Mary Ann Paulson (Masland) 1788-1869

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Mary Ann Paulson (Masland) 1788-1869

Princeton, New Jersey, March 31st 1848

To Mr. John Masland, Germantown, PA

“My Dear Son,

“Although some days have elapsed since I received your letter, at that time I was upon a bed of sickness which I have scarcely got over yet. I was confined to my bed for 5 days with an inflammation in the bowels. Mr. Thompson has received a letter from Washington stating they would attend to it in a few days. I was very glad that you had got work and hope it will continue and that you will do well. Elizabeth’s father was buried today. She goes to a situation at the Asylum on Monday at Trenton. I have heard from Henry today, his letter was Feb. 2nd, he was then well. I should like you to send me word if you have applied for or got a portion of that money as there seems to be a difficulty of getting it. The children’s clothes I will send upon next Saturday directed for you from Mrs. Thompson in care of Mr. Bloodgood. Sarah is well at present, so I must conclude with our love to you from your dutiful and appreciative mother, Mary Marsland.”

To John Masland, dated November 13th

“Dear son John,

“I send you these few lines to let you know that I am much better in health than when I last saw you and hope you and your family are enjoying the same blessing. Sarah and the children are well. I want to know if you have heard any word from Henry or Alfred or how he is getting along. I wish to hear from you all as soon as you can make it convenient to write and let me know how you are getting along. Give my love to your wife and children, one and all.

“So no more at present from your affectionate mother, Mary Marsland

“James and Sarah send their love to you and your family. Mary wants to see her uncle John and all her cozens. She talks about them very much and prays for them every night, in particular Cozen Sarah. She thanks her cozens for the presents they sent her.”

To John Masland, March 16th 1858

“My dear Son,

“I was glad to get your letter and hear that you were all well. I am sorry work is so scarce at this time, but hope it will become plenty soon. You are right to trust in the Lord, for he will never leave or forsake those who put their trust in him. I am pleased you have heard from James McEvoy and that they are comfortably settled. They have never mentioned Henry in their letters. When you write, tell them to tell very particularly about Henry. I have a cold just now, but hope soon to be quite well again. I trust I shall be able to do good to all these little ones now under my care. Our kind Heavenly Father, who gave his own son to die for our sins, told us to feed his lambs, and he will reward us if we do it faithfully, for all our trouble and pains. I remain your affectionate mother, Mary Marsland.”

To Mr. John Masland, Stocking Manufacturer, Nicetown near Philadelphia, PA

June 21st 1859

“Dear Son,

“I send my love to all your family and wish to know if you can get Elizabeth (Alfred’s daughter) to come live with me at the “Children’s Home” where she will have $5 a month and if she continues it will be increased. Tell Alfred I would be glad to have her come and live with me. If she cannot come I wish you would get me a good set-down woman, as I want a nice Protestant woman. I wish you would answer this at once, that I may hear very soon. Do not forget to write very soon to your affectionate mother, Mary Marsland.”

John Masland 1807-1883

The first letter, which is missing some parts, is from “John Masland, Private Soldier” while he was en route to America to his father, James Masland in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England, dated 28th of May 1830.

“… as thank God it leaves me at present. I would have wrote to you sooner but I was … every day for this last month A answer my last but now the time is … short. I cannot receive a answer from … sorry I am for it which if you have … it must have been lost in the way.. friends I have little news to send but that we will embark tomorrow on board the brigg Bridgman (?) for North America and we expect to be stationed at Montreal in Upper Canada. Dear Father I hope you will not be in the least …by the cannacten(?) of it has been… healthy country so don’t be the least… on my account. John Marshall is well Give love to his wife and mother and embarks on another vessel in a few days.

“When I arrive in America write to … send you the particulars about the country. I hope you will do the same by… as it will be a great consolation to… From you I am not in the 2nd…so I must conclude with my well wishes … you all send me word where …to all my relations . from your loving and affectionate (son)”

A note from John Masland from LowellMassachusetts concerning his father, James dated August 24 1845(spelling uncorrected)

"The Day my Father was Born and their Refer to the Parish Church Register of about that date But I think they were Married at St. Pauls Church in London about the year 1776 or the Beginning of 1777 I think the Best way would be to find out where the Derby Regt. Of Militia was quartered from time to time and examine the Registers of the Several Parish Churches Both for their Marriage and Baptizing or Christening of my Father and then show the Reason my father did not Retain the name of Hodgekinson this Being done it would Prove my Father was proveing that he was Baptized in the name of Hodgkinson Born in wedlock But we have every Reason to Believe that he was from every Information we Can Get the Secret is with our aunt Nancey Masland and She seem to withold the required information and We Believe if She would tell all She knows their would be no difficulty to Get the Estate and Property to my descendants or me

