This Is A Really Interesting Folded Letter!

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Sarah Folger "Sally" West was born on 22 Jul 1821 in Holmes Hole. She married Frederick Homer, son of Daniel Homer and Molley (?), on 20 Oct 1845 in New Bedford. She died on 25 Feb 1870 in New Bedford, aged 48, of a "kidney complaint" and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford.

Sarah appeared on the New Bedford census of 1840 in the home of her mother, and the 1841 New Bedford directory lists her as "West, Sarah F., mantua maker, shop 45 Purchase, boards 89 Kempton." (A "mantua" was a lady's gown.)

Sarah's 1845 marriage record calls her a resident of Boston, but she appeared with her husband on the New Bedford census of 23 Aug 1850, aged 28, in the home of George and Mary Howes, and on the census of 24 Aug 1860 in Ward 3, New Bedford, aged 40, with her husband and a "domestic." Her 1870 death record calls her a resident of 120 (or 126?) County St., New Bedford.

Frederick Homer was born on 5 Aug 1816 in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., MA. He is listed in the 1845 New Bedford directory as a shipwright boarding at 24 High St., and was called a single 29-year-old New Bedford shipwright in his 1845 marriage record to Sarah West. The 1849 New Bedford directory lists him at 28 High Street, "employed at George Homer & Co., shipwrights, yard S. Rodman's wharf." He appeared on the census of 23 Aug 1850 in New Bedford, aged 35, "ship carpenter," boarding with his wife in the home of George and Mary Howes along with a number of other ship carpenters. In 1852 he was listed at 81 Hillman St. on the corner of County St., New Bedford, employed with George Homer & Co., merchants, "c. room 203 North Water." He was listed in 1856 at 162 County St., New Bedford, employed with George Homer & Co., shipwrights, at S. Rodman's Wharf. In 1859 he was listed again at 162 County St., New Bedford, employed with "George & Frederick Homer, shipwrights, foot of Hillman."

Frederick appeared on the census of 24 Aug 1860 in Ward 3, New Bedford, aged 44, no occupation, with his wife and a "domestic." His personal estate was valued in this census at $12,000. The 1867 New Bedford directory lists him at 120 County St. He appeared on the census of 2 Jul 1870 in Ward 5, New Bedford, aged 52, merchant, with housekeeper Elvira Lewis. (This census was taken shortly after Sarah's death.) His real estate was valued at $10,000, and his personal estate at $22,000.

Frederick died on 26 Feb 1875 in New Bedford, aged 58, of "dropsy." At the time of his death he resided on the corner of County and Walnut streets, New Bedford, and his death record calls him a "merchant." He was buried on 1 Mar 1875 in Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford.

The only known child of Sarah Folger West and Frederick Homer was:

i. Silas West Homer was born after 1845, and died as an infant. He does not appear in the 1850 census with his parents.