Background: George Jayne was a student at Fergusonville Academy in Fergusonville, NY.  Many of the students at the academy came from the New York City area.  It was thought that the isolation of Fergusonville would protect the children from corrupting influences such as drinking and gambling. George Jayne's family lived in Orange, NJ.  Charlotte was his sister.

Fergusonville Sunday Feb. 21st, 58

Dear Charlotte,

You must excuse this half sheet of paper but I had it loose and so I thought I might as well write to you on it. When I got up this morning I made a fire it was not very cold out of doors but in doors it was rather chilly. We had bread and molasses for breakfast as usual. Mr Oliver came back from Howes Cave yesterday after supper. I ought to have told you that Mr Oliver, four teachers and fifteen students went to Howes Cave on Friday morning, Mr Oliver caught a very bad cold at the cave. He sent me up to Mr Henry’s to ask him to preach for us in the school-room to-day, after I came back and was in my room, Mr Andrew Oliver came in and asked me where Willie (my chum) was I told him that I did not know. then he told me that he was going to Dominie Erskine’s church and if I wanted to go I might. Afternoon. I got back about half an hour ago. I had a good dinner. When I went to my room I found that my fire was almost gone out but I got it burning again. I sent this by mother’s letter.

From your loving brother

George

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 in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary S. Briggs, Interlaken New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1981. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved.