The Gurdenier Family Letters, re: Mining for Gold in California, 1852-54

A collection of nine letters by members of the Gurdenier family of Nyack, New York, written from 1852-54 to two brothers mining for gold in California. Eight letters were written by Charles (likely the youngest of three brothers) and their mother Eliza. The ninth letter was written by a friend or relative of the two brothers at the "Douglass Flat" mining camp in Calaveras County, California. The earliest letter is very good with a few tiny tears at the original corner folds, else the other eight are near fine overall, neatly written in ink. Both Charles and Eliza write with affection and concern for both brothers, John and Theophilus, and both comment and speculate on their gold mining activities at Mariposa and Calaveras County. As noted in a letter from 1853: "now it is almost 5 years since you [Theophilus] left us and over 3 since John left …" Theophilus struck out at the beginning of the gold rush in 1849. In his first letter to John from September 1852, Charles paints a dire picture of life at home in Nyack: "… oh how many times your mother has weeped for you … I am a clerk in Smith Tallman’s Store. I get 4 dollars a month … As for R.H. Felter [a business partner] he has busted up and your father has lost a great deal of money by it, and I think he is a damn shit ass … Your sister Julia is not very well … Your father goes on the steamboat Washington Irving … it is very hard work for him … I wish you would send me a little gold. We have heard nothing from Theo in a great while, I think he is dead …" It is not until nearly a year later (August, 1853), that they find out why Theo was incognito: "… Having received a letter from you we were all glad to hear you was yet alive after having been caved upon by the falling in of a shaft injuring you some considerably which I hope you will be better soon and regain your health … I feel grateful to you for rebuking me … we thought you was dead until you wrote from Mariposa | we haven’t had no letter from you before this one in over 2 years … I am sorry to say when mother opened my letter she dropped my Gold out and we could not find it | send me more if you please, 1 little speck …" According to two letters from 1854 written by Eliza, both brothers appear to be doing well, and continue to enclose gold in their letters back home: "My dear children … the gold you sent us has been a great curiosity to all who have seen it. | To think is was dug out of the earth | I have heard it was dangerous work | I hope no accident will befall you again … // … we are all glad to hear … that you were at work in one place together … Theophilus my dear son you wrote you had given John an interest with you which I think is a grateful feeling you have toward him. We received your letters October the 31 and the gold in them all safe | a piece for Julia and a piece for Mary and a piece for Charles …" Also included is a mysterious letter written at "Douglass Flat" with a hard to read date (1855?) that was hand delivered by Theophilus: "Dear Brother … I have been in the Sons of Temperance for the last six months and I have had steady work pretty much all the time although I have not drawed any money for the last 4 months past and I thought I would not draw any till I can send a large sum home to you | Although I don’t like to send any at present as the expresses … from here has failed and a great many poor people have lost all they have ever made … / … You will receive this letter from a young man that works the next claim to where I work and he will tell you all the particulars about me | his name is Theophilus Gaudinier … John [?]" A compelling cache of letters that provide a detailed first-hand account of the dangers and rewards experienced by an East Coast family with two brothers mining for gold in California at the height of the gold rush. A detailed list of all nine letters, including extracts, is available.…