ABSTRACT
The Thomas Hill letters (which begin in this volume and continue in Volumes 3 and 4) are a treasure trove of English immigrant observations of American life. (His reference in his 1860 letter, included in Volume 4, to seeing the names of old friends in the Shrewsbury Chronicle indicates that he came from this Shropshire town.) Hill complains about the lack of qualified preachers – most who seem Arminian – and is quite judge-mental about many things. Hill clearly benefited from the ‘chains’ laid by other English immigrants, who helped him get started. But he is clear that America is a much better land for the poor man. He bought 40 acres the week after his arrival in the Milwaukee area, where there were many other English immigrants, and he encourages his brother to join him. The slavery issue, John Brown’s raid, and how the Union was dissolving, are discussed in the letters in Volume 4, but he does predict earlier that slavery will tear the country apart.
