as well as I am at present. I will not give you
a little account of my journey home. On Wednesday morning, I left Alltwen in company with brother David Morgans.
We walked 12 miles to catch the train and we went by it to Lampeter
road Station. Afterwards I walked to Lampeter that
evening, distance 18 miles and I felt after reaching there that I could walk a
few miles more if it were required. I found the butcher and his family all
well. Thursday morning I left Lampeter at 10:30 a.m.
and walked to Aberystwith before night, distance 24
miles. I would rather walk 30 miles on a good road, for I found it up and down
hill business nearly all the way. After reaching there I went to brother Argust’s house and they were astonished to see me. And they
treated me verry kindly. Friday morning I left Aberstwith at 11 a.m. and walked to Boroth
to catch the train which was to leave at one o’clock. So I went 9 miles in two howers on a verry rought road that was hard work and it made me sweat untile I was quite wet. I caught the train in time and
arrived at Machynlleth early that evening. My friends
were verry glad to see me, especially Catherine my
Mother, and she was not well pleased because I did not bring my intended wife
along with me. She is verry willing that I should
have a little wife and she is verry glad that she is
a kind girl and that I am so fond of her. She sends her love to her many times,
(please to tell her). Anne my sister is not at home. She is living at a town
called Dolgelly about 18 or 20 miles from here.
Perhaps she will come and see me before I go away. My parents are not quite
will for me to go to the Salt Lake Vallies, but I
believe they will give me
18 February 1864 –
From Francis David Hughes to Harriet – Transcription
Neath, February 18th 1864
Dear Harriet,
Your verry welcome favor of the 16th
instant came duly to hand, and was perused with interest. In the first place I
will say that I was verry happy to learn that you are
recovering from your late illness and I will add that I hope by this time you
are better still. I am verry much pleased to
understand that all your friends treat you kindly. Dear Harriet try to observe
the laws of health, avoid catching colds as much as you can, and above all
things try to live in the enjoyment of the spirit of the Lord so that you may
have power to combat successfuly with every trial
that will lay in your path, strive to serve the Lord to live pure and holy,
then the hallowed influences of his holy spirit will rest upon you and cause
your heart to rejoice. If you will take this course you become hounorable in the kingdom of God,
and the day will come when the Kings and queens of this Earth, will bow before
you and implore your blessing. The kingdom of God is being built up upon the
Earth in these the Latter days and blessed are those that are faithfully labouring to bring about the glorious time when peace and
joy shall prevail, and the knowledge of God cover the earth as the waters cover
the seas. There is a happy time coming for the nations. They will fly like
chaff and the Gods in heaven will sit and laugh and the Mormons shout hosannahs in deseret,
we are free. I must close now. Give my kind love to all our friends and accept
the same yourself. From your faithful and true friend, Francis D. Hughes
Let me know how William Morgans is
getting along. The people of Neath will all come to Alltwen Sunday the 28th instant. We will have a
great time then. Please drop me a note soon and let me know if the brethren
have took a room. Address to Neath. Post it Sunday,
otherwise it will be too late. F. D. H.
Your friend Mrs. Thomas at Swansea told me that she should be stopping
to see you in a week or two after you get strong like a little lion.
I trust that you will understand this rough scribble. I will
write better next time.
Bro Richards wishes to be kindly remembered to you and his
friends and also Sister Hornsby.
21 February 1864 –
From Harriet Davies to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Alltwen, February 21, 1864
My Dear Francis,
I received your kind letter which make
my heart rejoice to read it. I am happy to say that I am much better since I
received your letter. I feel very thankful to my Heavenly Father for his
blessing to me in time which is pass, and I feel to do
the will of the Lord whatever will come to met [meet] me. My dear Francis, I
have being your schurt. I do entend
to finish it before Sunday. I can not set more than hour or two at a time
because [of] my sid [side].
I hope that I will be abel
to work after next week. The wors [worst] of me now
is that I cannot sleep in the night and the pain is in my side, but after I can
truly say that I never felt better in my life than I do now in spirit. I am
glad to tell you that Brother James Davies has been in to day about the room.
He had the long room of the Crows Inn, the best room in the place. Please to
tell the Saints in Neath. I must go meeting now and it
is late. I must give up my Dear ;and God bless you his
[is] My prary [prayer]. From your faithful Harriet
Davies
Please le me know what time you are coming Saturday. William
Morgans is much better. Please give my kind love [to]
Brother Richards and Brother and Sister Hornsby.