John Masland Hodgekinson

“NB I would Recoment my decendants to take the Name of Hodgekinson as well as Masland

JM

“The uncertanty of Life Makes it An Indispensable Duty that Parents Should Perform to Give A Genealogy of their Family & as Far as I think it is Necessary I Shall Endeavour to do James Masland the Name Given to My Father Masland is the Maiden Name of his Mother on Acount of his Father Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkinson of the Derby Regt. Militia in 1799 then Quartered in Plymouth Devonshire he Lieut JH then Dying verry Sudden Leaving My Father an orphan at the Age of 2 years he was Born June 4th 1777 his Mother Mary Hodgekinson Dying very soon after Lieut JH My Father was Brought up with his Grandfather John Masland at Annsley Near Newstead Abbey Nottinghamshire England & that is how he took the Name of Masland his Grandfather John Masland Not Being willing to Let him have the Name of Hodgkinson which was his Proper Name Brought him up In the Name of Masland & he was Bound Apprentice In the Name of Masland to Thomas Bennett Stocking Manufacturer of Arnold Nottingham Shire & Likewise Married In the Name of Masland To Mary Paulson of Arnold She Beare unto him Eight Children & I John the oldest Born August Fourth 1807 at Arnold Nottinghamshire England occupation & Place Residence in Lowell Massachusetts

“Charles Born Sep 3rd 1810 Sergeant Major 3rd Regt US Infy Corpus Christie Texas Novr 29th 1845 Masland or Marsland for Charles

William Born Sept 26th 1812 Sergeant Major Royal Marines on Board the Arison 72 Guns on the Coast of Austriela May 1845

Ann born Nov 7th 1814 In Service aat Doctr Hunters Princeton New Jersey Octr 1845

Sarah Born March 14th 1818 In Service at NottinghamEngland Octr 1845

Henery Novr 30 1821 Stocking Manufacturer at GermantownPennsylvania Oct 1845

Phebe Born October 3rd 1823 Died at Arnold 1825

Our Father James Masland Died May 4th 1833 at Arnold Nottinghamshire England Peace to his Ashes

Our Mother Mary Masland In Service with JR Thomson at PrincetonNew Jersey 11 Copy by John Masland

“It is Nessesary that the Geneoligy of My Family Should be known to my Decendants My Father ought to have Retained his Proper Name Hodgekinson For at the Death of his Grandfather Hodgekinson he was the Direct heir & Descendant to the Estate & Title of Felle or Fely Hall Near Huchknall Torkard Nottinghamshire & I Beleave Lies in Chancery Now For the Direct heir to Claim it & that Is Me But There are Difficulties to Surmount to Prove we are the Lineal Decendants of Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkinson & of the True Lineage as My Father Been of A Passive Disposition & his Grandfather John Masland not Making him Fully Aquainted with Matters Concerning his Family he Did not Feel or Even know of his Just Claim to the Estate & Property of the Hodgekinson Family Nor do I know of aney one Living Could Give aney Information Except My Fathers Mothers Sister Nancey Masland Now I Expect Living at Ansley Hall & She Is Now about 85 years old & she has Never took that Interest For My Father or his Children that she ought & there is no Doubt on My Mind From the Little Information I have been able to Get that She Did Dureing My Fathers Minority & while the said Hodgekinson was Living Receive Considerable Sums of Money &c &c at different times to be apropriated to the use of My Father & from I have Reason to Believe She has yet a Large Surplus yet in her Possession & allthough Since the Death of My Father She has Been Solicited to give some Information as Regards the Hodgekinson Property She Still Declines to Do So She has Brought an Ilegitimate Child Belonging to one Jane Addock & which is Nothing Related to her nor non of our Family and I bleive if our aunt Nancey Masland Choose She Could Give us Information that would Enable us to Recover the Estate &c of the Hodgkinsons which ought to have Been Entailed to My Father and I do not know aney way to Recover it But to ascertain where the Derby Regiment of Militia was quartered on the 4th of June 1777"

The next letter is from John to his brother Charles, from Lowell, Mass., dated April 12th 1846.

“Dear Brother,

“I take this opportunity to answer the receipt of your kind and welcome letter dated March 5th 1846, and it is with hearts full of sorrow we receive the intelligence of your long protracted indisposition. But we hope before you receive this, your indisposition will have ceased and that you will be enjoying good health. I wrote you on the 22nd of last month a few days before I received yours which I hope you have received. In that I informed you of the letter I received from Alfred and of the increase in our family, etc. I have since received a letter from Henry in which he informs me that Sarah and Sarah Burrows with her son John are set to sail from Liverpool today in the Packet Ship, “Thomas P. Cope”, for Philadelphia and she may be expected to arrive about the 20th of May. So poor Alfred is behind, yet. I have sold my frame, but on account of my sickness this winter, after paying my bills etc., I find myself with about only funds enough to remove to Philadelphia. Trade is very brisk there and I expect to receive a letter every day about a situation of work from a man I have wrote to as to whether or not we shall remove there on or before the 15th of May.

