1878 letter from Joanna (Keen) Milliken in San Francisco, California, to her Cousin Gowin Wilson, Jr., in Columbia Falls, Maine

Note: This photocopy of a letter was sent to me as a bonus when I purchased an 1864 letter written to Gowin's daughter Frances Emily Wilson (abt 1848-1921) by her one-time schoolmate Edna Pope (1849-1865) at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1878 letter sent by Joanna (Keen) Milliken (1802-1888), widow of Seth Milliken, in San Francisco, California, to her cousin Gowin Wilson (1807-1883) in Columbia Falls, Maine.  Joanna's mother, Anna Wilson, was a sister to Gowen's father, also named Gowin Wilson.  

It's a friendly letter with mention of a money order gone wrong; apparently Gowin helped out his widowed cousin on occasion.

Mentioned:

• Joanna (Keen) Milliken (1802-1888), letter writer; widow of Seth Milliken (1796-1867), who, before his move to California, was postmaster at Montville, Maine. They married at Columbia, Maine, in 1824 or 1825, based on their Intention to Marry of November 24, 1824.
• Gowin Wilson (1807-1883), letter recipient
• Gowin's wife - Ann Eliza (Wass) Wilson (1812-1884)
• Fanny - Frances Emily Wilson (abt 1848-1921) , daughter of Gowin Wilson and Ann Eliza (Wass) Wilson

If you have corrections on date or information to share on any of the people mentioned, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Transcription, modified for clarify

San Francisco Sep 13 1878

Dear Cousin

Your kind letter was duly received with the Post office order and also one of the date of 26 of August most welcomely received by me. The post office order was presented but from some little defect in the signature the Post ___ note to the Postmaster at Machias. no fault of you. You in all probability you have been notified before this time as the Post master home often did to it immediately and money would be ready for me. I should have answered your letters before.

I not been not able to use my hand but have improved and am all right. Now we are having fine weather at San Francisco summer than in most summer. I am thinking how pleasant it would be to have your and your wife or Fanny to come and make us a visit. I would be perfectly delighted to see you. It seems hard I cannot see one of my one dear friends but I have often thought it was hard I not have the pleasure granted me to see one of you alike others people living home I will hope still on.  I am happy to receive a letter of you and am so much gratified in reading it over and over again. I hope to pay you for all your trouble. if thing is not right, please inform me. Please do write when you can oblige your Cousin. Please give my love to wife, daughters.

Joan Milliken

Ten 1832-1907 Documents from the Bucknam Family of the Columbia, Maine, area

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Collection of ten papers, dating from 1832-1907, relating to the business of the Bucknam family of Columbia, Maine and vicinity.

• undated; A. W. Bucknam account; mentions G. Tinney; C. Smith; Leonard Magee; James Tabbut, driving.  
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• presumably George Tinney or his son of the same name, the latter born about 1820
• perhaps Leonard Magee (abt 1819-1902)
• perhaps James Tabbut(t) (1804-1866)

• Columbia, Maine, July 7, 1832 - letter to George M. Chase Esq. from Ichabod Bucknam attesting to the good qualities of Mr. Gad Townsley for the position of deputy sheriff.  See an image farther below.
• perhaps George Monroe Chase (1806-abt 1857) of Calais, who later became American Consul to Hawaii where he died
• presumably Ichabod Bucknam (1784-1846)
• this Gad Townsley (abt 1854-1836) seems a bit old to be a deputy sheriff but if not him, then perhaps a son or grandson

• August 1843 to September 1845 invoice: Ichabod Bucknam, William A. Crocker; Chamberlain; Kendrick, Trundy & Co., Boston.  
• presumably Ichabod Bucknam (1784-1846)
• perhaps Deacon William A. Crocker (1793-1863)
• Chamberlain
• Kendrick, Trundy & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts
• S. J. Bowles - perhaps Stephen Jones Bowles (1793-1846)

• 1845 plan of the marsh [see an image of the description farther below] sold by Plummer of N. Allen; Asa Webb; Isaiah Nash.  
• perhaps Asa Dyer Webb (1808-1894)
• perhaps Isaiah Nash, Jr. (1780-1868) 
• 
  

• 1845 Arthur W. Bucknam - Machias River Co. - transporting logs.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)

• June 26, 1845 - Account of Lumber Sold by Arthur Bucknam: Surveyor Levi Bowker [Jr. ?]; Signed by Nathan Longfellow.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• perhaps related to, if not Levi Bowker (1795-1887)
• perhaps Nathan Longfellow (1798-aft 1870)

• Winter 1845 - Scaled from Township No. 24 to A. W. Bucknam: Elijah T. Fitts, Scaylor.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• perhaps Elijah T. Fitts (1809-1885)

• Columbia Falls, August 19, 1887. Hauled from G. A. Bucknam gravel bank ___ for repairs on highway in Columbia Falls, one hundred and thirty loads of gravel in June 1887 on : H. F. Allen, Surveyor.   
• perhaps George A. Bucknam (1818-1889)
• perhaps Horace F. Allen (1846-1905)

• Columbia Falls, Maine, October 22, 1906. Mrs. Geo. Bucknam please pay W. E. Sinclair $5 and charge to my account - signed George H. Bowles (by mark) and his witness Ralph Nash.  
• perhaps Mrs. Julia Frances (Ruggles) Bucknam (1836-1909) or her daughter in law Eva Priscilla (Allen) Bucknam (1874-1945)
• W. E. Sinclair, presumably of Columbia Falls or Columbia, Maine
• perhaps George H. Bowles (abt 1858-abt 1941)
• perhaps Ralph Augustus Nash (1885-1940) or Ralph Eastman Nash (1887-1971) or ?

• Harrington, Maine, 1907 - Received of Geo. W. Bucknam $22 payment in full for two sheep sold him. Signed by A. B. Larrabee per David A. Young.
• perhaps George Wilson Bucknam (1870-1945)
• perhaps Alvin B. Larrabee (1853-1929)
• perhaps David Augustus Young (1894-1967) or his father David Augustus Young (1852-1910)

Boundaries of the marsh sold in 1845

Ichabod Bucknam vouches to George M. Chase, Esq., for Gad Townsley for Deputy Sheriff

If you have a theory as to the correct identity of any of the people mentioned above and/or corrections or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.