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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: snowflake on October 22, 2011, 02:16:30 PM
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This letter was sent from Duluth, MN on May 7th, 1896. I am having quite a time reading it! Some things I can't even make out! But at the top I think it says Duluth Day the 5. I thought maybe it was a date or something. When I tried a search I get nothing. Can anyone help with this. Is it just maybe the place? I'm confused. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
I see someone took the stamp off!
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Now that I have blown it up on the computer, I get it. I was looking at the letter and see when she writes her M's it is the same. OK I feel stupid now, Duluth, May the 5. :-[
Sorry
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Having deciphered much old writing I feel your pain. You did the right thing (or at least what I always do). Find similar letters elsewhere an figure out what the letter in question is.... If you cant find that letter then you can be pretty confident it is one of letter used less frequently....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_alphabet#Letter_frequencies
Usually works - Other times it's just frustrating! :D
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Thanks, Oceans. The writing gets worse each page!
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I think this person used the actual letter sounds,, not phoenetic spelling !! In the first pic the word nephews is spelled neffews !! Might help in figuring out the words to just say it !!
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NEAT! I have found that it gets more and more difficult to read the old letters the less I do it. I have a feeling that it is going to become much more difficult for younger generations who grew up reading very few handwritten letters. I have even heard that there are some schools that no longer teach cursive writing. I think it is going to be a lost art, with just a few scholars able to read it in a few generations.
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Thanks, mart and tales! There are many spelling errors. Not only that, the lines are all over the place on some places. I think you are right about not many people being able to read it in a few generations. Good thing, might be new occupations!
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Can you get a pic of the entire thing kind of close ?? Like your first pic ?? I would like to read it !! (If possible)
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Is the letter to someone in your family?
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The letter was written by my husbands great-great aunt to her sister-in-law. I'll get some pictures up later on tonight. It's a sad letter with her finding out about deaths of her family so late and asking about who is still alive or dead. Asking to be kept up to date. edit in bold.
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Actually that type of spelling was common in those days !! Letter sounds were taught and if it sounded that way,, thats how it was spelled !! Phoenetic spelling came along later I think !! And as was common many people had little formal schooling !!
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If you click it, you should get double the size (I think)
Part one:
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Continued:
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Last one:
(Now that I have blown it up on the computer it is much easier to read!)
Hope you can read it okay, if there is an area you can't, just let me know.
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Wow !! Those are so big I can`t even download them without crashing !! Guess I will pass on this one !!
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Sorry, mart. Maybe instead of clicking on them to enlarge. Just enlarge the whole web page. You can enlarge any web page by holding down your control button and hitting the + sign until it is the size you want. Make it smaller by using the control and - button. Sorry if you already knew this.
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I did not know that and thanks !! But it makes no difference when you are on dial up !! Computer will freeze when pics are out of size limits or there are too many !! We are kind of in the boonies !! Spo high speed is a bit expensive here !! Costs about $700. just for equipment !! Then around $70. monthly !! I just can`t see paying that for something to play with !!
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I'll type it for you in the next day or two.
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Dear sisters and nephews and nieces I take the (unknown) holy privilege
to (unknown) the letter which brought the sad news of my brothers
and sisters death but we must be reconciled to the will of God.
Dear Mary (unknown) you have to try and keep up for the
sake of the rest of the family - little I thought? it was the last
time I would see my poor Brother -when was out I buried my
younger girl 4 years ago the 28 of last January and I have no one
to do anything for me. I have no one but John and the 2 boys.
One of them Joseph is in the post office for the last eight
years. It was him that brought the letter to me when he came
home to dinner Saturday and he said it was in the post office for two weeks
and there is free delivery the mail is carried to the houses
twice a day but the address was not right.
We had not heard of the death of Johns mother until we heard
from you. I never heard from any of you since I was out there.
Thought you left the place. I have no one outside my family but you
and you have no one but me to write to you. See I can't write
at all for I cannot keep the line but the boys is at me
to write myself, that you would be more pleased to get it
and your poor sister (unknown) for Johns Mother.
She was old and did not have a good time the (unknown)
old lady. Let me know where she died and if the old man
is dead or not. let me know how many of your family is
married. If Patrick is married or not and let me know if
Bridget is living in (EDIT town) or not. It was too bad
poor Micheal I suppose had not any of his business
affairs settled at the time of his death but will not
(unknown) that this time when you write again let me know
all the particulars.
I will have a Mass said for poor Micheal we have the
Bishop and have three priests here all the time. There is
Catholic Churches and sisters school and sisters hospital here.
We? all the family join in sending our sincere sympathy
to you and all the family. I want you to write often and
let me know if (unknown person) bride is alive or not.
