Letter addressed to: Mr. John Berry - at Huntingdon Furnace
Huntingdon County, Pennsyla.
Near Marshals Mills

Dr John         Rolling Mill         December 2, 1815

It is now more than a month since I wrote to your brother William from whom I hoped an immediate answer, but no answer has yet reached me. Immediately after the date of that letter your sister, Rachel, was taken ill with the dyfsenterry and in a few days following little Joseph was taken down also with it. This was to me a very trying period as I had to attend and watch him every night during the difsorder. After a few days of excessive pain the severity of Rachel’s difsorder abated and she got restored to health again, but poor Joseph, the symptoms of whose difsorder were very unfavorable from the first attack, was reduced to the lowest extremity and his recovery has been very slow, but he is now as well as ever. Rachel is now in Baltimore, where she has been for nearly three weeks but I expect her home very shortly. Rachel and her sister, Anna, are the most beautiful, the most loving, as well as the most industrious children that I am acquainted with. I have given them changes of the best clothing with an unsparing hand and you will readily conclude that this has bared me in other respects. But I have an Almighty friend who amidst all unsitudes has truly never suffered me to want, also be afsured my son, that his bountiful goodnefs will follow me to the end of my days. I am yours very affectionately,

R. Berry

P. S. Tell your brother William I love him.

To Mr. John Berry
Huntingdon Furnace in Huntingdon County, Pennsyla.
Neat Marshalls Mills

Dr John             March 8, 1816

This evening received your letter of 17th ult. to say that it gave me pleasure is I hope unnefsesary as I told you so often. I have not seen Charles Thompson since his arrival in this county. He never visits at our house and I have not met with him from home. You have commissioned me to look out a wife for you, but indeed I fear I shall be at a lofs where to begin my search. Matrimony has become so epedemical with us that it has swept off nearly all the girls. Delia Pennington and Susan Condon are alas no more. The Rev. Mr. Smith has taken the latter as his property and Mr. McCulloch has taken Delia. However I don’t despair, you have given me such a long string that is possible before the expiration of the time appointed I can furnish the commodity required. Ann Hull is still in the market, but between you and I and the post I hope I shall never have to call her Sister. But hold! I think I must make a bargain with you. I am beginning to fear that I shall be left an Old Maid. Now if you know any clever fellow who wants a very old-fashioned kind of a wife I think you may give a bid. My young friends say that I have become so much of an old woman that some of them have taken the liberty of calling me qrandmama which I don’t at all like. Our neighborhood is very dull. I never saw so many doleful countenances as there are at present. Money, money is the constant cry. The banks will not ishue notes only to a small amount and a dollar is almost a novelty. Our old man has got his long face on among the rest, but really the times are serious and I wish for the sake of domestic tranquillity money would become more plenty. I don’t think you need look For Father in Huntingdon this spring, I know we cannot well spare him. I suppose my Dady is as much of a beau as either of his sons. Does William ever speak of me, or has he quite forgotten that he has a sistir. I hear from Thomas once in two weeks, I think he improves very fast as well in mental as in personal accomplishmints. His mind is very capable of improvement and he lets no opportunity that offers for improvement slip without availing himself of the advantage. I can give you no information concerning your Elkton acquaintances. I have not visited there since some time last summer. Two of my best friends have visited me since I last wrote to you, Mr. Isaac Owens and William Burneston. We live in the same old cheerlefs solitude as when you left us. I confefs I am getting tired of it. However hope (The too often) gay deceiver sometimes sends her cheering rays to gladden my lonely breast with prospects, but ungrateful mortal that I am how dare I repine when my lot is blessed compared with some. I have a home whilst many others have to buff it with the world to earn a living. I have a Father and friends while others are fatherlefs and friendlefs. Notwithstanding all these blefsings I am sometimes ungrateful enough to repine. Anna has grown very much and is quite in the notion of being a woman. You may suppose she has some pretensions to it when I tell you she weighs 140 pounds. She sends her love to you, let me beg you to not plead businefs as an excuse for not writing to me again and cannot forbear to tell you that I feel a little wounded at it. Am I to supoose that my brother loves me when he has no other apology to offer for not writing to me for ten months than lazinefs? I wish you would. write more frequently. Your friends are continually asking when I hear from you. I sometimes blush to tell them. When speaking of the marriages I forgot to tell that Mifs Hadson and Mifs Carr are both loosed. Alexander Henry is married to Miss Wilson who kept store at the factory. Coln Mitchel is to be married very soon to the famous Mifs Hoper. He is considered a very fortunate man, She is not only rich and beautiful but she is very amiable. It is now late and I must say good-night and may the curtain of Divine protection surround you in the sincere prayer of your sister 

