Frederick Tilton Hamer

Frederick Tilton Hamer was born on October 12, 1882 in New Brunswick New Jersey. He was the eldest of seven children of William Hamer and Mary Tilton. In July of 1908 he married Sophia Florence Banker of New Brunswick. They would have two daughters, Mercedes and Alma. In 1910 he was a plumber residing in New Brunswick with Sophia and their daughter Mercedes. He was employed as a plumber. In the 1940’s he would be the president of Hamer & Hamer Inc., a plumbing and heating contractor which he operated with his brother William. Frederick resided in New Brunswick his entire life, and died there August 9, 1952 at the age of 59, and was interred in Old Tennent Cemetery.

Camden N.J.

April 22-17

Dear Wife & Children

We just came from church services and there is a lot of people in the tabernacle just now. But it always make feel lonely to see a woman walking around with a couple of little girls and I wish I was home so we could go take a walk. I called your mother up last night but you were not there. I have to call when there is nobody in the office. What is the matter I have not received a letter from you since I was home and it does not seem right when I do not here from you and the children. Some of the fellows have been quite sick illegible illegible Kramer Moris & McCabe Cooper Hospital here in Camden for a couple of days. But it is much better now. It is getting much warmer down here now and I don’t think so many other sellers will get sick. Everett & myself I’ve been lucky so far and I hope we will be please write me and let me know how everything is. Did you get the letters I sent to you and the children. Sergt Ellison & Wolff are in New Brunswick today and all the Princeton Co have gone home at once so there are not many soldiers here today. Take good care of yourself and the children and I guess everything will be all right in the end. Hoping that this letter will find you all well and happy and enjoying life the best you can under the circumstances. Tell mother & father that we are all pray and hope they are the same. There does not seem to be very much to tell you so I will say once more do not forget to write to me. Fred

I’m going to send you a lot of kisses even if I cannot have any of the real ones

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Camden N.J.

April 23-17

Dear Wife & Children

I had a few hours off today and I took the opportunity to go over to Philadelphia and I was all through the old independence hall and saw all the old relics and they certainly are very interesting to see some of the things that were used in the revolutionary war Some of the things that were used in the Revolutionary war. We also visited the house in which Betsy boss made the first American flagg and I sent two of the certificates for the Betsy Ross association to Mercedes & Alma. You will find a paper along with them if you will look on the back of it you will find out how to get a large picture of Betsy Ross making the first American flagg. I thought that Mercedes would be interested in this because she learns about the flag in school. And I would like to have you get the illegible I didn’t get the large picture. How is everything at home I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear that you are alright. I think that we are going to move tomorrow that is we are going to camp out in the tens which I think will be much better than where we are. I will let you know just where we are located as soon as possible. Hoping that you are all well. Yours Fred don’t forget to write and let me know how everything is and if you receive the things from the Betsy Ross house. And tell everybody that I was asking for them and I am sending you some more kisses thanks for the ones you sent me and also the ones under the stamp. Yours Fred

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Those under the stamp were hard to get but I got them just the same

Camden N.J.

April 25-1917

Dear Wife & Children

I received your letter and Mercedes this morning and was very glad to hear that you are alright. Tell Mercedes I was glad to get a letter from her did she write that letter all herself if she did it certainly is good. We moved yesterday about a mile and a half from where we was and are using the tents now which is much better than in the old tabernacle. You say you are lonesome so am I and I hope it will not be very long before I can come home again and see you all. But there is a lot of salons that want to go home and I will have to wait until my turn comes again. How is everything up in New Brunswick do you ever see illegible McKeug and does Russell ever say anything about how things are illegible to the shop. I certainly does seem funny to get up in the morning and be a soldier instead of going to work at the plumbing business. I am afraid I will forget how to work if I stay away very long. But work is the least of my worries and as long as you and the children are all right I don’t think we have so very much Kickabout when you take in consideration how some of the other people are getting along. I have not as yet heard anything more about my commission but I guess it is all right. How is mother & father and all the rest are they all right I cannot write to all of them so you’ll have to tell damn I was asking all about them and let me know how they all are. You said you wish those kisses are real and so do I these kisses on paper are all right but there is nothing like the real ones after all. I was thinking the other night about how I planned to take the kids out walking this summer and it makes me sad when I think of it. But never mind this is not going to last forever and we will enjoy sitting out on the front porch anyway. Hoping that this will find you and all the rest well and ride soon. Fred

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Camden N.J.

