The envelope says:

          An
Mr. George Dute
zu Amhorst Lorain
County State of Ohio
               in
          Nordamerika

There  doesn't seem to be any date on this letter,  but it's from
brother Anton.


Die Ursache warum ich Dir nicht gleich, wie du
The reason why I didn't write to you, as you

doch wuenschtest, nach dem Empfang deines Briefes ge-
would have wanted, right after I received your letter,

schrieben habe, daran sind folgende Neuigkeiten Schuld:
                is due to following events:

dem aeltesten Sohn von unserm Vetter Johs. Dute zu
the oldest son of our cousin Johannes Dute in

A. ist seine Frau gestorben, er hat aber wieder geheira-
A(smushausen?) whose wife had died, but who got married again

thet u. wen? Das Anna Chatharina von meiner Schwe-
and to whom? Anna Catherine (daughter) of my sister

ster Elisabeth! Dieses neue Ehepaar hat sich aber auch
     Elizabeth! But this new married couple has also

schon wieder getrennt.  Der Grund davon ist Folgender:
already split up again. The reason for this is as follows:

Ohngefaehr 4 Wochen nach der Copulation, steht er des
About 4 weeks after the marriage, he gets up in the

Morgensfruehe auf, kocht den Kaffee fuer sich u. sein
morning,           makes coffee for himself and his

Kind von den ersten Frau, u. sagte seiner Frau: (dem A
child from the first wife, and said to his wife: (to A.

Cath) (?) wenn sie auch Kaffee trinken wollte, so moechte sie zu
                                                         ihrer
Catherine) if she also wanted some coffee, she could go to her

Mutter gehn, und sich welchen kochen lassen. Darauf ver-
mother,      and let her make some.          Thereupon

schliesst er Alles vor seiner Frau und erklaerte: dass er
he locks everything (cupboards etc.) up in front of his wife
                                       and declares:  that he


sie nicht leiden koennte (wahrscheinlich weil sie kein Vermoe-
couldn't stand  her      (probably because she has no

gen hat) und sagt ihr:  sie koennte hingehen, wo sie herge-
fortune) and tells her: she could go back where she came from.

kommen waere. Diesen Rath hat sie denn auch befolgt, und so
              She followed this advice,              and that's

sind sie wieder,    und das zwar weit von einander getrennt,
how they are again, and separated quite far from each other at
                                                           that,

denn hierueber aufgebracht hat sich meine Schwester bereit-
because being upset up over this my sister has

willig erklaert,        dem Willen ihres Mannes und Kinder zu
declared herself ready, to follow the will of her husband and

folgen und nach Russisch=Polen, wohin jetzt mehrere Deut-
children and to emigrate to Russian-Poland, where many Germans

(page 2)
schen ziehen, auszuwaendern. Nun ist seine Frau (das An-
are now moving.              Now his wife (Anna

na Chatherina) in Russisch=Polen, und sein Mann fuehrt
Catherina) is in Russia/Poland,   and her husband is

mit einer Tochter vom Dickel in Asmushausen seinen
maintaining his household with [the help of] a daughter
                                   of the Dickel (family?)

Haushalt fort.  Jch habe mit Hand und Mund abgewaehr-
in Asmushausen. I have opposed their departure with word

nicht fort zu machen, indem ich zum Voraus sahe, dass sie
and deed,             since I foresaw,           that they

sich ungluecklich machten, allein da sie ihr Land Schulden
made themselves unhappy,   but since they had to

halber doch verkaufen mussten,    so liessen sie sich nicht
sell their land because of debts, they didn't wait;

aufhalten; und so sind sie den 2ten Mai dieses Jahres
           and so they set out on the 2nd of May this year

nebst etlichen Familien aus Schwarzenhasel und Bebra
along with several families from Schwarzenhasel and Bebra.

abgereist. Mehrere Familien sind wieder zurueckge-
           A number of families have come back,


kommen, weil sie das erforderliche Geld, welches sie an
        because they no longer had the necessary money,

der Polischen Grenze vorzeigen muessen, nicht mehr ge-
which they had to produce at the Polish border,

habt haben, und meine Schwester hat auch kaum 150 (?) r-
            and my sister was hardly able to take 150 --

mitnehmen koennen, deshalb befuerchte ich auch noch, dass
with her,          therefore I fear                  that

sie wieder zurueck geschickt werden! Was alsdann an-
they will also be sent back!         What then!?