29 February 1864 –
from David E. Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
4 Mount
Pleasant Square, Carnarvon, February 29th
1864
Elder F. D. Hughes
Dear brother, I feel to enjoy the present opportunity in
penning you a few lines for just to keep one another in memory. And for me to
bid you farwell in your Single State
and also wish you good joy and long life in your new and intended State as you
are (if not) upon entering to it. I understand so by the information I receive
from your parents at Machynlleth. I was there some
three weeks ago. And they asked me who was your intended wife, and believe me
the question sounds very strange for nobody uttered a word to me before that
time, but still I thought nothing was impossible where there is
plenty of women. I understand its Sister H. Davies is your intended, for your
parents said she was a Dress maker. Then I thought it was she was the person.
Well, I feel to say God bless you both for ever, and indeed brother Hughes
believe me I feel – and say so – from the depth of my heart.
I often call at your parents house and they do great [greet]
me very kindly and your Grandmother is very ______[illegible] for me to sit
with her in her sitting room most of the time when I am again there. And they
do bless me with an escelant food whenever I go
there-and willing to take it. The time before last I was there they had either
8 or 9 pigs. And I asked both your father and mother how many was Francis going
to have, and Maama said if you marry you should have
one for to have some bacon on the road be going to the vallies.
I suppose you have heard by this time bout the death of poor old brother Edward
Davies of Machynlleth. IF David have not write you saw it in the Star. I sent it to the Star that all
of his old acquintence may see it for the old brother
was in his time, a very important old pilgrim. I am glad to say the old sister
feels pretty well after him. I beleave there is no
prospects for them to emigrate this Season. But they intend surely of going
next season. I beleave brother and sister
Barker from Llanidloes is going this season. You see
by that some of the North Saints intend accompanying you. As ______ how I would
if I could ______for that is ______desire of my heart for over the years, but
old Babylon
_______ The Lord knows what is best for me, and I am in the hands [of] his
beloved servants. I conclude now with kind love to yourself and brother E. A.
Richards in which Bro. Wylett joins me. Praying God
to ___ you dayly untill you
reach our dear mountain home and forever. __________ please give my best
respects to brother Hopkins and family and to all the
Saints under your watchcare, especially the intended
sister Hughes. I remain dear Bro. Hughes yours very truly, David E. Jones.
No date – from D.
Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
[First part is missing. The letter is signed “D. Hughes” but
appears to have been written by Francis David Hughes’ mother.] Plese to tell
Catherine Anne that her Grandmother sends her kind love to her and how glad she
should be to see her happy face beautiful and [pretty?], no doubt she is. She
also sends her best love to her dear daughter Harriet and should have being
[been] glad to have seen her. She hopes that she is quite [well?] and happy.
She will be sure to send our Card de visites if we
all live next summer. I should have sent them this summer, but your father has
been very ill. He has had the Erisifelas. Two Doctors
was attending him. You should never know him. His head has being [been] as big
as a great pot, but he has got pretty well now and there is only a man coming
here for a few months in the summer but has gone away now. Tell Harriet that
she will be sure to have them. I hope that you will send us yours, although we
are so long answering your letters. We hop you won’t take us for an example as
we are most happy to hear from you and hope and beg that you will answer this
as soon as possible. I beg of you to do so. We shall be looking anxiously for
an answer. Don’t be long. Susan Thomas has being [been] married this last few
weeks to John Davies that keeps a shop over the way. She was daughter of John
Thomas Druggist. He died a few months ago. Also David Owen Jones and his wife
are dead. Your Aunt William Hughes’ wife is dead. We have had a very beautiful
hot summer. Everything very fruitful. Mary Reese
daughter of the Skives Arms is keeping the Goat Public House at Towyn making a good living. Give us a little of your own
account when you write, what you are doing and wether
you have your health. I should like to know if you sowed the seeds you took
with you from here and if they produced well. Let me know if there is any
little thing you should like to have from us. We could send it with them people
from Dinas if they will be coming in the spring. And
now my dear children I must now conclude with my very much love to you all from
your very affect Father and Mother. D. Hughes.
12 January 1864 –
from Anne Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth, Jan the 12, 1864
My Dear Brother,
We received your kind letter today and was
very glad to hear that you enjoy your health the same as we do here at present.
Grandmother [I] am glad to tell you is much better than when I last wrote to
you, but she still continues very weak and helpless, but she gets out of bed a
little every day. We are all very sorry that you can’t make it convenient to
come to Machynlleth before you go away. We was in hopes we should see you, but as you say it’s very
expensive to travel. But we shall hear from you again before you go away.
