Letters from a wife of another British Administrator to her sister in Britain 1775-1783

Dearest Elizabeth,

I miss you so very much!  I hope you are well! Grandy has been so hard to live with lately. He is so uneasy and anxious, which is making me uneasy, anxious, and very stressed out.  These 13 Colonies I keep telling you about cause the stress.

 On and on he goes, “The 13 Colonies are going to revolt!  They are so rebellious! My career is over!” Blah blah blah.  The only thing that has really caught my attention since Grandy started blathering on was this meeting.  The meeting is called Continental Congress. The 13 colonies are holding the meeting next week. They are going to talk about their rebellious plans.  Wish me luck dear sister. I will be hearing about the details of this meeting until I am at my deathbed.

            Your loving sister,

                                  Balthilda

Dear Elizabeth,

            The worst possible situation has occurred (according to Grandy). A rumor has been flitting through town, and apparently, the 13 Colonies are going to take up arms against the British! Grandy is in the bathroom right now. He’s been there for over an hour. I should probably go check on him. At least he isn’t bawling anymore. Although I am hearing several distinct sniffles. Oh, the bawling just started again.   You know I really wished we stayed in Britain.

            Good wishes to all.

            Balthilda

Dear Elizabeth,

             You won’t believe it! War has broken out! I am very concerned for Grandy’s health.  Every night he comes home- he is not fighting in the war, he is overseeing some men in training and discussing possible target plans-  and falls asleep on the wooden chair in the kitchen. He doesn’t even lock himself up anymore to cry. Now he goes outside and chops wood. I don’t know which is worse.  Things are very tricky. Remember my old friend, Janie? I wrote you about her a long time ago. Well, her husband, Harry, was a part of the 13 Colonies. We used to chat at the market, but now we cannot. They are so strict here. If anyone who is for the British side shows favoritism to the 13 Colonies, you could get in big trouble. Likewise for the 13 colonies. Life is getting so complicated. Uh oh. I’d better sign off here. Grandy just came in from chopping the wood. He’s got a nice RED rag wrapped around his hand. It’s dripping.

Love you Elizabeth! ~Balthilda

            Dear Elizabeth,

                        The British have lost the American Revolution! Our neighbors, the Macdonald’s are good friends, and members of the 13 colonies. However, they favoured Britain. Now they are being forced to move out of the United States, by the 13 Colonies.   We are going to move with them. Grandy has lost his job, and there is no use for us here anymore. We love Britain more that the United States, and we can’t see our lives here anymore. We cannot afford to keep any of our belongings.  I do not know if, and when I will ever get the chance to write to you.  My life is getting more and more miserable. The 13 Colonies have been destroying the neighbor’s property. Just yesterday, they set fire to their Cornfield. The fire spread onto our home, and the logs Grandy has been so carefully stacking exploded. The fire seeped into our home, and all the curtains are black.  I love you, dear sister.

Balthilda