This letter, written on July 7, 1803, by John Lyon Gardiner (1770-1816), proprietor of Gardiner’s Island, was sent to his younger brother, David Gardiner (1772-1815), a lawyer and farmer in Flushing, Queens.
The contents are a mix of relatable and absurdly foreign tidbits from the brothers’ daily lives. Much of the letter concerns farm life and serves as a reminder that both Gardiner’s Island and Queens had working farmland in 1803.
In the early 19th century, banks were prone to collapse, and metal coins still dominated many financial transactions, which added to the challenges of moving large sums of money. John Lyon notes that he had sent “paper” money because of this.
This may seem absurd today, thanks to the prevalence of paper currency and modern conveniences like electronic transfers, PayPal, and Venmo. But these challenges, along with the complexity of farm credits and debts, prompt John Lyon to insist that his brother come east to settle the accounts from David’s wheat harvest.
Perhaps more relatable is the focus on the logistics of sending items quickly between the brothers, such shipping still being a struggle today for the likes of Amazon Prime or high-end New York City stores offering same-day delivery on the South Fork.
John Lyon reports sending his brother’s books with Captain Conkling, and urges David to check on his orders for an encyclopedia and multivolume biography, which he had preordered. He also requests that David send him peach and cherry “stones,” or pits, to season his cider, much like modern gourmets seeking seasonings from the city.
Like any local farmer or craftsman today, John Lyon expresses concern about the impact of the summer’s drought on his farm. It’s easy to imagine him as a vendor at a modern farmers market here when he asks David to help connect him with buyers in Queens for his sheep wool and cheese, his beef and wheat.
He closes his letter by advising his brother on the investments required to improve and expand the “Mansion House” of David’s farm in Flushing.
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Andrea Meyer is the head of the East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection.