Grandmother sends her kind love to you and says she would like to see your wife
when you get one. We are all very happy to hear that you are going to have a
wife, if you have picked a modest and sensible young woman. I hope in your next
letters we shall have all particulars concerning her, for your news mentioned
her name and occupation in this. I suppose it’s not Miss Davies, that
dressmaker you were talking about. But who ever she is give her my kindest love
and tell her we should all be very happy to see her and would make of her as if
she was one of ourselves. Tell her I should like very
much to come to the wedding to act as bridesmaid. I have nother
particular to tell you now. They are very busy here laying down the gas pipes
so we shall be very smart here by and bye. So I must conclude for the present
hoping to hear from you very soon. With much love to you and your
intended. Believe me to remain
Your affect, Sister
18 May [1864] – from
Mother to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth, May 18
My Dear and Beloved Son,
It is with dep [deep] and Harfelt [heartfelt] sorrow that I pen these few and formal
well lines to you. I can’t Express to you mi [my] gref
[grief] when I think that I Shant nevear
set my Eyes on your face anney more. It is all most more than I can Bare. But I hope that you Rech [reach] youar jorneys end well, Safe and hapy
and that you may Enjoy menny
long and hapy years in youar
new home. Youar Luthar is Sorrowfull for to lose you all together in this World By Goin so far. He Sends his Evar lasting Love to you and youar
much Loved Wife and hopes you may Enjoy Each other Company for menny hapy years. Give my much
Love to my Daught By Law and
By Love and tell her that I should much loved to have had her By me to live and
Begin her new Life. But I hope you will Be a comfort to Each other
;by Livin a Life of Love and Religion. Nevar forget us in youar praying.
Pray for us allways on Evary
day as I do for you. I am thinking of you Every Houar
in the Day and Shall for Evar. Do not forget to
Wright to me at Evry opertunity.
It will Be All the Confor
that I shall have in this World. Let me know how youar
side is now and have you senfard [suffered] much from
it Sence you Left. We have Enjoyed Som[e] of poor Jones is [Jones’s] company this few Days. I
am all ways so Glad to see him. But Shall
see him no more I am Sorry to say. But at the saem
time as very glad that he is to Bare you Company. I think he will Be a Gret Confort
to you. Be Shour to Wright me a line from Liverpool. All ouar naibors send much Love to you and youar
wife and a happy Jorney. I will Get
youar sister to Wright to you. I Don’t
know if you answard her Lettar
from Swansy. Good By, Good By, my Evar
Loving Childern.
Mother
15 October 1865 –
from [his father] to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Dear Frank,
We are very sorry that we have being [been] so long
answering both your letters and at the same time very glad to hear that you and
your wife arrived safe at your destination. You gave us great pleasure of the
glowing discriptioin of your travels through North
America, especially Detroit with its beautiful villas and the route from there
to Wyomi[ng] and that you
have being [been] such an experet fisherman on the
banks Le Plat[te]. But did you catch anything equal
to the eel you caught when you and I was fishing at Dolgan.
But I don’t quite agree with you that your vegetables are so far superior to
our own in Europe. Now a little bit of oour own affairs; we have to inform you that your sister
Anne was married on the fourth of March last to one Robert Jones, Stone Mason
by trade. A very steady sensible young man, and they live at Dolgelly ;and they both send their kind love to you and
your wife and child and we are happy to tell you that we are quite well in
health and having away at the old business of gardening as much more extensive
than ever. And your Grandmother is still alive but very feeble and sends her
kind love to you all. We could fill a sheet of paper in naming every incident
that happened here since you left. Miss Peese the
Goat is married to Mr. David Evans, Tanner, son of Morten.
The family at the Skinners Arms are quite well and
wishes to be kindly remembered to you. I was at Llanfair last and your Uncle
and Aunt and all the family wishes to be kindly remembered to you. Your cousin
John Hughes is here now from California.
He has being [been] nere now this last two months but
intends going back to America
in the Spring. I think that he has made enough money
to live upon. You mentioned something in your last letter about the Griffiths but they had
left here a long while. We all wish to be kindly remembered to them all, also
to all of Evan Arthur’s family.
21 October 1867 –
from John J. Davies/Ieuan Ddu
to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Alltwen, Pontardawe
October 21st 1867
Dear Brother and Sister,
Your kind letter Dated September 19th 1867, came to hand last Wednesday, and we were very glad to
have it. We wrote to you before about a fortnight ago, and it was rather a hard
letter, because you have been so long without answering our letter. But if it
will heart [hurt] your feelings we hope you will forgive us for writing so
hard, and please do not forget to write regular from this time out. We are
happy to say that we are all enjoying good health at present and hoping that
you are the same. We were very glad to have the likenesses of Harriet and the
little children, mother and your sisters were kissing them dearely.
And you may be satisfied that we will come [keep?] them safe for your sake.
Please to send next the liknesses of yourself l(Francis) with those of your land, cattle, sheep dog and
the cat, ,so we may have the whole family. Your little Kitty and Catherin Lake
are very much alike as every body say, and so are Eliza Hughes and Ann Lake.
