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Writing to his father, Lewis mentions that he has been absent from home for a year or more and has had "as good luck . . . as can be expected for a young man to start out into the world with out anything . . . ." Also mentions that he has heard by letter that his brother (Benjamin) and cousin are safely arrived at Osnabruck, Upper Canada (a township on the St. Lawrence), hoping to make bricks.

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Writing to Thomas Estman (Eastman) at Peacham, Lewis tells of his travels to and within Canada over the past year: from Peacham to Montreal, up and down the Grand (Ottawa) River, a stay in Quebec, and return to Montreal.

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Lewis relays news of his brother Benjamin's brickmaking enterprise at Osnabruck, and gives a positive report of the state of trade locally: ". . . there was never known to be so much Shipping in Montreal ever sinse it was Settled . . . ."

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Lewis reports that he has been upriver to Osnabruck, and plans to return to tend a store for a man named Wells.

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Benjamin reports on the progress of his brickmaking venture, remarking that he and his cousin Samuel have produced a total of 175,000 bricks, selling at 6 dollars per thousand. Also mentions he is planning a trip through the Holland Purchase of western New York state, and thence home to Peacham. Lewis appears to have "a very good business" in his arrangement with Wells.

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Benjamin writes that he and his brother Mark have each bought land in Nunda in the Holland Purchase. They plan to make bricks at a kiln in nearby Batavia during the winter months, and farm their lots the rest of the year. Talks at length about the influx of settlers, especially Vermonters, into the area, and its access to markets in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Montreal.

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Mark writes his younger brother of his feelings on leaving home and family.

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Benjamin reports that both he and his brother Mark took jobs teaching school the previous winter. Mark is now gone to the "Alegany"; Benjamin plans to stay at Lima (east of Batavia) and make bricks for a house being built by a Mr. John Morgan. Again speaks of the region's superior access to markets, via the Genesee River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence.

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Lewis speaks of the raising of a regiment of Canadian militia, with an eye to possible war with the United States. Notes the terms of enlistment, and the large number of Americans who have volunteered (including an acquaintance, John Guy). Plans to spend the summer in Montreal; the harsh winter there, and commentary on prices.

Scope and Contents Mark discusses the local ramifications of the outbreak of war between Great Britain and the U. S., and his own membership in the militia. "[T]he people in this Country seem to be for war principally those that live on the frontier are a moving their families off every day . . . the Indian fever prevails all over the purchase they seem to be in agitation all the time in holding council among the tribes . . . the people are trying to cross over from Canada but are prohibited by the soldiers ....

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The author, driven from Canada by the war, describes his travels from Montreal to Utica. Reports on the continued success of Benjamin's brickmaking business in Lima, New York, and on Mark's status as a "minnet man". Mention of military drafts and the location and number of troops around the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region.

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A report on the brothers' whereabouts in the winter of 1812-13: Benjamin is "tending Bar" at McCracken's Tavern in Batavia; Mark is a distiller at Caledonia, New York, and Lewis is teaching school at Avon, New York. Speaks of the spread of infectious disease among the U. S. troops at Buffalo.

Scope and Contents Lewis reports on his current occupation as a schoolteacher. He and his brothers Mark and Benjamin are all healthy, though it is very "sickly" in the western country; on the frontier, contagion typically begins among the soldiers. In an extended commentary, Lewis states that those who live on the frontier have been victimized by a war that he calls destructive, unjust, and unnecessary: ". . . never was their sutch destructtive mesher taken sens the United States was a nation you do not feel...

Scope and Contents Mark notes that it has been two years since he left Vermont. He remarks on his military service, which included "one short campaign on Susquehannah". Criticizes American generals Hull and Smythe, and the decision to go to war "with an empty treasuary". Discusses his current occupation as a distiller, noting that distillers receive high wages in the region, amounting to thirty to forty dollars per month. Notes that money is plentiful in western New York, but that the disorder caused by the...

Scope and Contents Benjamin reports the birth of a son and provides details of his sawing business. He also provides news of his brothers: Mark is a distiller in Geneseo, New York and Lewis is a sutler in the same place, serving a local regiment. As for the war, "it is very still times as present the Army has principally left Buffalo . . . ." Benjamins wife, Ruhanna Gleason Blanchard (m. 1814), writes the second half of the letter to her sister-in-law Clarissa, remarking on the difficulties she's experienced...

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Mark complains of having received but one letter from home in nearly three years, and vows to write no more under such circumstances. His wife (Jerusha Spencer Blanchard, m. 1814) sends her regards.

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Lewis reports on his brickmaking, and notes that conditions are generally better since the declaration of peace.

Scope and Contents Writing from Fort George, Upper Canada, Benjamin informs his father that he and Lewis have secured a contract to make 250,000 bricks, to be sold at $5.25 per thousand, for an all-brick fort being constructed by the British on Lake Ontario near the Niagara River (Fort Mississauga). Eight employees have been hired, at wages of $16-20 a month. Benjamin expects to return to Nunda in October. He also notes local commodity prices: pork ranges from $25-30 per barrel, flour sells at $11 per barrel,...

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Abel, Jr., reports on what is perhaps his first journey from home, to the town of Preble in central New York.

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Benjamin reports on that's spring's journey from Vermont back to Nunda. He is now in Canada, arriving to make bricks with his brother Lewis (who had remained in the area through the winter, chopping wood and digging clay). Business is slow in the absence of government contracts; Benjamin has hired a new group of seasonal employees at $11-13 per month. Commodity prices: pork is now starting at $35 per barrel and flour ranges from $9-10 per barrel.

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Scraps of news; Abel Jr. may head west in February.

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Personal news.

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A brief personal letter to Abel Blanchard from a niece in Maine.

Scope and Contents Benjamin reports that the town of Nunda has been divided, and he now resides in Pike. Much of the letter is given over to advice about possible legal difficulties arising from a land transaction in Vermont between Hazen and a man named Foster. The author also reports news of Abel Jr., who had been working with their brother Mark for the previous three months before traveling to meet Lewis at Fort George in Ontario. The author comments on the severe winter and its effect on food production...

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Mark's wife Jerusha recently delivered a stillborn child, and Lewis has set out for Peacham. This is the first of the family letters headed Centreville (Centerville), which was set off from Pike in January 1819.

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Abel reports personal and family news to his sister, saying that their brother Lewis has informed him that their father is in a poor state of health and that Judith has joined the church in Peacham. Abel further reports that he and Lewis now own adjoining farmland in Centerville, and that Mark's wife Jerusha is ill.

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In a letter directed to her mother-in-law at Peacham, Jerusha describes her debilitated state.

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Benjamin reports that he is in good health and would like to see his father visit the family in western New York. Benjamin is now working with his brother Mark in harvesting and selling maple sugar. Also reports that brother Abel has married a woman from Centerville named Harriete Trail, and that the two intend to settle there. Benjamin's wife Ruhanna concludes the letter with personal news directed to Benjamin's sister Judith.

Scope and Contents Judith informs her sister and sister-in-law (Sally Burbank Blanchard, wife of Hazen) that she is safely arrived in Centerville. In an extended narrative, she describes her 11-day journey west across the state of New York. Included is a brief account of the newly completed Erie Canal (on which her party did not travel): [W]e stopt at Little falls to view the Canall which is north seeing what cost and labor there is in that little spot we crosed the canall 8 or 10 times saw boats filled with...

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Judith reports that she is now living with her brother Mark and taking care of his house, as his wife Jerusha has recently died. In the portion of the letter directed to her sister Cynthia and her brother's wife Sally, she discusses personal and family news.