A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
On one occasion Susanna mailed a letter to her cousin Truman Barnum (1796-1849). True to the form of the times, it was a single large sheet of paper folded several times to form its own envelope, and addressed simply to "Mr. Truman Barnum, Chicago". The letter reads: Potsdam, May 17th 1896. Dear Cousin, Years have passed since in the days of childhood and youth we were acquainted and familiar with each other. Though many changes have taken place in our situations and circumstances and I now begin to feel that I am on the decline of life yet the strong attachment I formerly felt for your Father's family still remains. Though distance and time have long seperated [sic] us it does not dispel from my mind the p(l)easant associations of early life. I know of no person my own children excepted that I should be more happy to see than your sister Any [sic] & if you ever see her please give my love to her and your brother Cyrus. I expect they are somewhere in your region. Should I ever be able to visit my children in that part of the world I should hope to see you all. My eldest son is settled in freport [sic], Stephenson County, Illinois. He has sent word to our youngest son to come and live with him. He is young and unaccustomed to traveling and to undertake so long a journey alone. I feel as if (it was) rather hasardous [sic]. He will be the bearer of this and. Orrin thought that he might that he might get a passage from Chicago by private conveyance with some teamster cheaper than to go in the stage. He will call on you and perhaps you may be willing to assist him in procureing [sic] a safe passage you would. In so doing you would confer a great favor on him and I should feel under unspeakable obligation to you. I shall not attempt to wite [sic] anything about the people here for Loyal will tell you more than I could write. Remember my love to Mrs. Barnum and all your family. I should be pleased to receive a line from you and your brother and sister. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to get a history of the situation of your families and that of their children. My time is expired and I must close. Your affectionate friend and cousin, Susanna Munn. Mr. Munn sends his respects to you.
NOTE: The original letter was completely without punctuation and the sentences did not begin with capital letters, making it difficult to read. Accordingly, some minor changes have been made to the the transcription above for legibility. In addition, the date of the letter must be considered suspect. The "9" in the year 1896 shows signs of having been written over and in that year Susanna would have been 105 and her cousin Truman would have been 100. Although such an occurrence is not entirely impossible, the ages of the four other family members mentioned in her letter are also suspect. Her brother Orrin would have been 100, Truman´s sister Anna (called "Any" in the letter) 106, his brother Cyrus 108 and Susanna's son Loyal, who was "young and unaccustomed to traveling", would have been 67. The most likely year for the letter appears to be 1846, when Orrin Barnum was 29 years old, married and living in Illinois and his brother Loyal, who was traveling to join him, was 17.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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