Walton June 3d 1835

Dear Brother—

I have taken my seat to write you a few lines in regard to my business. Last fall or winter I agreed to pay the merchants of Walton (Noble and Ogden) for Nancy Ferguson (as I was owing her for stock) $120.00. But before this agreement I paid $100.00 toward my place, so that I found I could not Pay this money, therefore I put off the payment of this $120 till march when I told Mr. Noble that if he would indorse a note for me payable ninety days after date, at the Catskill Bank. I would by this means be able to take up that note of Nancy’s. This he readily agreed to, but stated that it was not certain whether it could be obtained, as it depended on the circumstances of the bank; although he said it was altogether probable it could be got. The note was drawn in March. It was $150.00. I wanted $30 for my own use and the other apply on the note of N’s. At the time I drew the note, I told Mr. N. I expected to sell in the spring about $100 worth of stock. And as I taught school here last winter I thought I could make up the other $50 by the time it came due and by this arrangement I should be no worse and Mr. Noble would be paid according to agreement. Time passed on; and I occasionally asked Mr. N. if my note was accepted at the bank*  He said he thought that Mr. Ogden would get it, and would be back soon. So I often inquired and got this answer until some time in May when I gave up all idea of his getting it as I thought Mr. O. would not get money on this wise, when a balance of $30 was coming to me, and use it nearly 3 months and not let me know it, for I thought that as Mr. N. and O. frequently corresponded on the subject of their business I of course thought that they would understand each other in this matter. But I will state what happened during this interval of time, perhaps you have heard of it. This has been the hardest winter ever known here and the surrounding country. We had severe cold weather with considerable snow (sometimes 18 inches deep) after the usual time that cattle gets thin living on grass. This has been the cause of great and innumerable losses to farmers. There is (or was) not one farmer of a hundred but what was obliged to pinch their cows in regard to hay. Some have lost their stock entirely and others a part. And among the rest I have sustained my share. I lost 4 cows 1 heifer, 5 yearlings, 25—heifer $15, sheep $2 making a total of at last $117 or $120 worth of stock: so that in this respect I was wholly disappointed in making out this amount from stock. It was my intention to sell this am’t of stock whether he (Mr. O.) got that money from the bank or not. After this, I had an opportunity of selling a part of my place, a part I did not care for. I was to have $200 down. By this means I thought I would guard against all difficulty from the bank in case the note was put in, although I had given up all idea of that note’s being in the bank. And I knew not for a certainty until the note had lain there almost 3 months. But I was again disappointed. Those people who bought, moved on, and after a while began to doubt whether they would take the place. So I received no money from them. Nor is it yet certain whether they will take the place, (as there was no writings drawn), until their brother whom they daily expect from Michigan, comes on; But it is uncertain when he gets here and this bank business must be attended to in season or the result will not be very agreeable. The note is due the 19th of this month. Now I wish if it is in your power to hire me until december $200.00. I want to pay $150 at the bank and $50 I want for my own use. I know this is a hard question; but I cannot avoid asking you, to accommodate me this time. You may feel yourself safe, at last for that time. And I have no fears for the future. The bank business you know has to be attended to as soon as it is due. I don’t want you to think I am going down hill for this is not so. I am only getting money from one place to apply in another. If I should live until another year, say next spring, and no bad luck, more than is common I can sell $80 or a $100 worth of stock besides the avails of sheep and pork and butter. After it becomes due, the proceedings of the bank are, to give 8 days grace and then to proceed and sue according to law. If they should sue, I can’t tell how much I must sacrifice, beside the cost. If you would accommodate me I would make that enumeration you thought your due. You might think strange that I can’t get any money here. But the truth is there is no money—none to be got. There never was known such a time for money; and beside, I labor under a disadvantage of being a stranger. But money cant be hired here at all by any body this spring   If you felt unsafe I would secure you, but I havn’t time now. I want you to feel safe. I don’t intent that you or George or any body to lose any thing by me. I want money to serve present necessity—until I shall be able to turn off the avails of my farm viz  stock. I have now no more stock than I can keep to profit. I could say much more but Ellen can say the rest. If you will let Ellen have the money I will here write you a note. IF you can-not let me have $200, let me have what you can.

Yours W. P.. Jayne

$200
For values received, I promise to pay to Addison A. Jayne, on order: Two Hundred Dollars with interest by the first day of December next.
Walter P. Jayne

Walton June 3rd 1935

P. S. Ellen is unwell and cant come. If you can possibly let me have it write immediately. I wish you would try to get it for me at some rate or other
*I forgot to say that his partner Ogden started for N.Y. with the note before this.

Courtesy of the Davenport Historical Association, Davenport, NY, 13750. Over 500 letters from the Ferguson and Jayne families, most dating from the mid-nineteenth century, are available from the Davenport Historical Association in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary S. Briggs. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved.