MySource:Sandra L/Phillipsburg Letters from Christianna to son Thomas Lommasson in Ohio

== From the Lommasson Family in Phillipsburg 1864-1867 Letters transcribed by Sandra Lommasson Note there are many misspellings in the originals which are not corrected here.

Phillipsburg, New Jersey April 4th, 1864

Dear daughter, I thought I would write to you to let you know that I am alive and well and hope you are the same. I would like to know how many children you have got and what there names are. I never heard anything from you until Able came from your place. Is Thomas at war wt you son, I would like to see you all, all of your brother-in laws are well and so are there children. I haven’t much to write, Able said you had bought a lot, have you got it paid for. I am very glad to here you are getting along so well, give my love to all of the children, and keep a large share for yourself.

You mother Christiann.

Dear Cousin Will,

You may think it strange that I address you so familiarly but I can’t help it for you are the son of my pa’s brother. I have got two brothers and no sisters. I am the oldest, I am fourteen and are five feet two inches high. James, the next is twelve, and he is four feet eight inches high and very large of his age, George the baby is ten he is four feet six inches high, pretty large baby isn’t he. I don’t know what you sister’s name is, but tell her to write, for I want to know her, I will soon get acquainted with her if she will only write, I will now tell you how I want you to do; get a sheet of foolscap paper and then you will write all you want and then give it one of the next and let them write, and so on ‘till it gets all around, and if one sheet isn’t enough get another, for I like to get long letters. You must let one of the little boys write to George and James it will please them aver so much they will answer it as soon as they get it. Give my love to all your little brothers and sisters and tell me when you write what there names is and what sort of eyes they have got – and color there hair is and if they are pretty. I will now tell you how I look. I’m not pretty by any means. I have black eyes, dark complexion and I don’t know what color my hair is some say’s it is brown some say’s it chestnut but pa’s say’s it has’ent got any color, I don’t know but at any rate it is pretty dark. I am going to stand for some photographs and if you will write I will send you one, I am at Grandma’s now she has got you sister and brothers picture. I think she is really pretty, our brother looks like cousin Sam Lommasson, Uncle Law’s boy. Will if you are as good looking as your sister you are a real pretty boy, perhaps you are grown up, I don’t know – maybe you are pretty near married. Oh. I wish I knew you, well? If you are married you must write anyway. I was telling you about that picture, maybe it is you, tell your sister to be sure and write and send me your picture and as many of the rest as you can, and I will send mine and the boy’s. Give my love to Aunt and Uncle and tell them to write ma and pa. Well I must stop writing or you will be tired of reading so good bye.

you affectionate cousin

Emily Lommasson

P.S. Grandma is keeping house alone she is getting pretty old, she is 71 but is smart for such an old woman, she may someday come and see you, so will I. I think some of you might come and see us. EL

Direct you letters to Emily Lommasson, Phillipsburg New Jersey

June 4th, 1864

Dear Daughter1,

I received both of your letters and was very glad to hear from you, I would have written sooner but did not have time. I am very well and hope you are the same. Able Young2 was hear yesterday; they are all well. What is William3 doing; and is Tommie4 working at his trade. When is Thomas’s time out; he has’ent re-enlisted5 has he (your husband), I would like to know very much whether he has re-enlisted again. You said that if you didn’t pay for your lot this summer it would be sold. I would’ent let it go if I was you. The boys can all help pay for it. It would be to bad to let it go now as you have it near paid for. I want you to be sure and write back and tell me if Thomas has been home lately you said he was coming soon. I hope you will get your house paid for. I will close briefly with much love to all.

I am your affectionate mother6

Christianna Carhart7

FOOTNOTES:

1 Eliza Mary Nichols, wife of Thomas Lommasson.

2 Husband of Elizabeth Lommasson and the one who discovered his Ohio in-laws while traveling. Abel and Elizabeth had two daughters, Susan Young and Sarah Young.

3 William Lommasson, born 13 December, 1842 in NJ. Enlisted with the Ohio Volunteers at Bucyrus Jan 1865, Co C 186th OVI and was discharged with his regiment at the end of the war.

4 Thomas Lommasson, born 27 June 1839 in Easton, PA. Probably the Thomas C. Lommasson who served for 3 months in the Ohio volunteers, 8th regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company C, 1861, rank private.

5 Thomas Lommasson, born 27 October 1813 in Northumberland, PA, brother of Lawrence, enlisted for three years with the Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Bucyrus July 3 1862 Co K 45th OVI. I also have his commission in the New Jersey Militia to Lieutenant (Third Company of the Second Battalion, First Regiment of the Warren Brigade). It is dated 25 May 1841, signed and has the NJ seal affixed.

6 While Christianna is actually Eliza’s mother-in-law, it’s the convention to refer to her as daughter. With the exception of Thomas and Elizabeth Lommasson, it appears that most of the children of Christianna Smith and Andrew Lommasson stayed in the New Jersey area. (I have not found records yet for Samuel, George, and Andrew. Don’t know if they died or the names are in error). Bolded individuals are explicitly mentioned in the letters. Daughter Sally Ann Lommasson married Louis Reese and had two daughters, Mary Reese (who pens these letters for her grandmother) and Lizzie Reese. Son Abraham married Elizabeth Harris and had 3 children, Emmaline (probably the ‘Emily” who authored several of these letters), James Harris Lommasson, and George Titman Lommasson. Elizabeth Lommasson (Betsy) married Abel Young and had two daughters, Susan Young and Sarah Young. Lawrence (referred to as ‘Law’) married Mary Ann Winters and they had five children, Barbara Elinor Lommasson, Sallie Ann Lommasson, Andrew Tunis Lommasson, Samuel Lommasson, and Sarah Elizabeth Lommasson.

