Father

Jonathan Blanchard was a loving but strict parent. His letters to his children often chided them for perceived missteps. In one letter to his son Charles Albert, Jonathan disparaged the purchase of custom boots for $11. He accused Charles of poor “business judgement.” He writes that he himself had gone off to Middlebury College with only an $11 suit, and that never in his life has he paid for custom boots.

On another occasion, Jonathan tried to discourage his daughter Mary Avery from writing too many letters. He urged her to focus on her schoolwork and warned her of seeming too social.