Group of 4 handwritten letters (stampless) from Charles Jenkins (Bangor Maine) in 1846 to his brother John residing in Falmouth concerning lumbering business and concern for brother James, highlights include an Episcopalian cleric forging a note,

[John Jenkins (1798-1859) and brother Charles (1805-1862) were born in Falmouth to Captain Weston Jenkins (1768-1834) and Elizabeth Robinson (1774-1837) who were married in 1795. According to research, John operated a whale supply shop, and was president of the Falmouth National Bank from 1843 until his death. John was also a state Senator. John married Chloe Thompson after the death of his first wife Harriet. John and Charles descended from John Jenkins born in Sandwich Massachusetts (1626-1684) and resident in Plymouth Colony; who was married in 1648 to Susanna Cooke (1628-1684) Charles Jenkins moved to Bangor circa 1850 and died there. Charles married Phoebe Bishop (1812-1875) in 1835.]

Names of relatives mentioned in letters include Chloe, Eunice, Hetty and brother James who lived from 1809-1885 who’s business was center of several letters. Though not stated in letters, Family research indicates James moved to Wisconsin circa 1854 and died in Oshkosh.

Archive of 4 letters from 1846 include:

January 30; May 9; July 5; October 9

A few excerpts

Jan 30, 1846

Dear brother;

James left yesterday for the woods expecting to be absent about a fortnight he requested me to write to you... James is just now very flush having add hand more funds then he can use at present......he has a good deal of paper coming due in Connecticut and as there was such a cry of hard times in Boston he thought he would send it on to a bank in Norwich but did not much expect it would be discounted.... but the express today brought the whole batch the fact is the western banks are anxious to get their bills in circulation in these eastern regions.... they will ask you if you can accommodate them with the silver but offer them a bill on a western bank.... Falmouth Money seems to be pretty well known here as is considered as good as any of the Boston banks.... The mail today also brought us news of the arrival at New York and also the intelligence that the Clara Cole is on her passage to Boston.... and on her arrival James expects to receive some $2000...... I had calculated to go into the woods with James at this time but he was to be gone too long..... tell Elijah he may depend on a letter after my return from the uncivilized regions we are all pretty well just now at our houses expect that wife does have every now and then a fit of homesickness saying oh gr if I could only see Chloe, Eliza Swift and Mrs. Hooker I wouldn’t care for all of Bangor, yours Charles

May 9, 1846

Brother John,

My particular object in writing you today is to make some inquiries relative to James’ business.... my last news from him was on Saturday late he was there at the oxbow near the farther extremity of the Aroostook river his logs had all passed out of the Brooks and small streams into the main river his success thus far have exceeded his expectations... James wrote he should not leave it till the falls were passed now he will want phones in Boston about the 27th of this month... we think there is no doubt James will be at home in season to attend to his paper but Mr. Kimball always feels anxious when James is away.. I have a very good opinion of James business paper the lumber dealers seem to prefer dealing with him and he has his pick of customers ....,I entirely agree with you your judgment in reference to James business operations... everything that James controls and overseas himself seems to succeed but by stretching himself so much employing so many agents and things... The man that are now getting ahead here and really making money are those who make but little noise they lumber and rather a small way just as much is they can personally see too and manage conveniently by and sell lumber here and keep smug such as foster and Upton..... and first there is Goddard and Jenkins business they have already lost some $15,000 within the year past suspended on the decision of lawsuits.....Yours truly, Charles

July 5, 1846

brother John,

James leaves us today for the westward on business and I suggested to him to take Falmouth on his way... thinks it possible he may meet you at New Bedford I hope he will for I think it will do him good to talk over with you his business matters.... I hope you will give him a good deal of brotherly advice.... there is no human calculation more certain than that these logs can be turned into the dollars early next season.... I do hope the day will come when he will be able to live more like a rational man.... as my children increase in years I find the task more and more difficult and if it were not for the precious promises of our heavenly father I should feel entirely discouraged... Foster and Harriet are desirable children I am much obliged to you for the willingness you expressed to loan me a few hundred dollars in aid of a house I talked of building and by vacant lot....Hatty is with us and we enjoy her visit very much wife has had an ill term was confined to her bed for a week but now getting about again..I like the summer weather almost as well as the winter weather I hope Phoebe will not feel it necessary to go away from home this season not withstanding she is now very weak and rundown if she does I shall send her down the river to practice sea bathing ... yours Charles

October 9, 1846

Brother John, the recollection of my recent visit to you is very pleasant... The quiet order and happiness of your own dear family the interesting developments the progressive improvements interested me very much... I will state and a Episcopal clergy man of Boston a rector of one of our churches forged James name at the bank.. James received a notice from the bank the day before I arrived home which led to the detection of this Rascality. ..... The Reverend confessed his guilt but took of the note at the last moment and James gave him until today to raise the mortgage and square up...

It is astonishing to see how much Romanism there is even with the best of churchman they seem to feel everything however preposterous that it is for the good of the church must be done... phoebe felt lonesome after Hatty left but she is much better spirits than I could expect her to be give love to Eunice and tell her we show now I’ll be looking forward to her visit if you can sell my pew and the gallery for cash I should be very glad to put it into my house the pew and alterations cost me $25..Give lots of love to Chloe and children, Charles

From the first settlers of Bangor to the early 20th century, Bangor’s lumbering history has been rich and plentiful. Almost 90 percent of Maine was heavily forested land. Maine’s white pine, an ideal wood with many uses was used for masts for ships, lobster traps, and lumber for houses.

Bangor sits on the west bank of the Penobscot River, at the head of navigation 60 miles from the ocean. It is the commercial and cultural center of eastern Maine and was the focal point of an enormous trade in Maine pine in the middle of the 19th century.

Samuel de Champlain sailed up the Penobscot as far as the site of Bangor in 1604. He was searching for the mythical city of "Norumbega," but found instead an important rendezvous spot of the natives. Bangor's Norumbega Park commemorates Champlain's voyage. In 1769, the first permanent settler, Jacob Buswell, arrived from Salisbury, Massachusetts. The first sawmill was built in 1772. Originally known as Kenduskeag or perhaps Cunduskeag, Bangor was incorporated as a town in 1791, with the name chosen by the Reverend Seth Noble, to commemorate his favorite hymn.

Bangor was occupied by the British in 1814. The first bridge was built across the Penobscot to Brewer in 1831. The city was incorporated in 1834.

Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820 when it voted to secede from Massachusetts and was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state under the Missouri Compromise.

Falmouth was first settled by English colonists in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1686. Bartholomew Gosnold named the settlement for Falmouth, Cornwall, England, his home port. Early principal activities were farming, salt works, shipping, whaling, and sheep husbandry, which was very popular due to the introduction of Merino sheep and the beginnings of water-powered mills that could process the wool.

Condition and notes

Heavily creased

Minor splits in folds

Penmanship very readable

Pencil notes at top from a previous owner

Marginal tear from broken seal on October letter

Minor ink smudges

Blank has marginal tear from broken seal

Blue paper embossed P&S Tyringham Mass

Blue stationary lightly foxed

Mailed flat

Will not separate