Collection of letters written to Rowland Howes, a young man, mate on board the Schooner, Roxbury, of Providence from his family and friends back home in East Dennis, Massachusetts. Howes is engaged in the coasting trade and travels between Providence and ports to the south, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, etc. The letters in the collection are written mainly by his family, parents Isaiah and Thankful Howes, sisters Myra Howes, Sarah Sears and from others. They relate the events and happenings in their lives and events in East Dennis much of which centers around seafaring, fishing and shipbuilding. There is considerable content dealing with the social lives of young people out on the Cape during this time as well as news on the exodus from the Cape to California upon the discovery of gold.

       East Dennis, February 26, 1848, from sister, Sarah C. Sears

      "Capt. Kelley has got Franklin Chase to go his mate, Mr. Athee his cook. Enos has shipped Barsillia to go with him and I am really sorry as I fear it will be the ruin of him. We had a Quaker lady to preach to us on Sunday afternoon from down east which was quite interesting ... they got the Minna off last week but have not had tide enough to float her off..."

       Portland, June 19, 1848, from Benjamin Sears

       "Thinking you would like to hear from an old chum I will now improve this opportunity. We arrived here yesterday we laid off here 24 hrs in the fogg. We had 7 days passage from Philad. And a rough one too the old Queen leaks a little when in blows we were all under watter.

             I do not suppose you have heard much of me since you went away and I have not heard much of you. I did not think of coasting when I went away. I went to Mobile in the Barque Oak Capt. Doane and a d---d Puke and he had the impudence to ask me to go with him again. I like Capt Chapman first rate. I expect to go to Philad. again and should like to hear from you we have easy times here. I will assure you Capt. Chapman pays attention to Miss Dolly E. Sears and it is time you and I were looking around and if we do not soon we will have to go without - I suppose your Capt. has a great many letters to write to Sally Crowell and you and I have no boddy to write to of the feminine sex.

              I suppose you have to keep that fine vessel of yours very nice but our old craft is not of much account ..."    [sic]

        East Dennis, December 6, 1848, from Seth Sears

        "Mr. Howes,

             Dear Friend,

             In looking over tonight's paper I have seen the Sch. Roxbury's arrival in Baltimore which I did not expect at present...

             Capt. Hedge has gone in the Barque Carlos to Savannah, a vessel that was bought for Capt. Jonathan Sears but he was taking sick in Boston ... George has gone second mate with him ... But a word about Thanksgiving & the fair sex from whom I expect you are reading very impatiently to hear from. Thanksgiving eve went off well Mr. John Chapman's lady served up a supper for the young people in this vicinity who you know will not turn her head to any of the Neck gentry in that line. We had a capital time there about a dozen couple of us & kept her up till about 3 o'clock when we retired all in good health & spirits -

               Bailey was married Thanksgiving eve as I suppose you have heard of and the next evening he kicked her out up to Aunt Nabby's ... Capt. Christopher Sears has been in a dreadful state of mind lately in looking for a girl to go to wedding but sad to relate he could find none.

               Joseph Seabury has arrived home He and Thankful do not seem to be at all particular for each other, and he has been up the Bogs to keep the company of Miss Emily Lion's, but he could not come in.

               There is to be a singing school in the Academy & I wish you could be at home to attend with me ... Capt. Dean & Dean Smith are going down tomorrow to go back to Calcutta again.

               Mr. Samuel Hall & Miss Thankful S. Sears are published and will probably be married next week all well.

               Silas is up and is very much enjoying shooting foxes. I think probable he would like for you to engage a good commission merchant in Baltimore to sell the hides for him. ...

               I have got a mixed up mess here a little of love, courtship & some marriage with a word of exhortation as Mr. Hedge calls it ..."

      East Dennis, December 17, 1848, from sister, Sarah Sears

      "... Calvin & Suka appear to be taking lots of comfort together but I heard he said she was rather too old for him, she wore spectacles, there has been a daughter added to the other part of the house. Thankful S is married to night wonder if J. Seabury gets there they say he is trying hard to get over the bogs but can't come it. Mr. Gray is up on his courting expedition is quite a decent looking fellow ..."

      East Dennis, February 2, 1849, from Seth Sears

      "Mr. Howes,

             Sir, Thinking you would like to hear a word from an old crony I employ a few moments to let you know how we get along down here ...

            In your last letter you wished to know what had become of Mr. Wheldon Jr. I will now state for your information that last eve he was united in the sacred bonds of wedlock to one Mary F. Chapman I am sorry you could not have been at home on the occasion as probably you would have had an invitation to stand up with the happy pair...

             Capt. Hedge & George have arrived home about a week ago Capt. Jonathan Sears going in the Barque. George is all night up the Boggs. He wrote a letter from Savannah to the Queen of Maiden Lane and met with good reception no dout as he is going of it strong at this time ...

              Our singing school goes off in good style hope you will come home from P and have one more look at our Ladies while they remain in their (virginity). Capt. Coustant has become one of the agents of the D. Porter and it is thought that he will take commission of her if so a new packet will probably be put on the line ... Jo. Seabury... went with Sam down to Brewster and he hooked him one. He went to see her twice and then started for California with Capt. Enoch Hall...

               It would be useless for me to attempt to write of the number of mittens that Reuben Seabury has got from the girls this winter I guess he has tried them all around once if not more and has only been oily once that I know of. Frank Chase is at work with Orin this winter he is now very zealous to go to California... Capt. John K. Baker has come up to ship a crew. I have not as yet taken that fever and I hope I never shall unless the prospect looks better than at present ..." [sic]

      East Dennis, February 7, 1849, from George Sears

      "... But I suppose you want to hear about the girls well they are about the same ... I suppose you heard about Joseph Seabury as he got two mittens before he went to Calcutta he asked Thankful and she had thirteen months to think about it and when he got back home she told No. He then asked another girl to keep his company but it was no use so then he went to Brewster... Mr. F. Chase is trying to raise funds for California Abner Robbins is gone and Seal also...

             I got acquainted with some Hyannis girls whilst I was up there... They had about 80 schollars all upon the floor at once and they made a very fine appearance ..." [sic]

      East Dennis, March 5, 1849, from M. Chase

      "... To day I suppose is the inauguration day hope you are attending some Ball in honor of the old veteran of Buena Vista. However there is none of that sort going on in this last made spot of creation. But I have just returned from singing school & have had an opportunity of looking at some of the fair sex ..."

      East Dennis, March 19, 1849, from George Sears

      "... Mr. Robert K. Crosby is doing a good business in the daguerreotype line in North Dennis. Samuel K. Howes has been over and had his taken and presented it to his lady. We received a lecture on temperance from Mr. Lighton last Sunday eve ... I suppose you would like to hear about the fair sex. I don't see much of them excepting Sundays ..."

      East Dennis, July 8, 1850, from Seth Sears

      "There does not appear to be very much going on around here just now. The younger class of the population have been in a kind of a state of apathy for a day or two past arising from hard spreeing I suppose on the 4^th

                 We had a fine time you may well believe on the 4^th we chartered the sloop Star for the trip to Sandwich for 5.00 ... Embarked on board about 7 A.M. Monday noon 37 souls ... In Sandwich Town at 4: 30 p.m. our faces very much sunburnt from the influences of the sun - more particularly those of the fair sex as theirs is of delicate texture you know - We had a fine time I assure you stopped at the Sportsman's Retreat at supper and until 11 o'clock pm when we once more embarked on board and made tracks for home which we reached at about 6: 30 am following morning ...

                I suppose you wish to know by this time about the affairs of the gentle sex I have not seen Miss _____________ since Sunday as she did not go on the excursion she appeared to be in fine spirits think that you know more about her and that she knows more about you by a vast deal than I at present do ..."

      East Dennis, April 23, 1852 from sister Sarah Sears and brother in law N. Sears

      "... Levi is still in Boston tired of waiting for the ship to get away, she is up for California and in hopes of getting away the last of next month, they have been somewhat troubled about getting along with the ship, riggers refused work, for want of higher wages, and I believe it has been general complaint over the city, Benjamin came home last week, and now has plenty of work among the vessels at the wharf. They have letters from George the past week he has bought him a schooner and going to stop there another year, most probably longer. Mr. Thomas's family and Emily feel very bad as you might well imagine and the latter begins to think he don't much care for her, and I am sure it has much that appearance. Frank Chase is in the diggings, and Mr. Hardy left last week. Sparrow M. Hall was married Tuesday night to Huldah Clark and she has now gone on a voyage with him to Cadiz and Calleo..."

      East Dennis, April 27, 1852, from Seth Sears

     "... Silas is likely to become an Astor if we may judge from present appearance he has let his boat to Capt. Ellis for ¼ sh of all fish & Birds that me taken in her - I wish you would be very careful of Ben - not let him go in bad company you know what I mean - they say his wife is poisoned I cant say how true it is only it is something very remarkable if it is so should think it ought to be printed in the county papers - if such is the case - But time will develop it - There has been an addition to the list of our inhabitants last week - an Emigrant - they say it is an Indian up on the Hill Chapman has got to be quite ferocious of late he can be seen most any time walking up or down street with his Kossuth and a red feather - by the by if you want a feather you must apply soon as Mrs. Sears has been stripping most all of her he - Poultry - and making us chaps presents of Kossuth feathers ..."

      East Dennis, May 11, 1853 from Seth Sears

      "Thinking you might like to hear from an old Partner I embrace this opportunity to scribble you a few lines that you may know how I get along these times & of matters & things down on the Neck ... Mr. Tirig is enjoying himself quite well he has finished his new shop and has moved in so now I expect he will receive no more loafers - The Belle of the West is advertised to sail on Saturday next but whether she will sail or not is uncertain as freights are very dull. George has gone in the coasting business between San Francisco & Oregon in the Sch. Franklin (I believe) Capt. C. Sears has I understand written him a letter I suppose to obtain some information concerning his views relative to his daughter ..."