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Archiver > NYMONROE > 2000-11 > 0973648467


From: evelyn b cooper <>
Subject: [NYMONROE-L] Part 2 of my ancestor's 1833 letter pertaining to Rochester area
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 17:54:27 -0800


Good Evening Listers,

It was suggested I post my ancester's letter, at least the part in which
he wrote about the Rochester area. To do so I have had to learn whole
new areas of this computer. Whew!!!

If wanted I can post more of it. Hope some of you will find it as
interesting as I have.

It was dated 10-26-1833.

Evelyn, learning with patience in Colorado




We went on board a tow boat the 6th of July that was towed by a steamer
up the North River to Albany, a distance of 165 miles in 26 hours for 2
s. each. We did not stay above an hour; shifted our luggage on board
another boat that was drawn by horses to Rochester up the Canal a
distance of 275 miles in 4 days and , traveling night and day. At that
low charge of a cent a mile we landed at Rochester the 12th of July and
thankful we were to get in a house to ourselves once more. Stayed in
Rochester about a month.

There is not much baking done here for most people bake their own. I see
I could do better at Farmers Work. I went to haymaking and so did Mr.
Hawkins. Had 3 s. a day and board. I did not stay there a fortnight. I
left Rochester and 7 miles up the country West to harvest work. I had 5
s. a day and board English money. Some hands had 3 s. a day to cradle
wheat. I cannot give you much account of the country at present. I have
not seen nor heard a great deal about it yet, but I will give you a true
and correct statement of what I have the price of things. I will state
in English coin you will better understand it. Here there is plenty of
everything except Beer and Bacon. They dont use that. Pork 2 to 2
pence per lb., Beef 2 to 3 pence, Mutton 1 to 2 pense, Veal 1 to 2
. Many buy fat hogs at 2 s. 6 p. per score. A good Turkey 3 s., Goose
1 s., Buck 6 s. I have bought young fowl myself to eat at 3 pence each;
butter 6 p. per lb. Tea from 1 s. to 4 s. and sugar 6 p. Brandy 7 s.
per gallon, rum 5 s. and gin 3 s., whiskey 1 s. 3 p. Apples and
peaches will not pay to take to market. They let the pigs eat them. We
can have as many as we want to use for fetching of our neighbors. Wheat
is 3 s. 9 p. per bushel, Barley 3 s. 3 p., Oats 1 s. 6 p, Beans and Peas
but few grow. Malt 4 s. per bushel, hops plenty grow wild. Some
clothing is dearer here such as broadcloth, linen and stockings. Other
things are about the same. Farmers are considered the best business in
this part of the country. The land is very cheap. The first rate
cleaned land from 5 to 6 pounds per acre. It gets worth more every year.
There are a great many people going to Michigan this fall to a new
settlement 400 miles West of us. They buy land there from 2 s. 6 p. to
10 s. per acre. Mechanics get good wages, tailors, carpenters,
shoemakers and blacksmiths do excellent. There are a great many
journeyman millers at Rochester from England. I saw 4 myself last week
at one mill. They told me they received wages from 5 to 6 lb. per
month. The mills are extensive; some 8 to 12 pair of stones. It is
calculated they can grind 4,000 bushels of wheat in a day. They sell 13
s. and 2 p. per bushel

The weather has been about the same as in England; the storms rather
heavier. They sat it is as we are so near the Lake Ontario, 9 miles
distant, and the Genesee River Falls at Rochester which is 100 ft. fall
and 1 furlong across. There are the falls of Niagara which are
calculated to be 190 feet fall and 15 ft. sheet of water and upwards of 8
miles across, continually running, about 80 miles from us. Here there
are a great number of saw-mills all driven by water, so if we want any
boards, go in the woods and chop trees and take them to the mill and they
will charge one half to saw the other, so we are at no expense but
labour. They grind corn in the same way. They take the 10th part for
grinding. The coin is very different here. It is Dollars which is 100
cents value; half dollars, 50 cents; 1/4 dollar, 25 cents, and schilling
12 cents; 6 pence, 6 cents. These cents are the size of a half penny..
There is no smaller nor larger. Paper money is the 1 dollar to 100.
These dollars are 4 s. 2 p. English value each. There is a deal of
bartering done, for the Americans will part with anything rather than
money.

We were almost afraid to live in the house we are now in at first. It is
a lonesome place. No houses nearer than 2 miles and the woods come down
close to it; do not see two people all day sometimes; but they told us
there was no danger of anything nor any one hurting us, and I have every
reason to believe there is not. I have not seen a lock nor bolt to
anyones door since I have been out in the country. If they leave their
house for a week there is no lock, nor I have not seen nor heard of a
beggar in the country, nor but few wild beast. A great many squirrels
and racoons and sometimes bear or two, but not near us. Ive taken
another house mile nearer Rochester where there are neighbors close by.
A good house and yard and cowhouse and as much garden as I like to dig
with the spade for 12 dollars a year.

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