I have lots to say to you but I will close by sending our kind
love to you and if you have a picture of (unknown person)
send it to me. Excuse bad writing, I send you my love and all
the family (three unknown words) but remain your loving sister
Julia.
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I'll take a look later too but this:
It was too bad poor Micheal I suppose had not any of his business affairs settled at the time of his death but will not
(unknown) that this time when you write again let me know all the particulars.
It may be a run- on sentence and:
Will = mite (might)
Unknown = mention
Read as:
It was too bad poor Micheal I suppose had not any of his business affairs settled at the time of his death but (you) mite (might) not
mention that this time. When you write again, let me know all the particulars.
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Oceans, you're a gem! Thanks. Just not knowing a few words here and there drives me nuts! I really appreciate the help!
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I LOVE THE OLD HAND WRITING!!!!!!
My grandmother wrote this way....easy for me to read!
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My Grandfather had such lovely handwriting, I was shocked when I opened this letter, at first it was like reading another language! Once I had it up on the computer, I managed to get most of it. There is another letter in this house...somewhere! ;)
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Sorry I am piece mealing this as I take breaks...
"Dear sisters and nephews and nieces I take the (unknown) holy privilege
to (unknown) the letter which brought the sad news of my brothers
and sisters death but we must be reconciled to the will of God."
I think the second unknown is: answer
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Interesting, in that the letter is written on black bordered mourning stationary. Today, we’d grab a sympathy card at the store, and never give a thought to writing more than a couple of lines in condolence. The times (and people) certainly have changed.
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dont forget, you have to read it with that old Minnesota accent to get the whole feeling lol
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Thanks for the help with my letter! I had no idea this was mourning stationary either.
I have no idea how the accent would sound. Now I have to find out.
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OT but also have a funeral card that states a family members body will be leaving his brothers home and be going to a church for mass.
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Ok....I could be wrong...but I think I have the first unknown....
Dear sisters and nephews and nieces I take the MELAN CHOLY privilege
to answer (thx oceans) the letter which brought the sad news of my brothers
and sisters death but we must be reconciled to the will of God."
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Ok...now I'm HOOKED! I've put possibilities in red
Dear sisters and nephews and nieces I take the (unknown) holy privilege
to (unknown) the letter which brought the sad news of my brothers
and sisters death but we must be reconciled to the will of God.
Dear Mary (unknown) you have to try and keep up for the
sake of the rest of the family - little I thought? it was the last
time I would see my poor Brother -when was out I buried my
younger girl 4 years ago the 28 of last January and I have no one
to do anything for me. I have no one but John and the 2 boys.
One of them Joseph is in the post office for the last eight
years. It was him that brought the letter to me when he came
home to dinner Saturday and he said it was in the post office for two weeks
and there is free delivery the mail is carried to the houses
twice a day but the address was not right.
We had not heard of the death of Johns mother until we heard
from you. I never heard from any of you since I was out there.
Thought you left the place. I have no one outside my family but you
and you have no one but me to write to you. See I can't write
at all for I cannot keep the line but the boys is at me
to write myself, that you would be more pleased to get it
and your poor sister Maggye for Johns Mother.
She was old and did not have a good time the poorold lady.
Let me know where she died and if the old man
is dead or not.
I sent the old woman 25 dollars for her self
but I never knew whether she got it or not.
let me know how many of your family is
married. If Patrick is married or not and let me know if
Bridget is living in (EDIT town) or not. It was too bad
poor Micheal I suppose had not any of his business
affairs settled at the time of his death but will not
mention that this time when you write again let me know
all the particulars.
I will have a Mass said for poor Micheal we have the
Bishop and have three priests here all the time. There is
Catholic Churches and sisters school and sisters hospital here.
We? all the family join in sending our sincere sympathy
to you and all the family. I want you to write often and
let me know if (unknown person) bride is alive or not.
I have lots to say to you but I will close by sending our kind
love to you and if you have a picture of (unknown person)
send it to me. Excuse bad writing, I send you my love and all
the family A more (?) present but remain your loving sister
Julia.
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Nice work Bungalow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks! After all the investigating I did at the courthouse to find info on my home...all of the writing looked like that! Especially digging through all the wills! Holy smokes. It seems everyone who wrote anything in any of those old books all took cursive writing from the same teacher....for 100 years! haha
It was fun trying to decipher just what she was trying to say, even though the topic was quite sad.
Hope this helped out!
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Thanks all !! At least I could read it !! Hate dial up !! Sad letter but a part of a families history !!
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(((hugs))) Thank you so much! I can sleep now! I appreciate everyone's help more than you know!