This is a copy of a letter sent by William South to his son, Charles South who with his family lived in Utah.  Four members of the family left Liverpool, England on October 6, 1854 to come to America. Charles, a young man of 19 years, had been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint.

 

William and Catherine had two living children, Charles and Emmara.  They settled in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Charles stayed with his parents about nine months, but then wanted to join the Saints in Utah.

 

This is a loving father's message pleading with his son to return from Utah back to Brantford in Canada.  Remember, Charles was the couple’s only living son.  The letter shows the longing of love of a parent for a child.

 

The original text is very difficult to read.  The text below retains some of the original spellings, capitalizations, and punctuation.  However, some corrections have been given to help the reader.  You can hear William’s English accent in his various spellings, for example, the English don’t say, “I had a good time.” They say, “I ad a good time.”

 

William South

Brantford, Canada

December 30th, 1865

Dear Son,

 

I am very glad to hear that you are well, but I am very sorry that I have to take up my pen and right on such a Cashan.  I think if you ad any respect for me as a Father you would never taken the step that you have taken.

 

We reserved your letter yesterday and your Mother as hardly ever been out of bed since because you never named in your letter when you intended to com Home. If you ad done that we should been much more satfide and not at all times mad.  It my desire to make you a comfortable home.  I think if you ad as much love for me as a Father you would never taken the steps that you have moving to Utah.  Your poor Mother would be in you named in your letter.

 

The passage of scriptur where it names leaving Father & Mother and House and land to Follow Christ.  I am very sorry that you take them passages in a wrong light. You know as well as I Son that any man can serve Christ in any Cuntry or in is own House. He as no need to leave is Father and Mother and setl in a Strange Land.

 

Dear Son, I am very sorry that you should bee led by a Stef naked people to leave your home and break your mother hart.  When you know and I could point out a many passages of scriptur if I ad room that would satfey you that you could serve Jesus Christ without leaving home or breaking your mother’s Hart.

 

Dear Son, you know the only thing that I beg of you was to satel your self and stay at home and asest me in geting Ralph over.  Then if you could not Satel your self with your Father & Mother, Brother & Sister but follow the Mormons.  If you will only com back this Winter and that son will Satfy booth me and your Mother then if you realy cannot satel in amongst us then I will do every thing in my power to reckensele your Mother for you to leave aus.

 

I beg of you to once more to come back and stay with aus this winter.  You must for your mother’s sake.  I will not try to pursir you to stay eny longer then that.  Pleas do right by return at least a letter when you are cumming home so that we may expect you.  We are all well and want to send you the same all best.  Your poor mother and I need not tell you how she is.  You well know that.

 

We remain your dear Father and Mother

W and C South