| Folder 1 |
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Fales, Mary to Fales, Stephen S.
Bristol, RI
3 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Mary (Smith) Fales to her 22-year-old son Stephen Smith Fales in
"Havanna" Cuba, sent by way of Levi DeWolf, guardian of the Fales children.
In it she quotes Cowper and reports that Stephen's "sweet little boy
[William] grows finely and is handsome as ever and I much fear I shall love
him too well."
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1806 Jan 26 |
| Folder 2 |
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Fales, Mary to Fales, Lydia S.
Bristol, RI
3 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Mary (Smith) Fales to her daughter Lydia at the Misses Patten
School in Hartford, Conn., in which she mentions her own school in Bristol,
Rhode Island, and Lydia's brother William's voyage to Calcutta, India.
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1806? Jun 12 |
| Folder 3 |
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Smith, Louisa to Fales, Lydia S.
Bristol, RI
2 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Louisa Smith to Lydia Fales in Hartford, describing her own trip
to Connecticut and referring to several of their friends' romances.
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1806 Jul 13 |
| Folder 4 |
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Fales, Mary to Fales, Lydia S.
Bristol, RI
3 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Mary (Smith) Fales to her daughter Lydia in Hartford, written on
Mary's birthday. She describes a funeral procession and reflects on her own
mortality.
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1806 Jul 18 |
| Folder 5 |
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Fales, Mary to Fales, Lydia S.
Bristol, RI
3 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Mary (Smith) Fales to daughter Lydia in Hartford, in which she
expresses her longing to be reunited with her children and responds to
Lydia's wish to remain longer at school: "...were my abilities equal to my
wishes every rational desire of yours should be gratified as far as it lay
in my power." She also worries about Lydia's brothers Stephen and William,
both of whom are abroad.
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1806 Sep 2 |
| Folder 6 |
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Patton, Harriet to Fales, Lydia S.
East Hartford, CT
2 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Harriet Patten to Lydia Fales in Bristol, Rhode Island. Harriet's
effusive religious sentiment in this letter reflects the religious
revivalism of the time: "...time will not admit or I would write you
concerning the awakening..."
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1813 Jun 1 |
| Folder 7 |
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Fales, Stephen S. to Fales, Lydia S.
Bristol, RI
2 pages
Contents Note: Letter from Stephen S. Fales to his sister Lydia at the Rev. Henshaw's in
"Brookline" Long Island. He writes about his need of spiritual revival, "so
far from God, so little engaged in things of eternity," and closes with news
of the improved health of their Aunt Howe.
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1815 May 26 |
| Folder 8 |
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Fales, William to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Madruga, Cuba
1 page
Contents Note: Letter to Lydia (Fales) French from her nephew William Fales describing
family matters on the plantation in Cuba. Of his younger brother he writes:
"Thomas can talk very plain and a little spanish and he is all the time a
playing with the little Negroes..."
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1818 Nov
7 |
| Folder 9 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Madruga, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen Fales writes from Madruga to his sister Lydia with instructions for
his son William's care and education during William's stay in Bristol, Rhode
Island.
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1819
Apr 23 |
| Folder 10 |
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Fales, Esteban [i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Madruga, Cuba
1 page
Contents Note: Upon the return of William to Cuba, Stephen expresses his gratitude to Lydia
and asks about her husband, Captain Zechariah French.
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1819
Oct 1 |
| Folder 11 |
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Fales, Esteban [i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
1 page
Contents Note: Stephen writes Lydia to tell her that he and his family are well and hopes
that she is "equally blessed."
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1820
Jun 9 |
| Folder 12 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to [French, Lydia S. Fales;
addressed to "Capt. Zech[ariah] French"]
Madruga, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: In this letter Stephen chides Lydia for not responding to his last letter,
which informed her of their brother William's death. "Poor William ...
express'd his fear that if he was taken sick he should not survive--his
apprehension poor fellow was not groundless."
He also expresses his wish that his daughter Betsey go to school in either
Baltimore (where the Rev. Henshaw is now located) or Boston, and asks Lydia
to inquire about tuition.