fangen! Es dauert mich Niemand mehr als meine
        I feel sorrier for no one more than my

Schwester und ihr kranken ganz verkrueppelter Hein-
sister and her sick quite crippled Hein-

rich. Dieser ist ganz verwachsen, so dass sie ihn von ei-
rich. This one is quite deformed, so that they must carry

nem Ort zum andern tragen muessen Gott gebe,
him from one place to another     May God

dass es besser ausfaellt und ihnen besser geht als ich
let it turn out better and go better for them than I

glaube. Es ist mir bange vor dem Brief den ich zu er-
think.  I am anxious about (?) the letter that I have to

warten habe; dann erfreuliche Nachricht werde ich nicht
expect;      then I will not get good news.

bekommen. Hier wird es alle Tage schlimmer, das Holz
          Here it gets worse every day,     wood has

(page 3)

ist wieder theurer geworden, das Streuwerk ist nicht mehr
gotten more expensive again, spreading stuff can no longer

anzuschaffen und die Strafen die dadurch entstehen, sind
be bought    and the penalties that arise from that

nicht mehr zu bezahlen. Dieses war auch eine Hauptursa-
are no longer payable.  This was also a chief reason

che mit, weshalb mein Schwager Peter Rohrbach darauf
         why     my   brother-in-law Peter Rohrbach


bestand fort zu machen; denn er war auf dem letzten
insisted on making off; because he on the last

Busstag        um 15 r- gestraft worden. Als ich deinem Pa-
day of repentance had been fined 15 --.  When I said to your

then, dem Johann George sagte, dass er nach Amerika zu
godchild, Johann George,   that he should go to you

dir kommen sollte, war er voller Freude, allein er ist auch
in America,        he was full of happiness, but he (went)

mit nach Polen        indem es sehr ungewiss war, ob der Herr
with (them) to Poland since it was very uncertain, whether Herr

Hildebrand ihn mit nehmen koennte. Er ist ein guter, klu-
Hildebrand could take him along.   He is a good, clever

ger und fleissiger Junge; ich haette sehr gewuenscht dass
    and diligent boy;     I would very much have wished that

er zu Dir gekommen waere.
he had gone to you.

     Lieber Bruder und Frau Schwiegern! schliesslich bitte ich
     Dear brother and sister-in-law.    in closing I ask

nochmals (im Fall Jhr noch mit meinem Schwager und
again (in case you (pl.) should still live in strife

Schwester in Feindschaft leben solltet) die Hand zum Frieden
with my sister and brother-in-law)      to offer your hand

zu bieten; denn der Kluegste gibt nach.      Warum wollet Jhr
in peace;  because the prudent man complies. Why do you (pl.)
                                                          want

Euch das kurze Leben so verbittern? Jch mag nicht gerne
to embitter a short life for yourselves? I would not like to live

mit fremden Leuten in Unfrieden leben, vielweniger aber (?)
in dissension with strangers,          but much less to leave

von Geschwister unversoehnt  aus dieser Welt scheiden. Jn der
this world unreconciled with brothers and sisters.     In the

Hoffnung, dass Jhr mir folgen werdet, bin ich nebst viele
                                                     Gruessen
hope,     that you will listen to me, I am with many greetings

von meiner lieben Frau u. saemmtlichen Kindern, so wie von
from my dear wife and all the children,         also from

meiner Schwester, Schwager Doellefeld, Vetter Roesinger
my sister, brother-in-law Doellefeld, cousin Roesinger


u. allen Verwandten u Bekannten Euer Euch bis in den
and all relatives and acquaintances your until

Tod-,  aufrichtig liebender Bruder u. Schwager: Anton Dute
death, sincere loving brother and brother-in-law: Anton Dute

NB. Viele Gruesse an meine Schwester Schwager und Kinder.--
NB. Many greetings to my sister brother-in-law and children.