In our next letter you shall have the likeness of mother and perhaps others of
the family.
Elen is staing
[staying] here with us during this week, as she was very poorly. But she is
getting better, and intend[s] to return to service
tomorrow. And she was very much disappointed seeing there was nothing said
about her in your letter, and she do think that you do
quite forget her. Mother wish to say that you shall know in our next letter
when we intend to come over to Zion, and she beg of you to pray for her to have
faith as she is afraid that she will die on the way. I wish to know for myself
if you could assist us to emigrate together as I know that we cannot come over
on our own expence; we cannot get so much money for
the hous[e] as will pay for the passages of the whole
family, and I may tell you that you shall not see one without the others.
Rachel Gibbs, and James Davies family were very glad to hear
from Mary and Eliza, and they are much satisfied and very thankful to you for
your kindness towards them. Please tell Mary and Eliza to send over their
likenesses by the first convenience. Mother, Elizabeth, Elen,
Angharad and Anne write with me to send to you all
(especially the little children) our kind love and best respects, hoping that
you will not neglect to write back regular from this time out; we want to have
at least a letter every two months and so you shall have from us. I want to
know what you think of the new sect 0 the Strangs [Strangites], the followers of young Joseph. I would be very
glad to have a few words on that matter. So now I conclude, hoping to see you
again in this world. Your Brother, John J. Davies/ Ieuan
Ddu
5 June 1868 – from
Anne Hughes Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth
June 5th 1868
Dear Children,
After a long delay we write these few lines to you in hopes
you are quite well as we are at present. We were very glad to have Harriet and
the little girls portraits. They look so nice. The
next time I shall write I will send you Anne’s portrait, her husband and her
little boy, a very nice child, 14 months old. His name is David. We were very
glad to hear that you are coming on so well and building houses. We should be
very glad to see your new house. Every thing is going on very bad here. The
Railway has ruined our business. They bring all sorts of Vegetables from England for
nothing hardly. We should like to change our quarters if we were a little
younger. Father wants to know how far they have pushed the Railway through the
Rocky Mountains and does it run through Utah
Territory and how far is it from the Great
Salt Lake City.
And let us know in your next letter about the fruit and fish and different
things you have got in
your country and do you increase much in populatioin
in your large city. Mother wrote a letter to you about a week before she had
yours. I suppose both letters were travelling at the same time. You know Tom
Richards at Dolgelly. He as married a young woman the
very picture of Harriet and a very nice woman. She is little. David, Anne’s
boy, is the very picture of Eliza, your youngest child, a very fine strong boy.
Now I must give you a little news. Jane Williams Skinners Arms is married to
Jim Nicholls land is keeping a Public House at Corris.
All the rest are single. Mr. and Mrs. Williams and Hugh sends
their kind love to you. Poor Lewis Jones, the Boot, is dead. Kate and Jane are
still single. Mrs. Jones and the family are well. Old Rowland Hugh the Barricks is dead and Aunt Margaret Thomas Derventas and Kitty Pugh, William Pugh’s wife, is dead, and
a great many. I could fill my letter up if I was to name them all. Do they
print newspapers in your place now? If they do we should be very glad if you
would send us one occasionally. Old butcher Nagwyddol
and his daughters are alive. They wish to be kindly remembered to you, and Evan
Arthur’s family. They are both very helpless. Anne is as bad as the old man.
Catherine James kindly remembers to Cathy Arthur and she has not kept her
promise with her. She has grown a fine girl now. She promised to send for
Catherine Shary Goch
Uncle’s daughter. You know her. Tell Catherine Anne that her Grandmother sends
her best love to her. I suppose she has grown a fine girl by this time. Tell
her that I keep the lock of hair and the piece of silver very careful that she
sent me in hopes I shall see her in this country. There is nothing I should
like so much as to see you all. If we don’t meet here I hope we shall all meet
together in heaven. My dear Brother let me know if your country is a good place
for Stone Cutters such as my husband is and builders. He is a master Builder now.
He is a very sober steady man. He never drank a glass of anything intemperance
in his life. He does not know the taste of it at all. When he works a day 4/ he
gets. But he makes more when he takes a job. Perhaps I shall come there before
long. Only I am afraid to cross the Sea. Hugh Go kindly remembers to the
Arthurs and should be very glad to have a letter from them. Hugh Go is a Saint
still in his heart. I am very sad to tell you dear Brother that Father is very
ill. He has not being [been] well for nearly two years. He has hardly done
anything for 18 months. Indeed, he looks very bad, but he wished me to tell you
he was well, as he did not like to make you uneasy. Mother is not at all well
now. I must beg of you dear Brother to write back by return of post if possible
and I shall never be so negligent in writing again. Mother wants you to send
your proper Address as we don’t know very well where to Address
your letters. I am glad to tell you dear Brother that I and my husband and
child are quite well and kindly remembers to dear
Harriet, yourself and my dear little nieces. I still live at Dolgelly. Be sure dear Frank to write back as soon as ever
you can, I beg of you once more. This from your dear Father,
Mother, and Sister David & Catherine Hughes and Anne Jones. Mother send a lock of her hair turning grey for dear Harriet.