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1820 Jul 21 |
| Folder 13 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Stephen describes to Lydia his "flourishing" plantation and wishes that
"brother Zach." (Lydia's husband) could settle in Cuba "as I know you would
be charmed with the country." He also praises his own son Tom for his
planting skills.
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1822
Jun 24 |
| Folder 14 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Stephen expresses his shock at the news of the death of Lydia's husband,
Captain Zechariah French, and promises a visit to Bristol from his wife
Phebe and daughter Betsey.
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1822
Aug 22 |
| Folder 15 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen reports to Lydia that he has spent the previous autumn confined with
illness, relying on his wife Phebe to oversee the plantation. He, along with
several members of his family, suffered from parasitic Guinea worms.
Although his wife and daughter did not make the promised trip to Bristol, he
is considering sending his daughter Harriet, "she is growing quite wild
having no school..."
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1823
Apr 18 |
| Folder 16 |
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Fales, Estaban [i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Stephen remarks on the death of his maternal grandmother as well as that of
Levi DeWolf. He devotes the remainder of the letter to a description of
"Mrs. O", the pampered wife of his business partner, Captain Oliver. She has
"a very limited understanding [and her] whole time is devoted to dress and
flesh and not unfrequently given to fibbing."
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1823
May 26 |
| Folder 17 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Suffering once more from Guinea worms Stephen responds to Lydia's last
letter, in which she described the family's financial straits. "[I]t would
have given me infinite pleasure to have had it in my power to extricate you
from your present embarrassments...but [I] am still a debtor." Later he
alludes to "the recent change in Gov't. here" and reassures her that no
local disturbances have ensued.
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1824
Apr [?] 4 |
| Folder 18 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Description of the slave uprising in Cuba on 15 June 1825, the death of all
the members of the Armitage family who owned a coffee estate near the Fales,
and the escape of the Fales family into the woods. Stephen wrote: "I have
great reason to be grateful that my Negroes are perfectly contented &
submissive. Had they have joined the insurgents no doubt our names would
have been added to the killed, as we live retired from the main road."
Includes transcription.
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1825
Jun 21 |
| Folder 19 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Sumedero, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Writes of family matters and reports that the slave rebellion which began in
June of 1825 has been stopped.
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1826
Jan 28 |
| Folder 20 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. and W[illiam] Fales to French,
Lydia S. [Fales]
Ciguapa, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: In this letter, Stephen promises Lydia two sacks of coffee and asks after his
son Thomas who is being schooled in Bristol.
On the verso (dated two days later) Stephen's son William writes that he is
unable to send the promised coffee and chides his aunt for failing to
write.
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1827 May 22 and 24 |
| Folder 21 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Ciguapa, Cuba
1 page
Contents Note: Stephen expresses his gratitude to Lydia for overseeing Thomas's education.
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1827
Jun 10 |
| Folder 22 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Siguapa [i.e. Ciguapa], Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen describes his financial difficulties and reports that his daughter
Mary has given birth to another son.
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1829
Jan 22 |
| Folder 23 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Siguapa [i.e. Ciguapa], Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen expresses his gratitude to Lydia for taking care of his son Thomas,
who has now returned to Cuba.
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1830
Feb 4 |
| Folder 24 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Siguapa [i.e. Ciguapa], Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen reports that his daugher-in-law Martha (wife of William Fales) is
recovering from smallpox, but the rest of the family is well. He requests
that Lydia collect a $70 debt from James Fales: "If you cannot collect but
by coercion I wish you attempt it, after getting proper advice..."
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1830
Mar 24 |
| Folder 25 |
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Fales, T[homas] J[ames] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Camarioca, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: An affectionate letter from sixteen-year-old Thomas Fales to his aunt,
expressing his wish to be back in Bristol. He hopes to find a position as a
clerk in a "mercantile house in Matanzas" he tells her, "... but there are
so many young men that are seeking the same situation ... that I almost
despair of finding one ..."
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1831 Mar
5 |
| Folder 26 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Siguapa [i.e. Ciguapa], Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Stephen sends news of his family and promises Lydia "a barrel of good brown
sugar" by way of Capt. Usher of the Brig Clyde.
