Letters

107 Front St New York City Aug 10. 1872

Miss Ema Dayton South Glastonbury

Dear Madam I must ask permission to write you a letter in lead pencil, as I have had a nervous fever for several days and it is harder for me to write steadily with a pen.

Your letter of Aug 3d and the accompanying writings (which I herein return to you as you have reqested) were duly received and I have copied the whole of the letter into my records. Your kind interest in the matter places me under great obligation to you and The clearness with which you express the information you have collected renders your letter of especial value.

In criticizing certain traditions which you narrated in your letter, as I propose to do in this letter, I trust you will credit me with a simple desire to arrive at the truth more than to urge and advertise my own especial opinions. Throughout all my records I have made it a rule to put nothing down as fact unless I ad documentary or othehr sure evidence, or a numerous sequence of facts rendering a point seemingly sure. All other items I put down as mere statements to be considered as open to investigation. Of course these remarks apply only to traditions and narrations about the earliest Daytons in this country.

4 Born about 1730 and I have the record of his descendents, and those of the bros and sisters of Norton, except the one mentioned as the "Eldest son in the will, and named Henry. At the date of the Will he seems to have been living "in New England" on a farm belonging to his Father. You say that Henry Dayton Jr your ancestor was born 1728 which exactly corresponds to the probable date of birth of the elder brother of Norton Dayton; of whom I had no trace until I hit your branch, and since then I have felt almost sure you "hitch in" there.

You will of course be anxious now to correct the records of Colchester and I hope to hear what you find at your convenience as early as possible.

Henry Dayton of the will had property in New England and at other places away from the Island it

5 seems, but I cannot hear of his ever having lived off of the Island. Norton his second son was born on Long Island where ever the eldest may have been. Are you sure that Henry Dayton Jr was not born on Long Island, and that his father ever lived on the main lands--These are the important points to be cleared up to find out your connection, and perhaps you can tell from the Colchester Records--It will be well for us someday to send to Syme also--as to New London I find nothing in the histories of that place but the Town Records may show something possibly - I have a Miss Dayton married in New London about 1700 and also I find that this Henry Dayton who made the will had a law suit in 1740 that had some reference to New London--

6 The copy of the will I send you is in pencil but I guess you can make it out all right. Little attention was paid to spelling then. You will see that Catharine Abigail and Abraham are in both of your families as names--

As to who are the ancestors of Henry Dayton who made this will, I will tell you what I can--

The Daytons have been longer in this country than you evidently have any idea--

Ralph Dayton Born about 1598 is the first settler I find--He was living in New Haven in 1638, one of the very first settlers. He lived there until 1649 when he removed to East Hampton Long Island and lived their till he died, one of the leading inhabitants in wealth and influence.

He had at least 2 children, and I have some traces pointing to another. One of his sons was named Robert and he remained at East Hampton

attend to what I wrote of the necessity of giving up flare and splash. Force yourself to have leaves and stones - such as God means us all to be shaded by, and to walk on - and be buried under - till you see the daily beauty of these and make others see it.

[?] with true regards to Mrs Moran & your children Affectley Yrs John Ruskin

Thos Moran [Esq?]

Madison Valley Montana August 25 1872 1882

My dear mrs. Moran:

Your letter came while I was near the Madison Canyon. & Jim had been to Va. City to get supplies for his return trip down the East side of Snake River. He will be at Fort Hall about the 10th or 15th of October. I was glad to get your letter. I am glad you are completing those four pastures. I beg you to put your best touches on them. I wish Jon could make some rulers, 4 or 5, so that I might here them put on stone, but we may talk about that. It is possible that Mrs. Blackmore will make one of his for that purpose. There is no doubt that your reputation is made. Still you must do much to [nurde??] it. The more you get, the greater the care. I think Blackmore will [???] you abroad more than any one else. He has been all through the country with me and has now gone to San Franciso perfectly transported. He think you are O.K. The [rivet] fruit picture you paint must be the Tetons. I have assigned for a small

part to take you from Fort Hill up Snake River, then to the Yellowstone, etc, next year. I beg you will work on all the pictureds you can this year. Jackson's photographs of this year throw all others in the shade. Jim and Lanford are the only white men who were [arcanded] the Great Teton. We all met in the Geyser Batin within a few hours of each other, [???] 14. On the 17th we had a great meeting, photographs taken over 60 persons present. We elected you in honory Member in the U.S. Geological Survey No. 2. Blackmore was elected No. 3, Langord, No. 4. I am going to publish this winter a catalogue with the four portraits of the Honorary members. So you see we do not forget you. Holmes has made a vast numbe rof color sketches. We shall get to Washington about November and then you had better come on and see us. We here much matter that you should avail yourself of. My whole exhibition has been a complete success in every way. It will not be different for you to see all this country next year in a few weeks and make

all the sketches you need. I think a good painting of the Teton would sell to the Government for $5,000, perhaps $20.000 Put in your best stroke this summer to as to be ready for a big campaign next summer. I think you ought to try hard to complete Blackmore's picutres [??] was a sad event. The deeath of his wife - Now he wishes to have them as a sort of monument to her memory, IPlease remember me most kindly to Mrs. Mou?? and to Gilder. Tell him I have done grand material for his magazine next winter. [Second] attend you eres in the [??] with of your true friend F. V. Hayden