Trattles & Hebron Families

Additional notes from Deanna Branson West:
Below are letters and data contributed during the last several years by various familly members. To aid those in their research of these families, I have located additional information:

In the 1841 England census we note William and Jane Trattles and family are living in the Lythe, Whitby, Yorkshire, England. Per the St. Joseph County, Michigan history published 1911: we find that they had 12 children in total of which some came with them to the USA. Those children were: Jane, William, Ann, Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Thomas, Hannah, Elizabeth (wed a cousin Hebron), Rachel V. (wed a Boles) Ruth and Daniel who enlisted and served in the Civil War. It also states in the same history that Janes brother William Hebron was the only one in her immediate family that came to the US.
    William came on the ship the Joseph Cunard - in Jun of 1844.
William's son William wed Jane Tibbets daughter of John C. Tibbets (she was born June 21, 1823 and wed William in St. Joseph Co., Michigan 4 November 1847.

Trattles ~ Hebron Family

LETTERS

Michigan Historical Collections - "Jane Trattles letters, 1854-1868," Bentley Historical Library, Call No: 86499 Aa 1

JANE4 HEBRON (WILLIAM3, GEORGE2, UNKNOWN1) was born 11 June 1793 in Westerdale, Yorkshire, England, and died 09 September 1880 in Porter Township, Cass, Michigan. She married WILLIAM TRATTLES 15 October 1810 in Easington Near Guisborough, Yorkshire, England. He was born 1786 in County of Yorkshire, England, and died 16 April 1845 in Porter Township, Cass, Michigan.

[Summary]
04 Aug 1854
Niles, Berrien, Michigan

Dear Sarah

· Received letters from your Aunt Harrison, Aunt Robinson, and Thomas Redman families [England] stating that you were doing well and in a respectable family and satisfied.

· Received letter from George and Mary Redman of Australia. They are doing well and have four children: two boys and two girls. He has been at the Australian Gold mines and is going again. He wonders why more of the English people don't immigrate to Australia where the wages and the farm markets are high.

· I have been here in the John Hodgson household since the 20th of March. Jane's sudden death has alarmed me. She had taken ill on Sunday night or early Monday morning and died on Tuesday morning the next day. They are doing well. I have been making, mending and helping the girls but I do no hard work. Sally and Ann Hodgson send their love and respects to you. They like America very well. The girls need an education and there is a school close by here. Sally will be attending college for three months. There is plenty of work in America as well as England for women so they do not have to do the hard work outdoors.

· I shall stay here for a while, perhaps all winter if rest of the family keeps well. All the children here wished me to give up the hard work on the large farm as they are able to hire the help and my health was impaired. I am in perfect health at present and feeding up since I quit the hard work. I am 20 miles from Youngs Prairie and 40 miles from Constantine, and 30 miles from the Hebrons. I can go to the Methodist Church every Sunday. It is a mile walk to Niles from here. It has 7 churches and nearly all are frame houses but a few are built of brick.

· Last winter I stay with son Thomas. He is still unmarried and very good to me. Son Thomas sold a place he had and bought a place close to Niles with 40 acres. He kept the house and rents it.

· Your sister Elizabeth was married last fall to her cousin Gideon Hebron. They are living on a place his father gave him. Gideon and his brother Stephenson rents their fathers' place while brother Hebron lives in his big house as a Gentleman.

· Thomas Knowlen, Hannah and Charlotte came back from California and visited me before I came here. Son Daniel is living with them. He will be 17 years old this fall. He manages the horses and gets on good with Thomas Knowlen and earns a good wage from him. He is getting taller.

· We should have stayed longer with Joseph. While we were there, Daniel missed a lot of schooling and did not get on with the hired man. Last summer and winter, Daniel was with son Thomas. He finally attended the winters' schooling.

· Daughter Rachel is teaching a district school. She has got herself a good education and is a respectable woman.

· Son Joseph is still on one of brother Hebron farms and making money. He has two children both boys. The names are Elam Adelbert and the other Charles Adolph. I do not have all my affairs with Joseph settled yet.

· Son William is stilling living on the same farm and has bought another 40 acres and is well off. He has three children. His oldest girl is Emily, his boy is Edward and the youngest girl is Ann Eliza.

· Sarah please write soon. I will try to write oftener. Give my respects to brother and sister Robinson and all their family and to John Codling family and their family. Please tell me if there will be anything for you from your Uncle Thomas Trattles effects and if there will likely be anything for the rest.

