Bowdon Head June 4/53 [May 24 scratched out]

My dear son,

I am sure that you will think me a long time in writing a few lines to
you as to the money you mentioned there as been a settling between
m. Goodwin + m. Mortin.  I was over at m. Mortin's in January and he
told me that there was only 5. between them he said he would give it
me towards our money.  I suppose you have had letter from m. Mortin
Brother Wm [William] no doubt as written to you
informing you how all your relations and friends are at Chelmorton
your old grandfather has not very good health at times.  Uncle Mark as
left Chelmorton since Uncle Wm [William]
wrote and gone to war  Now he is mining he says he would come over to
America if he had the means.  When you write please say whether you
took the half dozen spoons and sugar tongs if you did it will be quite
right Aunt Ellen and me.  look for them and could not find them  your
Uncle Joseph is living at martin'side [???] while [???] Aunt Ann as
but poor health their son William was gor'd [???] on the Plain and got
his right hand taken off but he is doing very well and is going to a
very good school their son Joseph is very [written vey] ill and as
been a long time.  I wish you to tell us whether you make Butter and
Cheese and whether the Bang up answers or not also what
sort of a House you have and how many rooms you have in it  We are all
glad to hear that you and your family are in good health  We got
Harriet's silver coin and she is very proud of it.  John is in full
expectation of his I expect before you get this letter you will be one
more of a family.  I took your letter to your wife's Grand Mother and
Aunts and they seemed very much pleased with the name of George Henry
they desired me to send their best love & respects to you both.  I am
sorry to tell you that M. Slack at Bowdon Hall as got the dry rot in
the Hall [???] and is obliged to have it all cut out which proves a
very awk [???] hard job.

[continuing on back]

M. Hw. [???; Howard???] Slack as built a very large Town Hall and
Chapel.  You have never mentioned in any of your letters what kind of
fruit you grow.  I am very glad to hear that you like America so well
and that you have such a good stock of pigs and hens and likely to
have a large stock of children  we had a very heavy snow here on the
9th of May your Uncle Matthew is much the same.  I have shown your
last letter to your Master + Mistress and both send their best
respects to you.  the small Phamphlet you sent I got six weeks after
the letter  We all send our best love and respect to you your wife and
all your relations and friends

I remain
your affectionate and well wishing mother
Ann Nall

Receipe for Bang up.  1 # [???] malt put on 2 quarts of boiling water
and stand 2 hours.  2 oz Hops boil [then something?] 2 hours in a
gallon of water seive the above together and boil them for 5 or 10
minutes  When cool add 1/4 # [???] fresh Barm one Hand full of
flour rather warmer [???] than liquor put together over night ready
for use next morning (1 gill of the Bang up will do instead of Barm
to work it with)  How to use the Bang up.  Put the flour in a
mug or tub prepare as for Barm  stir the water and flour together
before putting in the Bang up the water must be as hot as you can bear
your fingers in it is better put together over night and kneaded next
morning.  One gill of Bang up is sufficient for 12 # [???] flour.  An
[???] I am glad to hear of your progress in America and you must not
be at all surprised if I come over some day for I am heartyly tired of
Bowdon Head things are much as usual in this country  I have very
little room so I can say no more and I do not wish mother to know that
I intend coming to america.

Accept my Best wishes for your prosperity
I remain
Charles Lingard

[Barm: foamy yeast forming on beer or other malt liquors when
fermenting, and used as leaven in bread to make it rise and also in
alcoholic liquors to make them ferment.  Also called brewer's yeast.]