April 27-17

Dear Wife & Children

I did not have a chance to ride this morning. But I was thinking of you all just the same. I hope by this time you have received the things from the Betsy Ross house and try and get the big picture. It has been so cold down here that we have to wear our overcoats most all the time. But we have straw to fill our beds sacks with now and it makes a big difference. But there is nothing like sleeping in a good bed at home. How has it been at home as it’s been very cold and tell me how you are making out. Are you getting along all right and feeling well. I feel sorry for some of the fellows down here they get letters from home and their family I really without anything to get along with and there has been an order that nobody can go home unless it is very important. I certainly wish I was home not because I am down hearted but there is no place like home and don’t you let anybody tell you any different. How is both mothers & fathers and all the rest. Tell them all I was asking for them but I can’t write to them all it would take to long to do that. I would like to have you come down but I think you had better not while it is so cold. Take good care of yourself and our two little girls. I often see little girls down here and that makes me feel blue to think I can’t be home by mine. But it also makes me understand what it is to have a good home and you can bet your last dollar if I ever get home for good they will have to make more send promises to get me in the army again. But if we don’t have to stay to long it will be a great experience. I cannot think of anything more to say except thank you again for this fountain pen it is the best ever and I have used it all the time. Hoping this finds you all well and happy. Fred DaDy

P.S.

Thanks for all the kisses they certainly were great and I looked under the stamp on one letter and found some more. But I had an offul time getting the stamp off. Call Russell to look after my tools down to the shop. Don’t forget to write and send some more kisses.

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Camden NJ

June 13.17

Dear Wife & Children

I arrived in Camden safe at 4 o’clock in plenty of time for guard mount. And I found my new uniform on my bunk. When I got in camp Capt Moorhees said if he knew I was going home he would have taken my place and let me stayed home another night to return the trick I’ve done for him the last of the week. But it was to late then to come back. But I am sorry that I did not know it as I would have stayed home another day. But never mind I will come home again as soon as I can and mayb I can stay a little longer the next time. I wish I could come home and stay for I am certainly pleased to see how nice it looks around home and I am sorry that I cannot be home to enjoy it in the way we had it all planned out. I hope your ankle is much better by the time you receive this letter and I hope everything is all right at home and do not forget to write to me every day so I will know how you all are. I cannot think of anything else to say so I’ll say good night for this time and send you a lot of good kisses until I can get some more of the real ones.

From Fred Dady

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Camden NJ

June 18/17

Dear Wife & Children

I did not receive a letter this morning from home and I was very much disaponited but I suppose you were busy and could not write. I am officer of the day and it is 8 o’clock and most everybody has gone out so I have lots of time to write and have nobody to bother me.

The major asked me this morning to go riding in the automobile and she went down to the New York shipyards and we saw one of the big battleships they are building and it certainly is a great site to go through and see how all the work is done and from there we went down to a place called Glauster to the emigrant station where they have all those interned Germans that were on the big ships that the government took when the war started and it is an amusing sight to stand and watch them. They keep them in a big building and that certain hours take them all out for exercise. You would laugh to see some of them in thier funny uniforms and some of the funny things they do. I have been studying map making all the afternoon with Lieut illegible auntie gave me some very interesting illegible about it.

But I cannot get my mind concentrated on any one thing so as to retain it ever I have studied it for the reason I am afraid that you are in need of money and I havent any to send you and you must surely be going in debt a great deal and I am afraid we will never be able to get out of it again. I will have to stay up pretty much all night tonight and look after things and I will be thinking of you all and wondering how everything is. It won’t be very long now before school clothes and then I won’t have to think about Mercedes going and coming from school. How are you all and what are you doing home. Can you write a very nice letter and let me know that you are all well but you might write something about yourself and the children and tell me what you are all doing. I am very glad you told Mrs. Allison that she should ask ahead about what she heard before she accused him. It is always good policy to do that and then you do not get in trouble yourself. I am satisfied myself that he is not doing the right thing down here but that is their business and he is the one that will have to make good and I am very much surprised at him not to think any more of his wife and little children. But don’t you have anything to say to her about it and I know you won’t from the way you spoke to her when she told you. I want to come home again myself and I will as soon as I can but the only trouble with coming home is I only have to come back again that spoils all the pleasure of being home. I thing I have almost overdone myself in writing such a long letter but that is the only way I have of talking to those I love so well and here after I am going to make them all along even if I have to write real love letters and put a lot of mush in them just the same as you would write to me if we were not married. This might seem nonsense to you but there always seems to lack of something to write so we will have to make love to one another and in doing so I think we will continue to love each other all the more and I honestly hope we do play certainly did not know how much I loved you and the children until I had to go away and stay and then you find out what it is to have someone to love you and do all kinds of nice things for you and I can tell you I certainly do miss all the good things I had at home. I’m really surprised myself in writing this letter and I want you write a nice long one to me and I am going to send you a lot of nice kisses and some for the children. But I would like to have some of the real ones for they are so much better than the ones you get on paper. I can see Alma playing around the house and yard and often think of Mercedes playing around and going to school and wonder how they are. So don’t forget to write a real letter and let me know how you all are remember me to all the rest so good night with all kinds of love and kisses from one who is always thinking of you all. Fred Dady