· Give my respects to Mr. Hebron, he is my relation and a name I must remember and the place of my nativity. I conclude with my love and affection for you and believe me to be your well wishing mother

God Bless You
Jane Trattles
Addressed from John Hodgson
Niles, County of Berrien, Michigan, North America

To Sarah

I had a letter from George Readman this spring. They are well. They have 50 head of cattle, 10 horses, and four children. They would like to hear from their English relatives and feel they have been forgotten. Dear Sarah, we maybe separated in person but not in mind. I never lay down to sleep but what I pray to the Almighty for you and the rest of my scattered family. I want all to live so when the circle of life is filled up, we can say Lord I am ready. Daniel is tall and small. He is a pretty good engineer in the saw mill. I shall write Thomas Readman in a few days. I have sent you a Niles newspaper that will tell you more then I can write. Dear Sarah I want you to write soon and do not do as I have done. I will be more dutiful in writing, if I live. But I am a rather poor writer. I hope you can make this out.

Address of Rachel Trattles is
In care of Mr. Thomas Knowlin
Constantine, St Joseph County, Michigan, North America

Address of George Readman is
Jerry Plains
Hunter River
New South Wales
Port Sidney, Australia

Give my love to Brother and Sister Robinsons. I would like to hear from them. I am truly your mother

J Trattles
Niles, Berrien County, State of Michigan, North America
With J Hodgson

Niles Union School House [printed letterhead]
Niles May 25 1857

Dear respected Brother and Sister and family

It's been a long time since I have had a letter from you. I am hoping this finds you all living and comfortable. All of my family is in good health. Brother Wm. Hebron's health has been somewhat poor and looking old.

Last summer, I had a very hard sickness and was on the brink of death. An English doctor attended me twice a day for two weeks. He was educated in a London College. John Hodgson and family did all they could for me. I thank the Almighty God for my health again at the age of 64.

My family here is all situated the same as when I last wrote my daughter Sarah. I sent two Niles newspapers this spring to Thomas Rodam and told him to let you have them.

John Hodgson has sold his big steam saw mill. It was very confining work and he was tired of it. Son Daniel is still the engineer and he boards here. He continued with good wages and no loss of time with the new owner. Thomas Hodgson continued until last week with the heavy sawer at the mill. Thomas has gone to Ottawa County to see his son Thomas and pay the taxes on the land they own about 640 acres plus another 160 acres. Thomas' son Thomas is working coopering. Ottawa County is 100 miles from here. The county is filling up fast with mostly Dutch settlers.

Pork is 16 cents and flour is 9 to 10 dollars a barrel. I have sent a Niles paper so you may see the prices here and also a New York paper to brother Harrison. I wrote sister Harrison long time ago but have not heard from her.

As for national news, I have not much to tell you. We have a new President elected, we all hope he will do good for the country. There was a celebration in Niles after the election. John Hodgsons' sons and Daniel rode the procession on horse back among hundreds of others wearing black uniform. Jane Hodgson rode in the procession also. We all attended, but I sure was tired after.

Had a letter from Rachel a few weeks back, she mentioned that son William and his wife, Gideon and Elizabeth have joined the Methodist Church. They are building a new meeting house in Porter. They have been meeting in the school house. Rachel has also joined.

You may give this letter to daughter Sarah, if you like or send for her to see. I hope she is well

John Hodgson sends his respects to you all. He says that he will be to England this fall or winter.

Tell me of the deaths of my acquaintances when you next write, and remember me to all Abrams of Liverton, Joseph Booth and Nanny Chapman. I would be glad to hear from them.

We had a very long cold winter and a late spring. The wheat looks good here. I must conclude with my sincere love to you and all of your family dear sister. Do write. I remain yours truly

Jane Trattles
God Bless all
Give my love to daughter Sarah

Constantine
Oct 15 1862

Dear respected Friends,

After a long silence, I now write to you. Hope this finds you all living and comfortable.

My family is all well and are scattered around me. I stop first with one and then another. I am at present with daughter Rachel. She married a good kind man and the kinds of husbands. His name is Thomas Bole. He took Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mr. Knowlen and I out to Ottawa County to see son Thomas. It was a long journey over one hundred miles. We traveled in a wagon and horses. It took two days and a half. The roads were pretty good.

We found them comfortable and well in the new county. He owns 160 acres. He has a great family for when he is old. His wife is 25 years younger. She had one child that she brought into the marriage from her first husband. They have had two children since their marriage of little more than two years. The first was six months after the marriage. They have a boy and a girl.