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1831
Aug 26 |
| Folder 27 |
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[Fales], Thomas [James] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Camarioca, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Thomas expresses his disappointment at not receiving a letter from Lydia,
despite the arrival of several ships from Bristol. He reports that he has
grown very tall since he left her and "am much changed in looks too I
believe (They tell me it is not for the better)."
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1832 Jan
25 |
| Folder 28 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Siguapa [i.e. Ciguapa], Cuba
1 page
Contents Note: Stephen writes that his daughter Mary has given birth to a girl and that she
and her husband William Brown will be leaving Matanzas for New Orleans. He
ends with a nota bene: "Please write oft'ner."
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1832
Apr 16 |
| Folder 29 |
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[Fales], Thomas [James] to [French, Lydia S. Fales?]
Matanzas, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Thomas sends news of his position in the counting house of Mr. Albers in
Matanzas, and he mentions the cholera epidemic in Philadelphia and New
York.
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1832 Aug
25 |
| Folder 30 |
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Fales, E[steban, i.e. Stephen] S. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Camarioca, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: A relatively long and informative letter in which Stephen expresses his
concerns about "the Colera" spreading to Cuba, having heard of its
occurrence in Rhode Island. "Our Cities are dreadfully filthy," he writes
and "... most of our practioners [sic] are merely charlatans..."
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1833
Jan 19 |
| Folder 31 |
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[Fales], Thomas [James] to [French, Lydia s. Fales?]
Matanzas, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Thomas informs Lydia of his sister Betsey's marriage to John Mayo and of his
sister Harriet's new son.
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1833 Feb
20 |
| Folder 32 |
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Fales, Tho[ma]s [James] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Thomas writes about the prospect of a visit to Bristol and describes the
Cholera epidemic in Cuba: "It is supposed that near ten thousand persons
mostly negroes have been attacked in the Havanna nearly all of them
died."
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1833 Apr
13 |
| Folder 33 |
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Fales, Tho[ma]s [James] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Having received no reply to his letter of 13 Apr. 1833, Thomas pleads with
Lydia to write to him. He sends news of his own health (an eye inflammation
treated by "a Dunce of a Doctor") and that of his family.
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1834 Feb
15 |
| Folder 34 |
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Fales, Tho[ma]s [James] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Thomas thanks Lydia for her last letter and writes of family matters. He
sends her a half-barrel each of white and brown sugar "as a token of my
affection for you" and asks her to send him "one or two Bottles of good Rose
Water."
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1834 Mar
24 |
| Folder 35 |
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Fales, Tomas [i.e. Thomas Jones] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: Thomas writes that he is happy to hear that Lydia has given up her school "as
I am convinced it must be a great bore to any body to keep one." He notes
that he has passed his two-year anniversary in the mercantile house.
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1834
Jul 1 |
| Folder 36 |
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Howe, J. B. to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
"The Rectory" [no town or city indicated]
2 pages
Contents Note: This letter describes a recent church fair and some of the articles that were
sold at it.
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1834 Jul
1 |
| Folder 37 |
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Fales, Tomas [i.e. Thomas Jones] to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
3 pages
Contents Note: Thomas writes with news of the family ("Harriet 'is in a way that all wives
like to be who love their lords'...") and requests that Lydia price several
books, including The Life of Napoleon and The Natural History of
Insects.
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1834
Sep 13 |
| Folder 38 |
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Fales, William to French, Lydia S. [Fales]
Matanzas, Cuba
2 pages
Contents Note: William responds to Lydia's letter informing him of the deaths of both
parents--Stephen and Phebe Fales--during a visit to Bristol.
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1840 Jan
4 |
| Folder 39 |
|
Article by Richard B. Jordan, "Letters to Lydia: The Fales Family,
1806-1856" in the S.P.A. Journal, Vol. 44, No. 3
12 pages
Contents Note: Article relating the history of the Fales family in Cuba as described in
their letters. Includes transcriptions of many of the letters and a table of
the postmarks used on all of them.
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1981
Nov |