“I have a balance due me in Boston on some goods that are on commission but I cannot get it until the goods are sold in the fall. The man I was about to have the frames from in Boston wanted to have both sides of the bargain. So we could not agree on that score. There are plenty of men here who would like to have my knowledge employed for their benefit if I would be fool enough to do so. It would make a horse laugh and kick too far to hear the sordid proposals they have made me at different times. I leave them for what they are worth. I have $50 by me now and, had I got the frames from the Boston man on favorable terms, I should have sent it to Alfred to bring him and a frame. But, on account of the course that things have taken, it will be better to go to Philadelphia where trade is brisk and I intend to make the best of myself. If you have not wrote or sent the money before you receive this, I wish you to direct for me at Germantown, Pennsylvania on the receipt of this letter. I shall wait until the middle of May for fear your letter might be on the way at this time.

“I have got $62 worth of leg board fixtures etc., for the business which I intend to turn into cash when I get to Philadelphia, besides the casting and inside which are worth $60 more. Those I intend to keep and when you send your money for Alfred I shall put every dollar to it I can raise so that he may bring a good advantage frame or 2 with him. We hope the time will soon arrive when we may all meet and unite as those that love each other.

“Ann is better and living at Smalley’s. Henry writes a very friendly letter in which he said nothing about Mother. When I go I shall do all I can to effect a reconciliation among us all. I have wrote to Alfred and stated in substance the contents of your letter. The children are all in good health and we are pretty well ourselves. Mary is making good progress with her book as also James and Charles. Sarah talks some; Eliza don’t say much yet. They seem quite affected at the news of your sickness. You may expect to find a sponge cake in some of your papers. My wife is going to make one on purpose for you. Mary would have been sent to grammar school but she was necessarily absent at the examination of the school committee. So we conclude with all our dearest love to you and remain your affectionate brother and sister.

“John and Mary Ann Masland”

addressed to:

Charles Marsland

Sergeant Major 3rd Regiment US Infantry

Army of Occupation

Braso Santiago, Texas

The next letter is from John from Nicetown, Philadelphia, dated January 17, 1860 to his wife, apparently at his mother’s residence in Princeton, NJ

“My Dear Wife,

“I take this opportunity to write a few lines to you in hopes that they may find you enjoying good health. I have just received a letter from Mary. I have informed Alfred. He says he will come tomorrow, the 18th. Give my dearest love to my dear mother and say to her that I am very sorry that she is so much prostrated, but I hope before you receive this the disease may have taken a favorable turn and that she may once more be in the enjoyment of health and strength. My dear mother I hope you well realize by blessed experience that Christ Jesus is precious and that the trial of your faith may be sound unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus … receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your soul. And now, my dear mother, I do pray that the blessing and grace of God may rest upon you and that you may be enabled through him that loved us and gave himself for us to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And may the Lord watch over you and keep you in all his ways. My dear wife I wish you to use your own judgment what time you return. Sarah seems to get along very well. We all join with our dearest love to you and Mother, your affectionate husband and little Mary, John Masland”

The next letter is from John Masland to his sons, James William and Charles Henry, from Nicetown, PhiladelphiaCounty, Penna., dated June 23rd 1861.

“My dear children,

“We received your kind and welcome letter dated Williamsport the 19th of last month and we are very happy to hear you are both well. We are all pretty well; your mother keeps her spirits pretty well considering all things. (The Civil War)

“I have had a final settlement with Durkings and a jolly row with Knipe and William Durking. Knipe refused to give me my money and, when I did get it, it was in depreciated currency. I suppose that he bought for the purpose work. I shut up that shop forever. In fact, there will be no business doing at present. I procured a good character (reference) from durkings previous to having the row with Knipe, but I shall not use it much. Mr. Commegy also added to it. The Mayor also proposed to give me one which I declined. He said he had no authority to give me a pass. I will most likely make out without their help, however I am not afraid.

“I should not be surprised if the greater part of your division was to be called to act in front of Washington toward Mannassas Junction, either in the fight or in reserve. You may depend General Scott will strike an effective blow when he is ready. He has not quite finished the gift for them yet. They are still busy organizing fresh regiments here, yet. I have a great notion to have a cut in with the Keystone Regiment. It is having a pretty good set of officers and a respectable set of men generally. They have for a Captain in one company a man that served 5 years in the 3rd Infantry (Charles’ outfit) and he says he will have no man for a non-commissioned officer in his companybut those who have the ability to perform the duties. As such, he is very anxious to have me. He thinks I am not too old. He is a Frankford man.