Son Joseph and his wife own 440 acres of land. I expect they are worth considerable but they owe a good deal and have run on speculating. He had his barn and stable burnt up last winter. He saved his horses. He lost wheat, hay and many implements, which was a great loss. He blames the man he traded land with. They have had trouble and mischief ever since. All the neighbors think he is guilty of setting the fire.

Son William is looking old, he has worked hard and abundantly able to live without working now if he would.

I hope you will write soon and tell all the news of the several families. I am getting old and it is a task to write so I hope you can make it out. Have written to sisters and to Sarah but have received no answers. I send my love to all and remain ever your sister

Jane Trattles
God bless you all

Shave Head at G Hebron
Nov 5th 1862

Dear Brother and Sister

It has been a long time. I have written several times but received no reply. I did write after Brother Wm. was buried. I have enclosed this letter with Brother Thomas Rodams' envelope. Hope this finds you well and enjoying the spiritual and blessings of God as we are all getting old. I am in my 70th year of age and in good health. Still can do considerable amount of work yet, write without my glasses, but have lost most of my teeth.

Since this last summer, I have made my home with my kind son-in-law Gideon. My daughters and their husbands all crave my company. They are all good to me, After a great deal of trouble and vexation, I finally got my rights from Joseph and Hodgson.

My family is all well except Rachel who is still recovering. I was with her for over a year. Nearly all my family live around here except for Thomas who lives in Ottawa County, over a hundred miles away. I have been to see him once. Dear Daniel is in the war. See Thomas Rodam letter for information about him. Four of my brother's children live around here also. So, I can truthfully say as like the Shunamite Woman of old that I dwell among my own people.

Stephenson [Stimson] Hebrons' house burned this spring. It was a good framed house that was painted inside and out.. They saved most of their furniture, meat and their lives. He is well off so he could stand the loss. Since then, he has built another house as good as or better and furnished it.

I had a letter from George Readman and Mary about eight months ago. They are doing well. Mary is the mother of twelve children and she weights 15 stone and 8 pounds.

Son William has three promising children. The oldest is Emma, quite and fine woman.

Charolette Knowlen Hannah's daughter is 15. She is a good scholar, a musician and a good singer. She plays occasionally for the Reform Dutch Church. Her father bought a Molcadian [probably a piano] that he keeps in the parlor.

This was one of the most flourishing nation on this globe before the war. It did not flowed with milk and honey, but with wheat, corn, fat cattle, and fruit - melons, peaches, grapes, and apples so plentiful that they have been fed to the pigs. Gideon raised an half acre of sugar cane that grew on the average eleven feet tall. There is a cane mill close by with eight boilers. The frost in September injured some of it, but still he had plenty. I grow a row of tobacco that is very good. If the Law would permit you to grow tobacco, I could send you some seeds in a letter and tell you how to manage it. I want you to send me some clove seeds and a few lavender seeds

I should have sent this letter with the six newspapers but I waited until the draft for new soldiers was over. The president has called for three hundred thousand more men. They were drafted last week. All of my family escaped. I have not heard whether any of the Hodgson boys were drafted. They want another three hundred thousand more after the New Year. They will draft for men then under 46 years old.

Dear Brother and Sister I must conclude with my sincere respects to you all. I am truly your affectionate Sister.

Jane Trattles

I wrote Sister Harrison last winter but have had no reply. Give my kind love to daughter Sarah. I will write her soon and tell her to write the long letter she talked about. Please write soon. My respects to all my old friends that may be living.

Address
Jane Trattles
Constantine, St Joseph County, State of Michigan, North America
Care of G Hebron
Shave Head

[Submitter's note: This letter is not addressed to anyone. Who ever typed from the original letter has dated it probably Oct/Nov 1862. Plus it has to the care of Gideon Hebron Shave Head but the address above that for Jane is Constantine, in St Joseph County. Shavehead is in Cass County.

Probably written in Oct/Nov 1862.

I wrote a letter sometime ago but did not get my letter posted. Daughter Rachel was confined at the time and very sick. Typhoid fever set in and we did not think she would live. Her baby died when it was five months old. Hannah and Betsy each lost a fine boy two weeks apart.

Son Daniel is gone to the war. But he is safe. He wrote the war rages more and more. Cotton and towns in the South are being burned. I suppose more of my folks will have to go as there is a call for a million men to be added to the old troops. Thousands have been killed on both sides. It is horrible. We are not near the seat of the war.

Please give Sarah this letter. I had a letter from G Readman. They are well.