17 April 1869 – from Catherine
Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth
Apr. 17/69
My Dear Children, Can’t tell you
how glad I was to Receve youar
kind but Sorrowfull letter. I morn for her, for I See
her Sweet Pretty face Before me Every day. She was a
dear Little Lamb, But not to[o] good to go to God Who gave her to you for a Little Seson. I know how hard it is to part with them for I have
had that to part with more than one. But that is nothing to what I have had to Suffar now, for I can hardly Bare to think that I have Lost
youar Poor _______. And in so short time for all he
was not well for a Long time. But I still thought that he was going to leve me so Soon poor dear Saul. I hope the good Lord has murcey on his Poor Soul. That has Been
my greatest Sorrow to think that he was took a way So Seden
[sudden]. But I may say Like you that I have had some Satifachion that he is happey and
Bettar of[f] than he was hear. You asked me to tell
you what he sayed When he
came from the Station. He was about some Littil time aftar he Came home. He came in
from the door and said that he had Bad Pain in his Side Like in the hart. And
Went next door for a drop of Brandy, But he Was no Bettar for some time. Mr. Loyd
Put Mustard to his side, But it was all ovar in so Little time that Mr. Loyd could
not Bleve [believe] Mrs. Williams When She Sayd that he was ___________. He did not Say Eney thing onley that he was very
Bad. I have been very poorley
my self for a Long time, But am Littlil
Bettar now. I Should have Wretin to you Befor now onley I was Waiting to See how [who] would By this House
and Garden. All this Property has Been Sold. Greffith
Williams the Skinars Arms has Boat [bought] this
House and his one and David Jones the Cook shop Boat [bought] the Garden, so I
don’t know Whare I Sahll
be, for this House Will Be more Rent Then I can pay.Thay
Want me to keep it if I can pay for it. Ann and her husband and the Littil Boys are Well and send much
Love to you all. Robert is a good Mason, Plenty of Work. He is a Good Sober
Man. He gets 24 When he Works by the Week, But he
takes Some Jobs then he Gets more. He Says that he
Should Like to Emegrate if he had Plenty of Money. He
may Some time. You ask me Would
I come to you. I don’t sem
[seem] to Care much Ware [where] I Go, onley it Semes to me that I am Geting old.
So _________ fare but I am thankful to you and Harriet for youar
very kind afar [offer]. But I may come Some time. We Should all Be so Glad to See you hear, but I am afraid it
Will Bee a Long time Before we Shall, My Dear Boy. You want to know my
Circumstances. I can tell you that I have not got one penny. But What I can Earn and if I could not get a House in the Front of the
Street I don’t know.
13 September 1870 –
from Francis David Hughes to Harriet and Elen Hughes
– Transcription
Sacramento
Wednesday, Sept. 13th 1870
My Dear Wives,
It is with great pleasure, I take this opportunity of
answering your kind letter baring [bearing] the date of the 4th
instant. I am thankful to learn that the Sick baby is still improving and that
the balance of you are enjoying moderate health.
Things in the Shop have took quite a different aspect, Sinc[e]
I wrote Sunday last. The Boss had given his estimate on a large hotel belonging
to a rich Banker. He had the job. It was to be comenced
this week (it was about three times as big as Townsend hotel). Monday morning I supose he recived a note not to proceed with the job.
Prospects are so bad that the man don’t feel like having it done, Owing to
Sudden Changes in the financial Circles. It is astonishing what a check the
Surrender of Napoleon and McMahon has given this Country. California is like a Check Board influenced
by every move that takes place among other nations. You can easy form an idea
of the inhabitants of this Country from the verry
fact that the majority of them have come here to make money. If this job had
went on we would have
steady work for two months at least. But this morning the boss Stopt [?] men told us to be careful of our cash, that work
was going to be verry scarce. He only had a couple of
jobs and would share it a couple of days each for next week. After I left the
shop as I was walking down Sixth
Street, I met a young man who told me that his
mother wanted to see me. I went to her house which is a large elegant building,
something like Fred Walker’s house. She is a German lady, a Widow and verry rich. She owns lots of Stores and other buildings. I
had been doing a little painting there for the boss. I done a good clean job
and she believes that I am a very goot painters (as she calls it).