(In the margin between page 2 and page 3:)
NB. Kann dann dein Kasper schon Englisch sprechen? Viele Gruesse
                              an ihn und meine Frau Schwiegern

NB. Can your Casper then speak English already? Many greetings
                              to him and my sister-in-law

          Von meiner Frau noch besonders, habe ich zu bestellen
          My wife specifically asked me to add this


(Page 4 doesn't seem connected to the rest of the letter:)
schreiben, allein wo und wie er sich befindet, darueber
write,     but where and how he is,            about that

kann ich Dir keine Nachricht geben; vielleicht das naechste
I can give you no news;             maybe next time.

mal. Gern haette ich deinem Wunsche gemaess, Dir einige
     I would have gladly as you requested,   bought you

Kleidungsstuecke gekauft und durch den Herrn Hildebrand
some pieces of clothing and sent them over with Herr

ueberschickt; allein da aus dessen beabsichtigter Heyrath
Hildebrand;   only as nothing came of his intended marriage,

nichts geworden ist, so konnte er das Geld dafuer nicht aus
                        he couldn't spare the money for it;

legen; deshalb habe ich deinen Wunsch nicht erfuellen koennen.
       therefore I have not been able to fulfill your wish.

Jch denke Du kommst in einigen Jahren selbst hierher und kaufst
I think you could come here yourself in a few years and buy

  hier in Deutschland
Dir fuer einige hundert Thaler lauter solche Gegenstaende, die
yourself here in Germany for a few hundred Thaler all sorts of
                                             such  objects that

du in Amerika mit g--ssem Gewinn wieder ---kaufen kannst;
you can sell again in Ameica at a great profit;

damit deine Reisekosten gedeckt werden. Mein Julius ist
with that your travel costs get covered. My Julius is

zu Hersfeld auf dem Gymnasium und mach rechte gute
in Hersfeld at the high school and is making very good

          er kostet mich aber jedes Jahre 100 r-
Fortschritte. Der Heinrich, welcher die zukuenftige Pfingsten
progress (though he costs me 100 -- a year). Heinrich, who will

confirmirt wird, geht bei den HE. Pfarrer Vilmar in
be confirmed next Whitsuntide, goes into instruction with

Unterricht, er will die Handlung lernen, und zeigt
Vicar Vilmar, he wants to learn the trade, and shows

Lust nach Amerika zu reisen. Was sprichst du dazu?
interest in going to America. What do you say to that?

Mariechen u Heinrich gehen gegenwaertig hier in die
Little Marie and Heinrich are now going to dancing school.

Tanzschule_ Der August, welcher jetzt 8 Jahr alt ist, ist ein
                August, who is now 8 years old, is a

guter und munterer Junge, er spielt schon gut Clavier.
good and lively child, he already plays good keyboard.

Dieser wird wohl ein Schullehrer werden; und das jueng-
This one will probably become a schoolteacher; and the youngest

ste heist Elischen, es ist jetzt 1 1/2 Jahre alt; auch dieses ist
is named little Elisa, she is now 1 1/2 years old; this is also a

wieder ein Kluges und munteres Kind; ob es das letzte
clever and lively child; whether she's the last

Nestkaeuzschen ist, weiss ich noch nicht. Jch und meine liebe
little nest-owl, I don't know yet.        I and my dear

Frau, wir befinden uns bis jetzt Gott sei Dank recht
wife, we find ourselves now thank God right

wohl. Unser Vetter der Heinrich Gleim von Wasenberg ist
well. Our cousin Heinrich Gleim of Wasenberg is

Pfarrer zu Sachsenhausen bei Treysa, u. hat den verflos-
Vicar in Sachsenhausen by Treysa, and got married last

senen Winter geheirathet; ob er gut geheirathet hat,
winter;                   whether he has married well,

kann ich dir nicht sagen; denn ich kenne die Frau Pfarren
I cannot say;             because I still don't know


noch nicht. Meine Schwester Cath. Elisabeth ist mit ihrer Familie
                                                         noch
his wife.   My sister Cath. Elisabeth and her family are still in


gesund, sie lassen Euch Alle viele mal gruessen. So oft wir bei
                                                            ein-
good health, they send you all many times greetings. Whenever we


    kommen
ander heisst es: was moegen sie wohl jetzt in Amerika machen?
get together we ask ourselves: What do you supppose they are
                                          doing now in America?



