This letter was written by Bernhart Gilbert (1786-1868), the son of George Gilbert (1754-1803) and Maria Elizabeth Ritter (1753-1823) of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Bernhart and his wife Susanna has at least twelve children some of who are mentioned in this letter. Adams County, Pennsylvania, records indicate that Bernhart Gilbert was the sheriff in Gettysburg before moving to Tennessee. He also kept the Spread Eagle Tavern on the corner of Baltimore and Middle Streets opposite the Adams County Court House in Gettysburg which was a popular inn for out-of-town lawyers and jurists who came to town on court days. Reportedly, “Gilbert became quite prosperous, owning several houses and lots in Gettysburg as well as 150 acres in Cumberland Township” but in 1827, he ran into financial problems which cost him most of his holdings. Presumably it was shortly afterwards that he relocated his family to Tennessee.
He wrote the letter to his daughter, Elizabeth Catherine (Gilbert) Bassler (1820-1908), the wife of Rev. Gottleib Bassler (1813-1868) of Butler County, Pennsylvania. Rev. Bassler was a native of Switzerland and was a Lutheran minister.
Bernhart also mentions three of his sons: George R. Gilbert (1814-1893) — a farmer in Athens; Jacob Walter Gilbert (1815-1902) — a saddler in Athens; and Edwin David Gilbert (b. 1828) — a physician in Athens.
TRANSCRIPTION
Addressed to Rev. Gottleib Bassler, Middle Lancaster, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Postmarked Athens, Tennessee
Athens [Tennessee]
September 26th 1850
Beloved Children,
The goodness of God has preserved us until the present, enjoying our usual health, Thanks be to his great name for the same. We received your last some days ago and were glad to hear from you and that you are still enjoying as good health as can be expected for the present. I hope and pray that before this time you have been delivered and have another added to your family. May God’s blessing rest open the same and that you may speedily recover is our prayer.
I was on the mountain at George’s. They have another son. It was born the 10th of August. It was a very small child but they have to raise it without the breast. Jane can’t let it suck the great. She had the same symptoms that she had when she had the first so they thought it best to raise it without the breast. It is a great trouble but she is getting well now and able to attend to the child.
George has a very good crop this year — plenty of everything to live upon and some to sell. He is perhaps better off than some others. He need not to buy anything except sugar & coffee and they don’t use much of that. They have such good milk & butter and corn bread. We have had a very dry summer and is yet dry and very warm. I think the heat is as great as any time this summer. The people can’t plow.
We have a great deal of sickness throughout the country & some deaths as you will see by the paper I will send you, Mrs. Taylor — you was acquainted with her. She is no more. Atlee’s have had some colds in their family but they have all got over it again except Mr. [Edwin A.] Atlee. He is not very well. He had a chill yesterday morning. He had a headache last night but he is some ether today. Jacob’s family are all well and all getting along as well as can be expected. The farmers are holding up their corn and all kind of feed thinking there will be a great scarcity and that they can get a very high price but time will show. Flour is $6 per carrel and they are asking 50 for corn &c.
Edwin was at home on last Sunday. He thinks he will get into practice. He has one patient that has the cancer. He thinks he can cure it. If so, it will give him a start and he has some others that will pay him well if he will be successful. Time will shew what he can do. I think he will do his best to get into practice.
I don’t know anything to write to you at this time that would be of any interest to you. I have made some enquiry about the steamboats running on the Tennessee [River]. They say that there would be no delay at the mouth of the Tennessee — no more than on the Cumberland.
I think you ought to get an agency to this country and bring books and explore this country. There are a good many Lutherans — or that were Lutherans — through this country. But you ought to take more time than you mentioned. God grant that we all may be spared to see each other once more, but God’s Will be done, not ours. Pray for us. You are never forgotten in ours. We all join in love to you & family. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all times.
From your father, — B. Gilbert
Spared & Shared 8 
this is my 4th great grandfather..Bernhardt Gilbert ,My great great Grandmother was Anna Eliza Buckingham ..her mother was Susanna Gilbert who married John Buckingham
We are related. Rev Bassler was my great-grandfather. My brother is Judge William Gilbert Bassler, RTD
Susan Bassler Pickford