Hope you will forgive my not writing often, I do feel guilty and ashamed of my neglect. I must close with my sincere love to all the several families. Tell me all the news you can.

Jane Trattles
Address
Constantine, St Joseph County, State of Michigan, North America
To the car of Gideon Hebron
Shave Head

The President Lincoln has declared the slave are free
Look out for a newspaper

Porter
23 Jan 1863

My Dear Sister and Family,

I have included you a line along with Gideons' letter. I have read and reread your letter many times with tears and a solemn heart with the thought that you are now a widow the same as me. It has been nearly seventeen years since I was left in a distant land, but I have no reason to complain. I have good children about me in my old age of nearly 70 years. All three of my son-in-laws are kind and good to me. I have had no trouble with any one of them except Joseph and John Hodgson, but that affair is all settled and I got my money.

I feel sad and lonesome about Daniel being in the war. Daniel is dutiful in writing to his friends and me. Should he be spared and return home, he will have 160 acres in land from the government, a pension for life, if he is wounded and crippled and a hundred dollar bounty since he enlisted. Daniel draws wages of 13 dollars every month and board from the government. He is clothed and a doctor found if he is sick.

The war is an awful affair. The South has burnt towns and crops. I am thankful we are out of the horrid calamity and desolation. Cotton prints and sheeting material has double in price, while calicos and heavier cottons have tripled. Coffee, tea and other groceries have also risen in price.

A year ago this fall, Rachel's husband took my three daughters, Mr. Knowlen and me to Ottawa County to see Son Thomas. It is over one hundred miles away. We found them comfortable with plenty of wild life - deer, turkeys, and fish. There was also wild honey that they collected from trees. It was very good honey.

I had a letter from Thomas Rodam and one from Sarah Trattles a short while ago. Old Hannah Rodam, Nanny Codling, Margaret Goal, John Lane are dead. Old Sally Lane is not expected to live but a short while. So it seems the whole Trattles family will be gone the way of all flesh. I can only say Lord thy will be done and not mine. Your time and mine is short.

I have lost most of my teeth and my hair twice do to sickness but has come back without it being gray. I have a very bad spell this last fall and is the reason why I have not written sooner.

Had a letter from daughter Mary two weeks ago. They are well and in good circumstance. She weighs 15 stone and 8 pounds and has 12 children.

I wrote to Sister Alice several times but she has not answer in over 12 years and also have sent her the newspapers. She must have forgotten me. You may mail the newspapers to her if you please when you are done with them. I would like to have a newspaper from England sometime. I will send you a New York paper by and by.

My dear respected sister write again soon and tell me all the news of the families we belong. I must close and may the Lord Bless us all. Wishes of your affectionate Sister.

Jane Trattles

Constantine at Thomas Bole
Aug 20th 1864

My Dear Sarah

I write to you with a mothers' love and remembrance. I thank my God for many blessings. I have good eyesight, hearing and no lameness. I am in my 72nd year of my age.

I wrote to Thomas Rodam and my sister Alice last December but have had no reply. They have either forgotten me or else my letters were lost. Son William posted them and paid the postage. He trusted the Post Office to put the stamps on them.

I will give all the accounts of the war that I can and about Son Daniel being taken prisoner and his suffering. Daniel and his regiment were paroled in an exchange of prisoners. He came home to see us just before he was called back to duty. He has been very dutiful in writing every two weeks. My last letter was dated May 21st. They marched a full month and finally camped at Casville in the state of Georgia in the far south. They fought on the 15th of May and he got 3 bullet holes in his coat but did not have a scratch. They drove the Rebel army out of their fort and followed them till the 19th when they had another fight. They also drove them out of the town. This is where they expected to rest after all the hard marching and fighting. He ceased to write as usual and we found in a newspaper that he was wounded in another battle. I wrote several times but with no reply. His wife wrote to some of the other men of the regiment and one of the officers wrote her that he was wounded in the leg and in a hospital. However he did not say which hospital. My son-in-law Thomas Knowlen wrote to a Captain in same army that he was formerly acquainted with and insisted that he send him a correct account about Daniel. We expect to hear soon. The government has called for half million men and the draft for them is in another month. I am in fear that more of my sons, son-in-laws, or grandsons will be draft and have to face the Rebels. This war is like none seen before in the old age of the world. It is impossible to make you understand all its horrors. Daniel said he had viewed over a battle ground where he saw men lay half buried by the rebels with a little dirt. They were going to rebury them. The further they went the worse the conditions looked. Large trees split by cannon balls, towns either burned or blown up by shot or cannons, railroads torn up, and bridges destroyed. The Southern States are mostly laid to waste where our Northern army has been. Our Northern States have not been harmed except for the loss of men and heavy taxes. At the siege of Richmond in Virginia where General Grant and Butler and other commanded, we had severe losses and the Rebels even more. In the battle of the wilderness, the woods took fire with the heavy cannoning. Many poor wounded soldiers were burnt alive. Our prisoners are dealt with severely in the Southern prisons. Daniel's Captain was killed in the battle or we would have heard from him. We hope Daniel continues to live and comes home to us.