Rachel.

Probably mailed from Elkton the 14th of March -- 25 1/2ct

To Mr. John Berry
At Huntingdon Furnace - Huntinadon County, Pennsyla.
Neat Marshalls Mills

Dr John         Elk Rolling Mill         Sept. 14, 1816

I have received two letters latterly from you, the last of which dated on the 26th ult. I am highly pleased with this mark of your love to your father. If circumstances will justify your coming home next spring all the family will rejoice at the event, but no one more than myself. Almost every branch of businefs is dull with us at this time and has been so far for nearly twelve months back, but I will keep you informed how times are likely to go on amongst us. I rejoice that you are not only a good Manager, but also one who is much approved by your employers. If this were not the case you would not have taken strictly after me. We are all well, but in a letter I wrote this day to your brother Wm. you will find information more in detail on that subject. Give my best compliments to Mr. Evans. All accounts concur in stating that your brother Thomas is known and respected by some of the best characters in  Balto. I should much wish that you will frequently write and urge him into a correspondence. A Young Gentleman of the name of Onel, a very respectable family, well-bred, and a very moral behavior, also fine writer, is desireous of obtaining a situation as a clerk out there. He is stout, robust, and such a person could not fail to he a. useful afsistant, also an agreeable companion. I forgot to mention this young man in my letter to your brother Wm. but you will please to tell him that I would wish him to interest himself to obtain him a situation.
I am my Dr Son your affectionate father

R. Berry

P. S. A11 the family send you their love.

Mailed from Elkton September 16, postage one shilling.

To Mr. John Berry
At Huntingdon Furnace - Huntingdon County, Pennsyla.
Near Marshalls Mills

Dear Brother         October 4, 1816

The intelligence contained in your letter of 26th ult. (which I received a few hours ago) would have, as you anticipated, surprised me very much had I not been apprised of the circumstances a few days before. To hear that you intend visiting us even at so distant a period as next January gives me much pleasure. May I not anticipate the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Berry at the same time? You will not I hope think of visiting Maryland without her, be pleased to give my love and a kifs to her (which I suppose you will not think much trouble of) and tell her that I long to embrace her as my Sister. I now love her for my Brother’s sake but hope ere long to have the pleasure of becoming acquainted with her and loving her for herself. That you may each continue to enjoy every earthly happinefs is my most earnest wish. What is William about? I suppose he is going to lead a life of single blessednefs and fill that most enviable and indepindent of all stations that one in which he cares for nobody and nobody cares for him. I expect he and I will have the pleasure of laughing at each other in a few years. At the age of 22 I feel myself encumbered with so many old-maidish whims that I have had serious thought of taking the wreath before I arrive at the sweet age of 25. I feel in a very idle mood and have written you a very idle letter, for which I beg your pardon, tho’ you have become an old man that will not excuse you writing to me some time as it always gives me pleasure to hear from you. Perhaps you can prevail on Mrs. B--- to favor me with a few lines in your next. It would be very gratifying to me to receive such a favor. We are all well. Sister sends her love to Mrs. B--- and yourself. Ere I conclude some apology is necessary for this miserable scrawl. I have to plead haste and a bad pen. -- That virtue may be your guide, prosperity and happiness your attendants in life is a sincere prayer of your

Affectionate sister,
Rachel.

From Elkton, 7th of October, one shilling