ABSTRACT
The Clarke Family letters are a complex collection written from Liverpool and Dane County, Wisconsin. They are interesting for their unique observations about dramatic experiences relating to the voyage and recommendations for others who may follow. The fact that they paid £2 just to get from Manchester to Liverpool is surprising, as the voyage to America was only double that – though they chose a more expensive ship for £4 to have their own berth and more comfort. These letters are also important for their insistence that England was degenerating, especially for the middle class. There were legitimate fears about England’s future – all of which was often important background for migration decisions during the economically depressed 1840s. References to the Millerites and their predictions of the second coming of Christ enhance the value of these letters. The journal entries from 1845 are short references to Samuel Clarke’s life in Wisconsin.