I have sent you three newspapers so you can see for yourself our country's situation. Do not grieve for me as I am well off

Jane Trattles.

1864 [probably]

I am now at Mr. Knowlens' house. They are well and send their love to you. Lottie Knowlen is a very interesting young woman. It would do you good to hear her play and sing. She plays the melodian [my note: I think a piano]. She is hired to play in the Methodist Church September 12 1864.

I have heard no news about my dear Daniel, so I am with heavy heart. He may be in a rebel prison or one in the thousand acres of land where dead man lay thick at Richmond.

Son Thomas came to see me last week, he has sold his land in Ottawa County and bought a farm near Niles by Hodgson. I am glad. Thomas Hodson is in the war. Young John Hodgson went out to the gold diggins in Mexico to keep from going to war. I heard he had been taken prisoner by a tribe of Indians, so he will be worst off then if he was a soldier. Our Army has taken the city of Atlanta and Mobile. There was a great slaughter.

Jane Trattles

Last letter is under William Trattles . There was a flow chart with these papers but unknown who made it. [see William Trattles notes on my research of some of these people. put HEBRON for known sisters and brother]

MR. HEBRON - England

His children listed

Children of Jane and William

Notes for WILLIAM TRATTLES:

In a flow chart from "Jane Trattles Letter 1854-1868" listed under a box listed "Trattles family in England" are these names.
[my Note: Assume these are sister of William Trattles]

Marked as a sister of Jane Hebron Trattles is

Mary Hebron m a_ _ ten Stipenson [IGI list Mary HEBRON m 30 Mar 1826 Appleton STEPHENSON Kirby In Cleveland, Yorkshire, England M040761] [From Hebron Inscription Christ Church Westerdale is:

B36 1826 Near this stone are deposited the earthly remains of Mary the beloved wife of Mr A STEPHENSON, of Hawsker Hall near Whitby and daughter of the late Mr Joseph HEBRON of Broughton Bridge near Stokesley………….The melancholy, painful and lamentable tidings of her death, on the 31st day of July,1826 in the 22nd year of her age and in the 5th month of her marriage. [b. 1803-1804]

Marked as brothers of William Trattles

[last letter of Jane Hebron Trattles as not room in her note section]

Constantine
Dec 29th 1868
At Thomas Knowlen

Dear son and daughter

I have sat myself down to write once more. I am 76 years old and sometimes it is a task for me to write. I hope this finds you well.

I received your last letter dated Oct 4th 1867 with the two newspapers and the pieces of your dress material and I received the four newspapers this winter. I sent some newspapers in April addressed as before but I see you have an address by Yarn instead. That bothers me to think I may have not address the package right. Emma Trattles also wrote to the old address.

I will include the last letter from Mary and George Readman with all her news. I would have sent you the two pieces of Mary's family silk dress material but I came away without them.

The piece of blue silk material you find included is from George Hebrons' only daughter's wedding dress. They live in California. He is a wealthy man. George still owns a farm here but rents it and Gideon is his agent.

Lydia Hebron sends you a piece of rolled lawn. She talks of visiting her fathers' home and friends. Lydia is his youngest child, unmarried and a fine young woman. I think she will not venture to England.

Poor Jane Hodgson had her wedding at son William is dead. She died 4th of October of typhoid fever and leaves a baby of four months old.

Thomas Boles and Rachel went to Niles this spring. Son Thomas and his family are all well. John Hodgson has three small children living. He lost one child and a boy by his wife's first marriage. Thomas Hodgson and his sister Sarah and her husband live in Ottawa County. He is a brewer in the town of Holland. John Hodgson is far away in the gold mines.

Your cousin Margaret Davidson sends her picture and the one in the case is Lottie Knowlen. Lotties' picture was taken three years ago in her school clothes. The other picture is an intended nephew or he thought he was going to be.

