Roxbury, Sept. 13, 1861.

My dear Epes:-

I had made three successful voyages to Russia in the Brig "Romulus" when a good opportunity offering, I sold the quarter interest I owned in her and bought one half of a new Brig about 280 tens; the other half was bought by my friends Messrs. Rice & Thaxter. "Wolga" was the name we gave her. Being offered a very good freight from Cuba to St. Petersburg on condition that we would let Robert C. Hooper go Captain of her, we accepted it and he took command, and proceeded on the voyage. It was his first voyage as master. As far as our interests were concerned he managed very badly; he was extremely imprudent and extravagant in all the ship's expenses, and the consequence was, We made barely a paying voyage.

It was in Autumn ef 1826 when the Wolga returned from Russia, In the Spring of 1827, March 3rd, I sailed in the Brig Wolga for Copenhagen and St. Petersburg; made a successful voyage and returned home the latter end of summer and found all well. On the 23rd of November 1827, our dear departed Arria was born. I counted in my little flock at this time, nine, all alive and well. — Having, what I thought a good offer for the Wolga, to go to Sumatra for a cargo of pepper for Antwerp, we let her go in charge of a captain from Marblehead by the name of Guidler, and a supercargo by the name of Stooper. They both managed badly and the voyage turned out an unprofitable one. On her return from Antwerp, we sold one eighth of her to Captain Richard Evans, and he took command and made a profitable voyage from Boston to Cuba, from thence to Russia and home, and the year following he made a similar voyage. — In the spring of 1828 having sold the Wolga, I bought the Brig "Nector", a fine little vessel, about 240 tons, and succeeded in procuring a valuable cargo at a good rate of freight, the whole consigned to myself. - Your Uncle Epes then a lad about 15 years old went with me on this voyage, likewise, Loran Sullivan, a son of the Hon. William Sullivan. I sailed for Copenhagen and St. Petersburg early in the spring of 1828, and after a pleasant and profitable voyage, arrived home the latter part of the summer.

The times were now extremely dull and I was obliged to lay the Nector up for a while. — The next voyage she made was to Laguna, in the Bay of Mexico, under command of Capt. Shaw. This voyage was not very profitable. After the voyage, I gave command of her to my nephew, John O. Baker. He made several successful voyages in her and then I sold her.

February 4th 1830, our last child was born, our dear departed Elizebeth. In the summer of 1830, I sold my house in Boston, and bought a farm in Milton, and moved my family on to it. We were all discontented with a country life; - in the summer ef 1833 I moved my family back to Boston into one of the stone houses on Western Avenue, and sold my farm in Milton. We were all, at this time, in good health and quite delighted to get back to Boston. John had taken his degree at Cambridge College and was studying law with the late Hon. William Sullivan, and Epes was employed in literary pursuits. — About this time I bought the Bark "Brighton" with my friends Rice & Thaxter, and built another bark, which we named "Burlington". These were both fine vessels; the Brighton was about 340 tons and the Burlington 400 tons.

In the spring of 1835 I made a short voyage to Matanzy in the ship Vespesian and Epes went with me. We were absent from home but a short time.

In the spring ef 1836, I bought a house, #5 Hartford Place, and we moved into it. Your father, G. B. Sargent [Geo. Barnard?], was at this time in the store of Messrs. Livermore & Kendall.  

The next event, was your father's departure for the western country, all of which he can tell you about. Our hearts were filled with grief when he left us. — I felt, however, satisfied it was the best thing he could do at the time. Poor fellow, he had to suffer many trials and hardships, but thank God, he has come out bright at last. -

Our Burlington after making a number of successful voyages, one night on her way to Liverpool with a freight of cotton from New Orleans, was struck with lightning and set on fire; the captain and crew staid on board for about a week, expecting every moment the fire would break out. They had their boats ready to leave in case it did. During the time they suffered a great deal from anxiety and exposure. At last, as good luck would have it, a packet ship from Liverpool bound to New York came in sight; they saw her signal of distress, came immediately to their relief, took them all in safety on board and immediately after the bark Burlington was one clear sheet of flame. — Thus ended the life of the Burlington. Te Brighton made a number of voyages and then we sold her. - She is yet in being and arrived a few days ago from Calcutta.

Soon after the loss of the Burlington, we contracted in Medford for a ship to be built of about 250 tons. She was completed and launched in the Autumn of 1842, a splendid ship. We named her "Rockall" for a rock so called in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Its appearance when seen at a distance is like a large ship under full sail. This ship was owned one half by Rice & Thaxter, the other half by myself, and cost about forty-two thousand dollars.

Previous to building the "Rockall" I bought off Capt. William Armond the ship Pazar, about 450 tons. Capt. John Lord of Norwich, Mass, had one half interest in her with me, and went captain of her. After a number of unsuccessful voyages, I sold my interest in her, and now the only interest I retained in navigation, was one half of the ship “Rockall", This ship we kept in the freighting business without deriving any profit, and sold her a few months ago, and she is now on a voyage to California.

In the month of September 1840, our daughter Hannah was married to the Rev. L. D. Huntington and went to housekeeping in Boston. Their first child George was born in July 1844. In the spring of 1845 Mr. Huntington bought a house in Roxbury and moved his family into it, and the following September I bought a house in Roxbury and moved my family into it, where I now reside. — Since we came, as you know, we have been called to part, first with our dear Arria and then our dear Elizebeth was taken from us. This was hard, very hard to be reconciled to, but we shall meet again never more to part.

Thus I have rapidly ran over the most prominent events of my life. - Much mere might be said, but I have so poor a talent for writing that I must bring the subject to a close. if, however, I think of anything that I have omitted, that it appears to me may be interesting to you, I will make it a subject of another letter.

You must now, however, consider my promise made you so long ago fully redeemed. With my love to your father, mother, brother, sisters and yourself,

I am truly,

Your Affectionate Grandfather,

Epes Sargent.