Notes:  We  learn more here about the dire situation in Hesse  in
those  days.  Inflation and emigration seem to have been just  as
bad  as  in  later  letters.  America  and  Poland  were  popular
destinations, but both required money, and you could be sent back
at the Polish border if you didn't have enough of it.
       Regarding Anton Dute's own family, we learn of son Julius,
who's in   school;  of Heinrich, who is about to be confirmed and
plans to  be a  minister (and  talks about coming to America); he
and his  sister Marie,  2 years  younger, are  in   dance school;
August is 8, and Elisa is 1 1/2. Elisa was born Feb. 16, 1836, so
this letter must have been  written somewhere in mid-1837.
     Regarding  the  extended family,  we find out  that  Anton's
cousin Johannes had a son who married  Anton's  sister  Elisabeth
Rohrbach's  daughter  Anna  Catherina Rohrbach,  so  this  was  a
second-cousin   marriage, not  a particularly  unusual  thing  in
Germany in  the old  days. And we find out why the Rohrbachs went
to Poland.  Note that  Elisabeth was  the only  one of  the  Dute
children who  did that; the others who left went to America. This
may have  been a  smart thing  to do  if they were trying to hide
their daughter's past.
     There may have been two sisters mentioned in this letter who
tried   to get  into Poland.  First, Elizabeth  who married Peter
Rohrbach and  was the  mother of  Anna Catherina  Rohrbach; Anton
says Anna  Catherina "is  in Russian-Poland"  (and we  know  from
later evidence  that they  did get in). But  then he implies they
weren't there  yet by expressing concern that they would get sent
back for  lack of  money at the border. It's possible that he was
referring to  his other  sister at  this point: he says she has a
crippled son  Heinrich, and  Catherine Elizabeth  Dute Doellefeld
did have  a son  by that  name who  died a  bit on the early side
(39); so  if this  is right  that would imply that her attempt to
get into  Poland failed.  But I  think it's more likely that only
sister Rohrbach  tried to get into Poland. Sister Cath. Elisabeth
and her  husband Doellefeld  are  also  mentioned  later  in  the
letter.
     Two cousins  are  also  mentioned,  Roesinger  and  Heinrich
Gleim. There is also a Johann George who is George Dute's godson,
and it  sounds like  he went  to Poland with the Rohrbachs, so he
may have  been their  son. And the Rohrbachs did have a son named
George.
     Casper  is  mentioned in this letter,  and he seems to  have
been  in America long enough to learn some English.  We find  out
about a family feud between George and his sister in America, who
is  probably  Anna  Martha Hasenpflug,  since  the  other sisters
Catherine Elizabeth  Dute Doellefeld and  Elisabeth Dute Rohrbach
were still in Europe then.
     Herr  Hildebrand is mentioned twice in this letter.  He  may
have been one of those transatlantic travelers like HE.  Holl.  I
can't find anything about him at Sutro.
     "Streuwerk", translated  as "spreading  stuff" at the top of
page 3,  meant, according  to Felix  G. Game who helped translate
this letter,  either   straw used  as a spread  in barns,  or any
spreadable thing like  sand  or  salt  used  on  slippery  roads;
this would  explain the following reference to fines, since there
was a   legal  obligation   ("Streupflicht") then  that  required
citizens   and/or municipalities  to spread  some such  thing  on
roads when conditions were icy. Or the Busstag where Rohrbach had
to pay the fine may have been like a Schuldtag where you  had  to
pay up cash money (to the church?) or risk imprisonment.
     Regarding place names, there is a Sachsenhausen  about 5  km
west of Schwalmstadt, which is about 25 or 30 miles southwest  of
Rotenburg and 5 km north of Wasenberg. Treysa seems to be a  part
of Schwalmstadt now. Russisch=Polen, where  the  Rohrbachs moved,
may be  the area  where Warsaw  is, east  of Posen  and  Silesia,
called Russian Poland on a map I have from 1871.