Wife of Joseph Robbins
And Daughter of James Arbon Jr. and
Wife Susan Newman Arbon
These letters were written on January 8, 1863, sometime before 1871-72. The two following letters were written by Susan Newman Arbon and one by James Jr. Since James died in March 1871 and he is the author of one of the letters, it would have to have been written before his death. Since Susan died in 1872 all of her communications would also have had to be written before then.
The letter from James Jr. we are presenting as the original was received. You will find in it a great longing and perhaps last efforts and a final hope of migrating to America. Susan’s letters are typed out because of the difficulty of reading the original. You will note that she is a woman with great love for all her kin, perhaps a home of refuge to many not her own and of great regard for her husband James. Note her faith and nearness to her Heavenly Father and her sorrow for those who were unable to accept the truths of the gospel of some about her.
Letters written by the wife of James Arbon Jr. Susan Newman Arbon, from England, to their daughter Ellen Arbon Robbins in America.
28 October 1864
My Dear Son and Daughter
We received your letter on the twenty-seventh of October and was glad to hear you as well as it leaves some of us. Your father has been ill ever since June. He has not done a days [day’s] work , he did not do anything all harvest. We did not think he [ ] the to [ ]
The others had to get their living when they could get work and I am sorry to tell you that Martha has been very ill. We had to have her home and she is with us now. I have had a good deal to meet with this summer, yet it is alright. This is our day of trial. Your grandfather died the 25 of September and your grandmother is much as [ ] and desires to be remembered to you. Henery [Henry] is well and sends his love to you both. He is still at work in London near Kings Cross and comes home most weeks. He gets a free passage home. He sees your aunts most weeks and Ruth and the children are well. They are much the same as regards the gospel; they don’t appear to have any leaning for the truth. Suppose that they will have to learn obedience through suffering. Alfred and Mary, they are well and still live where they did and send their love to you and your husband. Aunts and Unkles [Uncles] all send their love to you.
Brother and Sister Charndler are well and send their love to Ruth and to all the saints that know us there. We have had Brother George Linford to see us, he is laboring in the Redford Shire Conference and we were glad to see him once again though his health has not been in the old country as it was at Salt Lake and I hope he will prove faithful while here and when he is finished his work return home and take many sheaves with him. I suppose there will be very few that will emigrate this next season as the teams are not coming down, but I still feel to be Zion ward though the time lingers yet, I hope to see the day of our deliverance. I feel thankful to God that I still have a desire to prove faithful to the covenants and my heart and prayer is that you make right and obey counsel, and you and your companion become a plant of renown and raise up a righteous seed unto the Lord. Your Aunt Emma is well and the children and they all send their love to you. She is much as she was when you were here. Remember me to Brother and Sister Louice. Martha sends her kind love to you and all the rest of the family. You did not say whether Elle was well. I wish she was near you, it seems lonesome for her when you write give my love to them, and I hope your unkle [uncle] and aunt have gotten all right. Your father sends his kind love to you both and he often thinks the sea voyage would do him good. We must now bring this letter to a close so no more from your pa and ma. S.A.
Letter to Ellen Arbon Robbins from her sister Elizabeth
January 4, 1867
My Dear Brother and Sister
I take the pleasure of sending you a few lines. Hoping this will find you all quite well as we are happy to say that we are at present. Thank God for he is good to us. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Your pocket full of Money and your belly full of beer. We sent you a little while ago. We don’t know whether you got it or not. We hope that you will get this. We hope that you will answer this letter as soon as possible. We have sent you, Father and Mother’s letter. We wanted to know how you all are as we can send them word for we are going to write as soon as we get an answer from you for we would like to hear from you as we haven’t heard for a long time.
George and family are well and Charles and family. Charles’s wife was confined on the 20th last month and she had a little girl. She is doing well. Easter and Timy are well and send their kind love to you. Elizabeth Chriter is stopping with us and she sends her kind love to you and your husband. We have thought Rachel was going to be married on Christmas Day but we don’t know whether it is so or not. So we must conclude and may the blessing of the Lord be upon you so no more from Brother Thomas and Elizabeth Griffiths. Write soon.