All of the Hebron family are well and remain on their farms. My family here are all well except for Daniel whose health I believe is improving. He is running a rented saw mill. I have not seen him since April as he lives a distance from me. Daniel does not get a pension yet. I am going to see him and son Thomas soon.

Margaret's husband sold his farm near here and moved to the State of Illinois. It was one of the best in the county with a beautiful home and orchard. They bought a large tract of land worth more then here but it does not have the same comforts. I believe they are homesick.

Fred Knowlen got his farthing that you send him. He thanks you. He said there was not another boy in school as rich as him.

I hope you got Hannah photograph and it was not lost. You mention J Hebrons' picture but not Hannahs'. I want you send enough pictures of yourself so all your sisters and brothers can have one. Would also like one for your cousin Margaret because I think she is worthy of one. She is a kind woman and has always been good to me. She has made me many presents for taking care of her father during his illness and death.

I am sending a package of newspapers. In the New York paper is a good speech by our Vice President. I have marked it with ink. General Grant is our elected new President. He was the Chief Commander of the North's army. We hope he will bring the nation back together again. The war is over but the south is very bitter.

Tell me all the news of Matthew and Hannah Trattles. Where are they now? Do you know if the Harrison still live at Ainthorp. Give me news of them and my sister Alice and her family. They do not write but I still can not forget them. Your sister Mary looks well in her card. She is fat, well dressed and very English. I will try and get her picture copied and sent to you. Did Lord Mulgrave take over Thomas Rodams' houses and the rest of the town houses? If you go to Staiths [sic] give Lottie's picture to them and my love also. Give my love to Sarah Hodgson the widow of Joseph Hodgson. I suppose most of my acquaintance have gone to the spirit world, but remember me to those that are living. If you know any thing of the Readmans let me know and I will past it on to George.

I was sorry to hear of so much shipwreck and loss of life. [This next sentence I can not interrupt it so will put as is] "and for that Raskil Aplihen Stipenson it was almost what I expected from his pride and business. I hope you did not lose any thing. I think now that it was a great blessing that poor Mary Hebron, his first wife died."

We had the hottest summer here. There were a great number of people died from sunstroke. Many horses died in the their stables in New York from the excessive heat.

The harvest could scarcely be harvested because of the high wages of the Hands. Gideon got a reaper to cut part of his. By changing horses and taking care, he did well. The wheat was good and the hay. There has been a great deal of Hay shipped to England from here. The prices are lover this year than last for pork, beef and butter are higher. Gideon has a good farm. He cleared twelve acres last year and another twelve this fall. He has put all into wheat. He had all the stumps drawn out by machine.

I must conclude with my love and resects to you and all my friends and neighbors. Mr. Knowlen and family send their love and respects. I am ever your mother truly.

Jane Trattles
May the blessing of God rest on you.

Jerrys Plains
June 19th 1867

My dear Mother

We address another letter to you and hope it finds you in good health. We received your letter but not the package. I was sad to hear of Daniel's suffering and hope it is over.

Annie is quite well off and her husband has built a 60 foot long new store in Denman. William has got a farm of his own beside ours. Everything is thriving. We have plenty of rain and grass. There are no diseases here with the sheep and cattle and we have no rabbits. But, there are plenty of kangaroos, wild ducks, wild turkeys and emu's that stand as tall as a man. They run very fast and never fly. There are no wild beasts to harm us, but snakes in abundance whose bite is lethal within five minute to any living thing. The native wild dog is very destructive with the sheep. The pigeon can destroy our corn crops. We have birds of every color but none that sing.

We grew turnips, pumpkins, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, and corn last winter. We had twelve turnips weigh 58 pounds. But, those were rare. The wheat is thriving and beautiful. We get taxed a small amount on our horses and cattle. From the newspapers you sent, the farming pictures shown that you till the ground the same way we do here. I have seven hives of English bees that provide plenty of honey. Our country grows lots of fruit like, apricots, peaches, nectarines, lemons, oranges, pears, apples, mulberry, gooseberry, currants, plums, cherries, pomegranates, grapes, almonds, walnuts, and coconuts. Perch, eel, mullet, and sprats are plentiful in our rivers.

They are finally bringing the railroad into the interior and the telegraph. A lion and leopard was brought to our community. We made a trip to see them. They are very beautiful creatures.

They are building a new parsonage of brick and stone. We have only just started making brick this year. There are only three brick and stone building in our neighborhood, but in the larger towns you do find building made of brick and stone. Most building are wood and only one story.

Our community is pretty broke up about the death of the clergy of the local church and it's school. He was an Englishman and left a widow and four small children. He had not provided for their future. The parishioners presented the widow with five hundred pounds.

