The Society is making Mute Words, Living Voices – The Letters of Henry Giles available for purchase again, 32 years after it was initially published in 1992.

The letters provide an extraordinary firsthand chronicle of life in Fonthill and the Township of Pelham in 1842 and 1843. Henry was a well educated Quaker who had recently emigrated from England to Pelham. He made copies of letters which he wrote to family back in England and these have survived. His letters describe a wide variety of subjects including the weather, transportation, agriculture, the economy (including the costs of many objects) and many other details of day to day life in this rural community.

The original publication of the letters was generously entrusted to The Pelham Historical Society by the Giles family. Leo Giles had painstakingly transcribed the original letters and Mary (Giles/Baker) White provided early family photos to help illustrate the book. Pelham Historical Society member Mary Lamb and summer students Kris Kernaghan and Tania Charzewski helped compile the book.

In the intervening period since the book was first published new information has become available which helps with the understanding of some of the content.

Letter 1 commencing on page 15 is addressed to My dear Cousin. Subsequent research has determined that this cousin was John Bevans (1811-1887), the son of Henry’s mother’s brother, James Bevans (1777-1832). This John Bevans should not to be confused with John Bevans Giles (1806-1856), a brother of Henry Giles who is also mentioned frequently in the letters. Letter 1 was sent to John Bevans while he was living in South America and considering emigrating to Pelham. The letter extolls the merits of doing so. John Bevans did in fact move to Fonthill and was the founding President of the Fonthill Library Association and Mechanics Guild in 1853 (see Chapter 10 of The Land at the Crest of the Hill: Clues to Niagara History from Upper Fonthill).

It is important to approach these letters with an understanding of the context in which they were written. Certain passages or viewpoints expressed may reflect attitudes that are outdated or may be considered insensitive by today’s standards. However, this does not diminish the historical significance of the work.

The book has been available for purchase since July 15, 2024 at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave and J&J Florists in Fonthill and nature’s Corner Café in Ridgeville.