Four Brothers

Mariners' Museum, Uncurated Search Results

Type: Skipjack

Year: 1906

Builder:

Location: Deep Creek

Eastern Shore
Sailing Workboats

ESSW Home

Chesapeake Shipbuilding Project

These records are found in the online catalog of The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia. Uncurated search results are presented to give researchers and interested readers an idea of whether the museum’s archives contain information about this vessel and whether it may be worthwhile to visit the museum’s catalog search page for further investigation. Uncurated results may be inaccurate or incomplete.

Search mode: Exact Name. Search phrase(s): "Four Brothers". Results returned: 1. Results displayed in this table: 1.

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Fetch?	Row ID	Media	Date	Vessel	Place	Related Places	Inscription/Marks	Subject	Notes	Archive Number
	1								SHORT DESCRIPTION: Letter sent from four brothers to another brother working in Hawaii. This object consists of three pieces: the letter, the addressed envelope and the outer envelope. The letter itself is made of laid paper, the wire lines or watermarks are clearly visible. The outer envelope is very simple; it is a plain, natural colored, cotton sleeve type design. It has been stitched across the bottom and up one side. The inner envelope, although more decorative and colorful, is not made as well as the outer one. The stitches are wide and the inside of the envelope has all sorts of excess fabric folded and stitched, inside the envelope. The envelope has numerous painted inscriptions all over it- although more are focused on one side than the other. There are also two different sets of red-inked chops present. One set is square, the other oblong. NOTES: The letter was feed into an AI program which gave the following interpretation and translation: This is a handwritten family letter from the Qing dynasty (specifically mentioning the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign, i.e. 1864). It is written by Liu Xiu (劉秀) to his elder brother Chengxiu (成秀). Full Translation: To my respected elder brother Chengxiu, I am writing to inform you of the following: Your younger brother Liu Xiu, along with Liu Si, Liu Bao, and Liu Fu, in the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign (1864), while at home, along with various other relatives and friends, have discussed and agreed upon the following matter. Regarding the silver and goods that the second brother (or second son) has taken and gone away with, we have already made a public announcement and sent people to inquire in various places. However, up to now there has still been no news. The family affairs are numerous and complicated. The parents are getting older every day, and the burden of family responsibilities is heavy. We humbly request that you, elder brother, return home as soon as possible to take charge of family matters. We earnestly hope and beg you to come back soon. Do not delay any longer. If you have any hesitation, please consider the parents’ feelings and the family’s situation. Your younger brother and the whole family are waiting anxiously for your return. We have also written a separate letter to inform you of the details. This letter is sent with the utmost sincerity. Written by your younger brother Liu Xiu, together with Liu Si, Liu Bao, Liu Fu, and others. From Daxi (Great Stream) area. NOTES: After the letter was donated it was looked at by a Museum member who provided the following commentary and translation: Letter was written from 4 people (highly possible that they are brothers) possibly to their elder brother or relative in the 3rd year of a certain King of the last dynasty in China (would have to do some research to find out when he ruled to determine the exact year). This letter was inside another letter that goes to someone that knows the person this letter is to go to. They said that they can't make money at home and decided to go to Hong Kong for work, but unfortunately they can't find work there either. They heard that foreigners were looking for Chinese to work in Hawaii for $4/month excluding food and clothing (living expenses). They discovered when they got there that the work was to develop this place (we'll call it 'A' till I can find out what the English name is). (In those days probably excavating work by hand.) It is a new territory, the name is 'A'. They work everyday but their earning can't cover their expenses and they are still subsisting only (not enough to eat). Things are very expensive and no ship calls (probably means rarely calls). There is just too much to tell, so much. Your parents are well blessed and doing okay. Since you have been in Hawaii for so long you should make enough money to (not sure if) come visit or send money home. Your parents are very worried about you. Don't forget their care and etc. etc. (Chinese stuff need to explain to you basically probably giving him a guilt trip). You think about it. If someone is coming this way send word so that they wouldn't worry so much. Please send word to us if a boat comes to 'A' have the boat give the letter to Mr. Chan then he can give it to us to read. So much to tell you. Yours truly (greetings of that kind), written by the four Lu. PROVENANCE: All objects in this accession were obtained in the China trade by Captain John Odin, a merchant between Boston and China. The items were passed down to the donor from his grandmother Amelia Odin Richardson.	CL28889