Please mother would you some more pictures of all my brothers and sisters. It is very lonely to be so far away from the rest of you. We will you ours as soon as we get them taken. I have sent you my picture but it is not a very good. It was taken outdoors. Sorry I could not sent you my best picture but it is on glass. I was very glad for the picture of my poor sister Jane and her Hodgson family.

I think I have told you all our news, so must conclude with love to all from your most affectionate son and daughter

Mary and George Readman

Fabins
January 24, 1858

Dear and absent Sister,

Once more I pick up my pen to write and am exceedingly anxious to hear from you.

My health is good as it is always when I am teaching school. It is very hard work in the winter because I have to a mile and make my fire. But it is the best business a girl can follow in this county. They get from 3 - 4 dollars per week in winter and on the average about 2 in the summer. Hundreds and thousands of girls earn their living by teaching. In America, every child no matter how poor can attend school if they will.

Mother is at home in Niles. She came from Niles and stayed with Uncle Hebron about three months before he died. His death was a hard blow for her and nearly killed her. But, she has finally reconciled and is happy again. I had a letter from her a few days ago. She is well as are all of the John Hodgson's family.

Brother Daniel is at Niles this winter and attending school. Mother says he is learning fast. He is now a man and very good looking.

John Hodgson, Thomas, and Sally's husband all went to see Brother Thomas recently. They say he is doing well. He has two girls. One is named Eliza Jane and the other I do not know. Thomas lives a hundred miles from here and about four miles from Lake Michigan.

I was at Porter for the New Years visiting with Sister Elizabeth and Brother William. They are well and enjoying themselves.

I haven't heard Brother Joseph's folks since last fall. So I suppose all is well with them or we would have heard.

John Hodgson is building a new house. He says he is going to England, but whether he will or not. If he does, if you ever thought of coming to America, you would do well to travel back with him. I would be very glad to see you. However, you might not like this country as you have lived so long in England. You are accustomed to the English custom and manners and the American people are very different. I love it here and would not want to live anywhere else. Most people like it here after a few years and even if you did not you would be among your brothers, sisters and Mother.

Right now money is hard to get for any kind of labor except teaching. Produce is bringing low prices. Wheat is from 50-60 cents per bushel and oats is 20 cents. Most people think it will be better come spring.

We have had a beautiful winter so far for the months of December and January. They have been like spring and not a bit of snow.

I must conclude and dear sister I hope to hear from you soon. I often think of you and wonder if we will ever meet again on this earth.

Believe me your affectionate sister,

Rachel V Trattles

Please excuse all the mistake for my opportunity of writing is very small

Address:
Miss Rachel V Trattles
Constantine, St Joseph County, Michigan

Constantine
Oct 15 1862

Dear Sister,

After a long silence, I pick up my pen and write to you. We are all well

Mother is here with me and her health is good. I have two little girls, both fair skinned and blue eyes with light curly hair. The oldest ones' name is Florence Amelia and the youngest is Frances.. I will send you a little piece of hair from each girl along with some pieces of my dresses. I had intended to have John Hodgson bring it to you but for some reason he did not get them.

We live near all of the family but for Brother Thomas. They are well as far as I know.

We visited Thomas and Sarah Bramann last fall. Mother, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mr. Knowlen went with us. They are well and comfortable for a new country. They have deer, fish, wild honey and cranberries in abundance. Mostly people from Holland settle the county. They live eight miles from the town of Holland.

Sister Hannah and Elizabeth each lost a boy last fall only two weeks apart.

Brother Joseph lost his barn and stable from fire last winter. He did save his horses. He also lost his wheat, oats, corn and hay plus many other things. His lost was very heavy but saved the wheat that was outdoors.

Mother wrote to you about the land in Porter and the exact situation. Daniel and I gave her our portion. She has been so shamefully treated by Joseph and Hodgson. Joseph sold the land in the first place at a low rate and the buyer knew that there were other heirs. Your share will never do you any good here or in England. Joseph has used the family very badly. We would not care but that he wronged Mother out of her just dues in her old age.

Dear sister it is sometime since I started this letter. Sickness prevented my finishing it. I was confined to bed in April and my health was very bad all summer. My dear baby died when it was five months old of burn fever. Mother is here is with me at present and well. She got her money but it has caused a great deal of trouble.

Our country is in a bad situation. The war is a ruin to the country. The North has over one million men in the field and there is terrible fighting going on. The North has won some battles lately. There has not been any men drafted from here yet but there is a draft scheduled for the seventh of November.

