Richard Bale Letter, 1865

I love this letter from my 3rd great grand father, Richard Bale, sent from England to his oldest brother, Israel, in Utah.  The main reason I love it is because of the way he wrote - he obviously learned to write phonetically, because you can hear his rich accent as you read his terribly misspelled but captivating letter.  I can almost hear his voice as I read it!  It is difficult to decipher, however, so I also included a corrected and edited letter.  This letter was part of a transcript of the "History of the Bale Family" found at the DUP museum, SLC, Utah USA.  The original owner of the letter and its whereabouts are unknown.

Letter from Richard Bale to his brother and sister-in-law, Israel and Emma G. Bale, dated 21 Dec 1865, from Whitwick England to Nephi, Utah, USA:

Dear brother and sister,

            I now take my pen in hand to right a few lines unto you hopeing to find you all well as it leave of hour welfare.  it is some time since you had a letter from me.  it’s not that I have annything against you but I have not had the sprite of righting until this morning at 6 i commenced to right.  i feel that i would like a letter from you.  i ham thinking of amagration and have to get away this spring.  i have not the means at present.  i have lent John Ward too pounds 10 of my money and hav three pounds 3 left. i whould like you to mension it to them if you see anny of them.  i dont doubt but they will send it.  i whould be very glad if you could do something for me if it be little or try to borro a little and i will pay back to them again as surre as i can.  things has not been that i could get it.  i have not been in very good gets.  we have had a verry bad summar and when we get a little more it as took it to make up for the bad times and tosed about in my work.  Now I have a prety good place of work now.  So if they will fetch the coal we shall do very well i think.  we hare trying to get stret [straight] as fast as we can so that if circomstance so are we may not have annything to stop us.  So much on me and mine hare right side up at present wich i feel thankful for i ham still the same now as when you ware heare with a little progecion.  things hare moving on prety well amongst the saints hear.  our meetings hear well atented and i think members will be increast.  Sis Freeston is ded.  Wee followed her to the grave.  she was a great sufferer and misses martha [this may refer to Martha Clifford Vickers, Sarah Miller Bale’s aunt] died very suddening.  i sent you a newspaper with her deth in and too more.  send word if you got them.  the first i sent was on the 26 of October.  We hare pretty well of for clothing so we should not hav much clothing to buy.  My daughter is getting a fine gairl. [Louisa, born 28 Sep 1864, in Whitwick]  she is about 15 months hold.  she can run about the house isely [easily] an she can chatter a little.  i think thear no mor on the road yet that i no of [anti-Mormon mobs?]but i want to get away for fear there should be. sarah and the little one hare gon to the harmtage [The “Hermitage” was in nearby Coalville and was like a rest home for the elderly and disabled.] to day to her hants [aunts] to prepare for Chrismas.  We hare going to have a tea party on Chrismas Day.  Me and my young brethren and sisters hare going out on Christmas Eve a singing, all being well.  ruben Fowler wife as got daughter.  i saw yor brother emanuel last night and wife, they was well.  they have son i did not know, Thomas [Emanuel’s first son’s name was Joseph, not sure where “Thomas” came from].  i should right so sone or they might have sent a line or two in it.  Father and Mother and all are well at present and sends thear love to you both.  Hyrum senses he shall come this spring.  i saw Emas farther and mother [Emma Goddard Bale’s parents, Lewis and Elizabeth Goddard]. . .as had one of his eyes took out and he’s suffering from the afect of it.  he is poorly at present.*  they seem rather cast down about it.  Selley gets a fine gairl.  they send thear love to you and like a letter from you.  louisa as not been hable to right of late.  right back as sune as you can. 

Your afectionate Brother and Sister. 

Richard and Sarah Bale. 

Richard Bale, Whitwick, near the Church.

[*Lewis Goddard died the next year, according to the Free BMD Death index.]

Below is an edited copy of the above letter for better clarification:

21 Dec 1865

Dear Brother and Sister,

            I now take my pen in hand to write a few lines unto you hoping to find you all well as you leave of our welfare.  It is some time since you had a letter from me.  It’s not that I have anything against you, but I have not had the spirit of writing until this morning; at 6 [a.m.] I commenced to write.  I feel that I would like a letter from you.

            I am thinking about emigration and have to get away this Spring.  I have not the means at present.  I have leant John Ward two pounds, 10 of my money and have three pounds left.  I would like you to mention it to them, if you see any of them.  I don’t doubt but they will send it.  I would be very glad if you could do something for me, if it be a little, or to try to borrow a little, and I will pay back to them again, as sure as I can.  Things have not been that I could get it. 

I have not been in very good gets.  We have had a very bad summer, and when we get a little more, it has taken it to make up for the bad times, and tossed about in my work.  Now, I have a pretty good place of work now..  So, if they will fetch the coal, we shall do very well, I think.  We are trying to get straight [out of debt] as fast as we can, so that if circumstances so are, we may not have anything to stop us [from emigrating].  So much on me and mine are right side up at  present, which I feel thankful, for I am still the same now as when you were here with a little progression.

Things are moving on pretty well amongst the Saints here.  Our meetings are well attended, and I think members will be increased. 

Sis. Freeston is dead.  We followed her to the grave.  She was a great sufferer. And Mrs. Martha [may refer to Martha Clifford Vickers, Sarah Miller Bale’s aunt, who helped to raise her] died very suddenly.  I sent you a newspaper with her death in [it], and two more.  Send word if you got them.  The first I sent was on the 26^th of October.  We are pretty well off for clothing, so we should not have much clothing to buy [for the emigration].  My daughter [Louisa] is getting [to be] a fine girl.  She is about 15 months old.  She can run about the house, easily, and she can chatter a little. 

I think there [are] no more on the road yet, that I know of, but I want to get away for fear there should be. [Anti-mormon mobs?]

Sarah and the little one are gone to the Hermitage [a nearby home for the elderly and disabled] today to her aunt’s to prepare for Christmas.  We are going to have a tea party on Christmas Day.  Me and my young brethren and sisters are going out on Christmas Eve a-singing, all being well.  Ruben Fowler’s wife has got a daughter.  I saw our brother, Emmanuel last night, and wife – they were well.  They have a son I did not know, Thomas.  [Emmanuel’s first son’s name was Joseph; not sure where the name “Thomas” came from.]  I should write so soon, or they might have sent a line or two in it.

Father and Mother and all are well at present and send their love to you both.  Hyrum senses he shall come this Spring.  I saw Emma’s father and mother [Lewis and Elizabeth Goddard]. . .has had one of his eyes taken out and he’s suffering from the effects of it.  He is poorly at present [Lewis Goddard died the year after this letter was written].  They seem rather cast down about it.  Selley gets a fine girl.  They send their love and like a letter from you.  Louisa has not been able to write of late.  Write back as soon as you can.

                                                Your affectionate Brother and Sister,

                                                            Richard and Sarah Bale,

                                                            Whitwick, near the Church.