7 I assume this is Eliza Nichols Lommasson’s mother-in-law Christianna Schmidt (or Smith). After the death of husband Andrew Lommasson (date unknown), Christianna remarried a Samuel Carhart (date unknown) and had two more sons, John Carhart and Jesse Carhart.

June 4th, 1864

Dear Auntie,

As I see no prospect of ever getting a letter from Willie8 unless I get you to give him a scolding for me now that cousin Thomas is at home get him to write, he can write interesting letters as he has been in the army. Auntie there is so many of you to write, I think one of you might write to me. Please tell Will for me if he doesn’t write I will some day I will some day come to see you (not him) and then if he is home I will give him as good a scolding as he ever got, perhaps whip him beside. Tell little Emma9 to learn to write as soon as she can she can’t now and write letters to me. James10 sends his love to all but particularly to Georgie11. George12 sends his to all, he don’t know which he likes best. James has taken a great notion to George for he thinks he is about as large as he is. Give my love to cousin Maria13 and tell her to write to me, if she isent to busy. Well I will have to stop writing. This is the second letter and I have not received an answer to the first. Auntie you must write to me if none of the rest won’t.

I am your affectionate neice

Emily Lommasson14

Phillipsburg, October 27th, 1865

Dear Eliza,

I received your letter some time since and have not had anyone to answer it for me. I suppose that you know Mary Ann Lommasson, Lawrence’s wife is sick. She has been sick for four or five weeks so that she is in bed a greater part of the time. Sarah (her daughter) could not go back to school this fall for there was so much work to do that ?? could not do it alone. Jesse Carhart and his wife has gone up there this afternoon. Sally Reese is going to New York next week if nothing happens to prevent. She is going to take her youngest daughter Lizzie with her. I am going up to Castner? Carhart’s next Tuesday to a wedding. His only daughter is to be married to Joseph Thomas?/Rhymer? From Pennsylvania. I am very glad to hear that Thomas is home again safe and sound. How is his health, is it as good as it was before he went to the war. I would like very much to see him. I wish he would come out to see us, I know they all would be glad to see him.

I was up to Abel Young’s week before last and they all were all very well except Sarah’s baby who has been sick for some time. It is quite healthy here now there is not much sickness here now.

We are all well at present. Love from all.

C. Carhart Written by Mary C. Reese?

Write soon.

Dere Brather15

Dere brather I wish you would come to

Phillipsburg New Jersey

January 22nd, 1867

Dear Son,

I have waited a long time for an answer to my letter but as I get none I will write again and hope to receive a speedy answer. I am well and am enjoying as good health as can be expected. The next of our folks are well except George Lommasson Abe’s youngest boy. A large rolling? mill was completely blown up by the bursting of a boiler and George was there looking on at the time of the explosion (which occurred yesterday) and was thrown a considerable distance but escaped with but little injury. He will be about we think in about a week. Emily (Abes daughter) and Sallie (Laws daughter) are here today. We all live in town Abe, Sallie, Jesse, John and Laws children so we all together except you and Betsie16, and we wish you both were here. I suppose you have heard of Aunt Eve Smith’s17 death.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry? Mitt? are dead and his property was praised at ninety thousand dollars. There is any quantity of snow and the sleighing is excellent. A great many are enjoying it. What are you working at and what are the boys doing and is Marie at home? Write soon and tell me all about them all. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain,

Your Mother

FOOTNOTES:

8 William Lommasson

9 Emma Jane Lommasson does indeed learn to write. In fact she becomes a school teacher and I have extensive journals of her travel from Ohio to Washington territory in 1885 and then a trip around the world with husband J. B. Scott in about 1910. I also have genealogical notes as she tried to discover more from the 1838-1839 letters received from her mother Eliza Mary Nichols. They had no children.

10 James Harris Lommasson, Emily’s brother

11 George Marshall Lommasson, my great grandfather.

12 George Titman Lommasson, Emily’s other brother. He dies at an early age after an accident referenced in one of the letters.

13 Also called Marie is probably Ana Maria, the oldest living daughter of Thomas and Eliza who never marries.

14 Emmaline, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Harris is probably 14. She never marries and dies in a car accident in 1911.

15 Very limited scrawl in pencil. Probably either Sallie Ann Lommasson Reese or Elizabeth Lommasson Young. This generation of the family – or at least the women -- seemed barely literate as mother Christianna asks her grand-daughters to write for her. Son Thomas (my GGGF) doesn’t seem to write letters either, leaving this to his wife.

16 Elizabeth Lommasson Young

17 Probably a sister or sister-in-law of Christianna Smith.

Dear Uncle Tom,

Please tell Cousin Tom that I have not forgotten him and will write to him as soon as I can possibly find time. I do wish you would come to see us. I want to see you so much. I would come to see you if I could but I have to go to school. Give my love to Auntie and to all the boys and girls and keep a large share for yourself.

Your loving niece

Emily Lommasson

P.S. Grandma sends you her picture it is excellent.