A copy of this letter has been in the possession of Susan Miller since the mid 1960's. She received it from her aunt, Frances Thurtell McGregor. Because Edward Brookes Thurtell had been left off the family tree completed by Benjamin's daughter, Harriett Thurtell, in error, neither Susan nor her aunt knew who Edward Brookes Thurtell was until 1997 when Susan began locating his descendants and other relatives via the internet.

The Edward to whom this letter was written is the Edward Brookes Thurtell who settled in Grant County, Wisconsin, prior to the 1840 census. Frank, to whom the author, Benjamin Thurtell, refers, is Francis Thurtell who later married Amelia Higginson and was Susan T. Miller's great grandfather.

The George Everitt whom Benjamin mentions as having died was the husband of Anne Thurtell Everitt, who in 1853 visited Guelph from England, reunited Edward and Benjamin, and kept a diary about her trip. A copy of this diary is in the possession of Susan Miller.

Links to More Information:

Susan T. Miller's Genealogy Home Page

Family Group Sheet Page for Edward Brookes Thurtell and Amy Burns Thurtell

Family Group Sheet Page for Benjamin Thurtell, his first wife, Anne Barber Thurtell, and their children

Family Group Sheet Page for Benjamin Thurtell, his second wife Sarah Davie Thurtell, and their children