Letter: James Hamilton, Jr. to his mother Mrs. Sarah Hamilton, 18391
Baltimore, Thursday, April 18, 1839
Carlisle
Mrs. Sarah Hamilton,2
My Dear Mother I arrived here the same evening I left home without accident. A wedding party got in at York, some of whom I was acquainted with.
I have seen most of our friends—all are well except Mrs. Jenkins3 whose eyes have been inflamed but she is getting better although confined to the house. She has called her little daughter Ann, after her mother and grandmother.
I have seen Mrs. Wilson’s family and also Emma.4 She is to be married on Tuesday evening. Miss Mary is one of the bridesmaids and will probably go to the Eastern shore. It is not certain if Mr. Tekel5 will reside in this place or on his farm in Virginia.
I am comfortably fixed at one of the hotels and think of going next week to Philadelphia. If you write this week, direct to this place care of Mr. Powers, but after that to Philadelphia. Mrs. Creighton6 will probably not be here. She contemplates a visit to Carlisle and implies some arrangement such as they had made on a former occasion.
If you wish me to buy anything for the house write soon and specify particularly. Do not fatigue yourself about the house but let things take care of themselves only have the yard shut at night and the fires put out. Your affectionate son, J. Hamilton
Emmeline Veazey Hamilton, daughter of Judge James and Sarah Hamilton, was born on December 8, 1804, and although she lived for only eighteen years, her name was carried on in her relatives’ families for several generations. (Emmeline Hamilton Parker Grubb, Emmeline Cruse and Emmeline Bradish.)
1 James Hamilton Collection #1612, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Microfilm Roll 30, Box 60 p. 236-237. Microfilm also at CCHS.
2 Sarah Holmes Thomson Hamilton (1770-1842) widow of Judge James Hamilton of Carlisle and mother of James, Jr.
3 Mrs. Jenkins was Sallie Power the daughter of Ann Cruse and John Power of Baltimore, who married in 1812 and was the granddaughter of Thomas and Ann Cruse.
4 Emma Jane Wilson (1818-1861) was the daughter of Mary and Thomas Wilson of Baltimore. Emma married Thomas Teackle on April 23, 1839. She was the granddaughter of Thomas and Ann Hamilton Cruse. Ann Hamilton Cruse was Emma’s great-grandmother who was the sister of Judge James Hamilton of Carlisle who died in 1819.
5 Thomas Upsher Teackle was born in November 2, 1797, in Accomack County, Virginia, the son of John and Ann Upshur Teackle. The 1850 U. S. Census lists Emma and Thomas, who was wealthy and 20 years older than Emma, living in Baltimore, Maryland.
6 Mrs. Eliza Creighton (1803-1877) was the daughter of Thomas and Ann Hamilton Cruse and the widow of Robert Creighton (1791-1863) of Ireland and Philadelphia.