8 December 1870 –
from Harriet Davies Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Salt Lake City
December 8, 1870
My Dear Husband,
We Received your letter this
evening and we are happy to learn that you are well. We hope that you will be
able to come home Christmas. You stated in your letter that you wanted to know
if we would aprove of for you to act mean to Jarman. No, my Dear husband, we do not. We are teached to pay good for evil. If he has acted mean to you
he will have his reward, for if we would advise you to act a gentleman to him
and do what you promise him. You had the things. Keep them and pay him for them
hounorable. That will have more afact
[effect] upon him then if you was to act any other
way. And you shall see that and you will feel better your selfe
and [the] Lord will bless you. He has wrote to his wife that you since left him
and that you did not beleved him about the money and
that he felt very lonely without you. She came hear yesterday and tould us about it. She felt very bad about it. We pertended not now [know] any thing
about it. She said that William promeste to
give you half of it and she said that she new [knew] that he would not range
Brother Hughes for the world. She is very kind to us. She wanted me to go with
her to the party last Monday night. It was womans
party. I would have like to go but Elen was satisfaid so I did not go. She want
my Dear husband prahaps you better make it right with
you feel better because you cannot prove it. If people would know of it very
likely they would beleved him, and think that [you]
wanted him to keep money for you to have share of it and could prove that you
was the dishonest man. But pray to God to bless you with his Spirit that you
may have wisdom and be lead to do right. Mary Gibbs is
married a week ago last Monday to erdle man in
second. He is tidy man. He leves [lives] down by whare she leves. They ware heare this week. We are prouod
that you got clothes. Do not sell them if you can helpet
[help it]. Bring the tick of the matrass with you.
You can throw the straw away. Tray [try] and bring all you got and your pillows
because we need all of them. If you can bring them let us know what have you
got and thand we will tell you what to bring if you
can bay [buy] a cheap looken glass tray and you one
you can put between your clothes thare nothing wear
for you to shave . When a man dress like a gentleman we are afraid that we
won’t be able to know Mr. Hughes [when] he come home.
1 December 1872 –
from Anne Hughes Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Sunday afternoon
Dec. 1st 1872
My dear Brother,
My mother sent me your letter yesterday, and I was very glad
to hear that you are still among the land of the living, for indeed I had
almost thought you lost as you have being [been] so negligent in writing to
what you always used to be. But I hope very much you will write very often for
the future, for you must think that poor Mother was very anxious about you
although she ________ she as [has] gone through, she is always very quiet. I
was very glad to hear that you oand your family are
in the enjoyment of good health, the same I am thankful to tell you we are all
here at the present time. I should be very glad to see you my dear Brother for
once whatever, but there is little prospect that we shall ever meet again this
side of the grave. My Husband says he should like to see you very much and
wishes to be kindly remembered to you and all your family. He is a very steady
man. He never tasted anything intoxicating in his life and is always very quiet
and kind and always in good work. And I think that I am very lucky that I have
had such a good [husband] and I am sure I can say without a doubt that he is a
Christian. I have two children. The eldest is David Jones and will be six years
old next April and the youngest has just thrned three
the seventh of November. Her name is Anne Catherine. Little David talks a great
deal about you and says you are his brother and when
he comes a man he will come to America
to see you. He goes to Machynlleth very often and
says there for 2 or 3 months, and then Mother used to tell him many little
stories about you and so he is very familiar in his talk about you and he says
to the children about here that his name is not David Jones but David Francis.
He is a very good little boy and will make every errand I want him. He says he
should be very glad to see his cousins. They have both gone to the Sunday School now with their father. They go every Sunday and get
little tracts there of which they think a great deal. I hope you will send us
your portraits all, and I shall be sure to send you ours before long. Give my
love to all the family of Evan Arthur. I have nothing in particular to write to
you at present, but I hope you won’t be long before writing back. And I will
write a letter to you again if I live. I dare say you know that I live at Dolgelly all the time and I am going to send this letter to
Mother and she will enclose it in [with] hers. Be sure to give my kind love to
all your family, they are too numerous to mention, and accept the same yourself
from your affect sister, Anne.
12 December 1872 –
Catherine Hughes to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Machynlleth
Dec. 12th /72
My Dear Franck,
I can’t tell you how glad I was to Receive
your letter. I began to think that I never should hear from you and that Some thing had happened to you as there is so menney tales going about that all the Saints were drove out
of Salt Lake and that Brigham Young was in
prison and that the town was full of Soldiers. Such frightful
news. It mad[e] me that I could not sleep in my Bed of Night for
thinking of you and all the poor Children that was in that place. Pray let me
know all about that. I have meney times thought of
Mrs. ________ to the Post office to ask them if they could let me know Enney thing about you. I hope you will not be so long this
time. Let me know what you do now. Do you work at your trade or not. And do you
get good pay for work. Now Every thing is very dear
hear [here] now. But thare is Better Pay than ust [used] to be. Give my kind Love [to] all your family
and tell Katy that I want to see her much. She would make me such nice Littil Companie to go of arants [errands] and clen [clean]
the House for me. The Dear faces that I have hear I often look at them. You
wanted to hear [of] the old frends hear [here]. Hugh
Ellis is still at Swansey whare
you Left him. Thare are 2 of Mrs. Jones, Boot, sons
in America
– Lenns and Robert. Thomas [and?] bro. lives [?] in London in high Places.