Times are hard now and money is scarce, produce prices low, and everything that we buy is high.

Brother Daniel is in the war, he volunteered in the 19th regiment from Michigan. He is well. We had a letter from him last week.

Please write soon. I will send newspaper. I must conclude with my love to you.

Rachel Bole

Drafted men is what you call lotted men

The brown hair is my husbands'

President Lincoln has declared the slaves are all free

Address:
Thomas Bole
Constantine, St Joseph County, State of Michigan, North America

Dear Sarah

Accept my love and best wishes. Believe me to be your affectionate Mother Jane Trattles. I wrote to Thomas Rodam but have received no answer. We are not near the seat of war

Jane Trattles
Give me love to my Brothers

Submitted by David S. Trattles
April 2002

1895 REUNION
See Updated Version on our site.



NOTES

This is where I started from and left it many years ago. As you will notice in the clipping, William Hebron b 1741 married late in life to Ann Dawson, dau of Thomas and Mary Dawson. Their children were William b 1788, Alice, Sarah, Jane [your ancestor], and George. In the Christ Church Westerdale Churchyard are the inscriptions for William and Ann ... My information on the Hebron inscription was sent to me by a friend and follow internet classmate living in the next dale from Westerdale. She must have the book or else some way to get the information.

William Hebron b 1741 reads: B50 To the memory of William Hebron who died Oct 4th 1803 aged 62

Ann Dawson Hebron b 1756 reads: B49 Sacred to the Memory of Ann the wife of William HEBRON who died July the 18th 1818 Aged 62

According to the newspaper Clipping the great grandparents were George Hebron and Alice Nicholson. The Churchyard inscriptions read:

George Hebron: B48 Erected to the memory of George HEBRON who departed this life Jan 15th 1798 aged 79.

Alice Nicholson Hebron: B123 In memory of Alice wife of Geo.HEBRON and daughter of Wm and Mary NICHOLSON she died Jan 2nd 1766 in the 62nd year of her age. I think they misread the 8 for a 6 which would give her year of birth as 1724 and not 1702

I know when a cousin read the Long Cemetery gravestones in Cass County, MI, he had a hard time reading the information because of the deteriation of the stone. They finally bleached the stones so it was more readable but he did say some was deterated enough that some of the numbers were beyond hope of reading.

There is also a gravestone for a George, the son of George and Alice Hebron. I take it he may have not be married.

B126 Erected in memory of George son of George and Alice HEBRON of Westerdale he died March 9th 1770 aged 30.

There is a inscription for a Joseph Hebron which may be a son also of George and Alice Hebron.

A69 To the memory of Joseph HEBRON who died March 13 1804 aged 60. Also Esther his wife who died July 31st 1835 aged 95.

William Hebron b 1788, the son of William and Ann Dawson Hebron married twice in England. His first wife Ann is also buried in the Churchyard.

A31 Erected in memory of Ann the wife of WILLIAM HEBRON who died July 10th 1814 aged 29. We know this is her because he also put her on his gravestone in Long Cemetery.

William and his 2nd wife Sarah came to the US in 1831.

Passenger and Immigration Lists: New York, 1820-1850
Immigration: Arr 11 Nov 1831 from England to Port New York
Destination: Buffalo
Ship: Lagoda
Microfilm M237 Roll 15 List # 406

Hebron Family

Alice, f, 9
Benjamin, m, 13
George, m, 15
Gideon, m, 5 m
Jane, f, 11,
John, m, 9
Margaret, f, 16
Rebecca, f, 7
Ruth, f, 2
Sarah, f, 43
William, m, 23, Farmer [b 1808. he is from the first wife Ann]
William, m, 43, Farmer [b 1788]

William Hebron b. 1788 and his first wife Ann had William b. 1808, Dennison, and Mary Matilda who married an N Wetherell. Both Dennison and Mary Matilda did not come to the US. I did find a record for a marriage of a Mary Matilda Hebron and a Nath Wetherell in Darling, County of Durham, England for 1831. This is a possible match. I have found no reference for Dennison. If the 1st wife is Ann Sanderson the daughter of Ruben Sanderson and Elizabeth Dennison then I can see where the name Dennison came from. None of this is proven.

The Long Cemetery gravestone for William Hebron does have Matilda Mary d 21 Jan 1839 at 26 Yrs 11 mos, wife of N Wetherell and their daughter Frances M who d 1834 in England on there.

Submitted by The Trattles
April 2002

Home