John is a _____ with Dr. Loyd. Katan
[Katherine] Jones at _____[?] Lane, the Skin and her
Husband are gon[e] to America. Griffith is maried
and got 2 Children. Bill is a Painter.They all send kind Rembrence to you. Much
Love to you My Dear Boy. C. Hughes.
10 July 1874 – from
Anne Hughes Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Dolgelly
Friday night, July 10th 1874
My very dear Brother,
I am quite surprised at you not answering the letter I and
poor mother wrote to you such a long time ago, and you promised so faithfully
to correspond with us, and you did not even answer our letters. Indeed, my dear
brother, I think it most ungrateful of you not to write to poor mother, for you
must consider her age 66 or 67 years old to be left destitute and forlorn in
the wide world for your safe [?] and you ought to think about her. Poor thing,
for she is near to you as she is to me, but I am thankful to tell you that poor
mother shall never be in want as long as my husband has health and strength to
work. And I am thankful to say he is very prosperous so far. He takes larger
buildings of his own. He has a great job now at Barmoth,
a gentleman’s house. He earns 30/ ever[y] week, and I am glad to tell you that
I am very comfortable. A kind jobs _____[?]
industrious husband and this is all the world to me. I have been at Machynlleth now for a month as my poor Mother’s health is
now very feeble, but somehow her mind is so attached to that old place that she
cannot very easy leave it, although my husband has told her several times that
she has no need to work there to pay such high rent. 13£ is not reasonable for
an old woman of her age to pay, but my dear brother you would be very much
surprised to see dear mother, how haggard and old she looks, especially after
my poor Aunt Anne, Llanfair, has died. She died the 12 of last May and my poor
Mother has altered a great deal Since then. And now I
am going to beg of you to write a word of comfort to her in her distress. If
she will be alive to receive it she would be so happy to have a word from
Frank, and oh my dear brother I beg of you to write to her whatever you do. I
hope my dear brother that you and your family are well and happy. Give our best
love to them, and I should be most happy to see you all. I have 3 little
children – little David, 7 years old, & Catherine 4 ½ and little Robert 1 ½
years old, and I am 28 since last 11th March and my husband
________[illegible words]. You can address it either to my mother or to Robert
Jones Mason near the Weslyan Chapel. Your affect Sister Anne.
21 September 1883 –
from Anne Hughes Jones to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Dolgelly
September 21st 1883
My Dear Brother,
I cannot express my feelings of joy and happiness when I
received your letter, as I thought many years now that you were not in the land
of living, as you had been so negligent in writing. Although you say that
letters have been sent I’ve never seen one of them, but I have sent you two or
three from Machynlleth, but never received an answer.
So you see that this is your mistake somewhere, but I am very sorry to inform
you your dear Mother is no more on this earth. She often used to talk about you
and wonder if you lived, but always came to the conclusion that you had been
either killed by Indians or by some foul play or you would be sure to write to
her. But she had never had a word from you these many years now [?] _____. But,
poor Mother had everything to comfort her. My husband was very kind to her. She
took Robert more as a child, oh, he was ___________[illegible
words] everything on this side the grave __________[illegible words]. You will
see that he has written you a few pages in Welsh. I hope you have not forgotten
your language in that distand land. I should be very
glad to see and your family. My family consists of Robert Jones, myself and six
children. The oldest will be 17 next April. His name is David Jones. Next is 14 next November. Her name is Anne Catherine Jones. Next
is Robert Jones ________[illegible words] 11 years
old. Also Edward Oliver Jones. The next April 1st
he will be 7 years old. My next is Mary Jones, 5 years old last April and my
youngest was one year old the 10th of last August. So I give you a
brief sketch of my life. I have a very good and kind husband working for
himself now since many years and we are pretty well to do. I would be very glad
if you will acknowlege my letter and a little of your
history and ___________[illegible words] give my kind
love to y our family and children. Be sure to write ____[illegible]
by return as I shall be expecting to hear from you, as you are the only true
family on earth, so be sure to write dear brother and let me know everything
concerning you, and I will answer by return. I received the letter you sent
_____________[illegible words]. I am well. So goodbye my deaer brother.
Remember me kindly to Harriet and to all the rest and be sure to write by
return of post. I will be expecting to hear from you in about a month. Your dear and only sister, Annie.
21 September 1883 –
from Robert Jones to Francis David Hughes – Translation
Dolgelley
Sept 21st 1883
Dear Brother-in-law,
I received your letter and I was glad to receive it. This is
the first one I have ever received from you, and so you must forgive me for not
having written to you to give you some of the history of your mother. I am
sorry to inform you that in the year 1878 she fell on the stairs and hurt her
leg. She was in Machynlleth for a year in great pain.
One of us was there all the time with her, and we came to the decision that it
would be better for her here in Dolgellau. And at the
end of 1879 I went there to request that she come back with me, and she came
quite willingly. And so your mother lived with us for two years very happily,
but her leg was nearly always quite bad. In the year of 1881 she suffered a
very heavy stroke of the palsy. But she was able to speak to the end, so it was
easy to see that she was sinking each day. At the end of nine days it was easy
to see that the salvation of her soul was weighing on her mind. Thus Saturday
night when I went to her room her eye was upon me with some kind of
electrifying effect that tongue cannot describe. So I asked her if something
was weighing on her mind _________[3 or 4 illegible
words]. [She asked] me to close the door. I did so and then asked her if she
was afraid to die. “Yes, my boy,” was the answer. I said that Jesus was out
abundant Savior. She asked me if I though He would receive her. Dear brother, I
cannot go any further with the conversation we had because of my _________[two illegible words]. Suffice it to say that when she and
I were in the midst of earnest prayer she shouted, “That’s enough, dear Robert!
The Rock of Ages is beneath my feet and the heat [“lightning” is the literal
meaning of mellt]
in my blood is going out, and Jesus Christ is embracing my faith.” And I am
happy to inform you that she did not lose sight of Him while she was on this
side of the river. Thus your dear mother died rejoicing in the Lord, May 27th
1881. I am happy to inform you that she received everything that could be done
for her temporally and spiritually. I must finish now and beg you to overlook
the errors of the above lines, for the reason that my thoughts are confused
when I try to put them on paper.
[In English] This is written from your faithful
brother-in-law Robert Jones. Address: Robert Jones, Builder, South Street, Dolgelly.
15 December 186_ –
from Margret Jenkins to Francis David Hughes – Transcription
Pentyrch, De[c] the 15, 186_
Dear Brother in the Lord. In answer to your letter wich [which] I received som[e]
time ago I wright these few linds [lines] to you in hop[e] that you are quit[e]
well in health and spirits as I am. Thank God for this mersy
[mercy] towards us as his pepel [people]. I hop[e]
you will forgiv[e] me for delaying wrighting Back to you. The resun [reason] was I did not indeed [?] com[e] to the
conclusion wether [whether] I would com[e] to Neath
on Crismas [Christmas] or not. But I won’t be able to
com[e] an[d] I thought as the confranc [conference] bein[g] so near you may wish to hav[e]
a little nus [news]. We had
an exelant [excellent] confranc
[conference]. We had Bros Bigler & Jeremy present
an[d] the Sprit [Spirit] of God was pourd dound [down] abundantly upon us & we had confranc [conference] on Monday night an[d] we did enjoy
ourselves very much indeed. Sister Coslat is here
an[d] she do wright to yo[u] allso. Plese
to wright Back By return of post an[d] pass By my imperfection
in wrigh[ting]
this leter. Catherine Jenkins wishis to be remembered to you and the sam[e]
from me miny [many] times over. I hav[e] no more nuse
[news] to tell you. But good By. God bless you.
Margret Jenkins.
[1864] – from Francis
David Hughes to Harriet Davies – Transcription
[Missing the first page – this letter to Harriet appears to
have been written from Machynlleth]
…something. Mother promised this
morning that she would give me the bags. So that will save a good bit. I have
nothing of importance to tell you this time. I hope that you will write to me
by return of post that I may have something to amuse myself in this strange
place. For I am like a fish out of water here, now all my old friends have
gone, one here and one there. The Saints have gone to the Vallies
except two or three. So I miss the society of my dear Harriet and my friends in
the South. I don’t think I shall stay here long. I am quite tired of this old
country. And I feel to thank the Lord more than ever for the happy and glorious
prospect that I have of going to Zion
this spring with the Saints of God. Dear Harriet, be a good girl and pray the
Lord to bless you and me that we may always be ______ [friends] while we live
upon this earth. With kind love praying God to bless you, I Remain your true
and Sincere friend, Francis D. Hughes.
Francis D. Hughes, Mr David
Hughes, Machynlleth, Mongomery
Shire