You will have to imagine these are all real ones

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From Fred

Camden NJ

June 22.17

Dear Wife & Children

I arrived in Camden about 10.20 last night and did not think it necessary to write at that time of night. I was the only one on the car for most of the way down and we made very good time. I am always down hearted when I come back to camp after being home. There is not very much to do and I always wish I was home. When I got in camp the captain was looking for me and he said I should have come back in the morning so I could have noncom school. What’s the major did not say anything this morning so I am glad I stayed for it is much more pleasant to be home with you then it is to be down here and not have anybody to love and kiss. But I will have to get along without all those Nice thing but I am in the army. You will have to hug and kiss the children for me and send me some by mail and I will imagine they are the real ones and maybe sometime I’ll have luck enough to come home and stay and then I will be able to enjoy all the nice things we could’ve had if I did not have to go away. How are the children did they cry anymore after I went. I stopped in to see your mother and father and mother said she may come up and see you last night. I am afraid I cannot find anything more to tell you so I guess I will have to stop for I want to get this letter in the mail so as it will go out tonight. So don’t forget to write a very long letter to me and let me know all about yourself and everybody else. So I will be waiting for that letter and I hope it will be a good big long one. Hoping this will find you all right.

From Fred

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Camden N.J.

July 5/1917

Dear Wife & Children

I arrived in camp all right about 10.45 this morning. But I am not satisfied now I wish I was home to stay. Three more of the men went home today Holm Flagg & McCabe and I wish I was with them but I don’t know weather that would be right or not. That does not leave many of the old men in the company and it does not seem the same. But that does not make any difference. You take good care of the children and maybe I can come home some of these days. There is not much to tell you only write to me and let me know how things are at home.

From Fred Dady

Camden N.J.

July 10.1917

Dear Wife & Children

I received your letter this morning and I was more than glad to hear from you. But I was beginning to think I was not going to get any more letters. I am very sorry that you were sick and I hope you are much better. You said you heard that we were going down south I think that is all paper talk because we do not know anything about moving at all so do not worry about it until it comes in then it is no use worrying about it. I do not know what to say about going to a Mrs. illegible but that is entirely up to you. The only thing is whatever you do be careful and take good care of yourself and the children. I may be able to come home again soon but I don’t know just one so I cannot tell you for sure. All the men received their pay and they are mostly all out of camp for it is raining and there is no drill. But try and be as saving as you can for if I ever do come home we do not want to be so far in debt. Some more of the men are going home today and I wish I was to. How are you all I thought something was wrong for I did not get any letters for two or three days. There’s not very much to tell you as there is not very much going on down here. So I will have to stop now but I will send you a lot of good kisses. xx

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From Fred

Do not forget to write and let me know how everybody is

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Camden N.J.

July 11.1917

Dear Wife & Children

I received your letter and was very glad to here from you. But it has been raining here for the last three days and I never saw it rained so hard in all my life before everything is soaked even the inside of the tents it rained so hard that the water ran right through the tans and it certainly did make a mess of it. I was wondering if it was cold and nasty up in New Brunswick and I think you were wise to make a fire for it certainly is nasty to sleep on wet blankets end it is so damp and everything gets all wet. I certainly wish I was home tonight and sleep in a good dry bed. But I can’t be so I will have to sleep on my bunk. You must take good care of yourself and the children this kind of weather so you do not get sick. I am glad Everett was up. What does he have to say about the baby does he feel proud and not. You should be glad that he can be home by then instead of being away. What does mother have to say about the baby does she like it or not.

It doesn’t seem to be very much to tell you but I hope to see you soon and that will be better. If I can come home I certainly will be on the job right away. So I will stop now for this time with love to you and the children and every body.

From

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Camden N.J.

July 13-1917

Dear Wife & Children

I received your letter this morning and also your cake last night and I am certainly glad to get both. I am sorry that you misunderstood me about coming down. It was something awful down here all week and this morning is the first time it didn’t rain. I’m sure I would like to have you come down but on account of the weather and everything I think you were better off. And if I can do it when I get off guard Saturday I’m going to try and come home if I do it will be rather late so do not think I did not want you to come down. If I could afford it I would have you down here all the time. The major was just here and he said I could come home so I will be home Saturday night if nothing happens. So I guess I will stop now and tell you everything when I come home. One thing I must tell you is I had my hair cut off maby it will make it come in better. We’ll see you tomorrow night. From Fred

Well not send any now but will get them all when I come save a whole lot of big ones

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Fred

Camden N.J.

July 13-1917

Dear Wife & Children

Riding camp all right this morning about 11 o’clock and the order from the War department for my examination was here but it does not say when we have to take. I also went down to the dentist and if everything is all right we will finish my teeth on Friday. Will write again soon or not send any kisses for I had so many good ones when I was home. Take care of yourself and the children. Yours Fred

Headquarters 3^rd. Battalion 2^nd. N.J. Inft

Camden N.J. July, 18 1917.

Dear, Wife & Children.

I have not received any letter from you since I have returned to camp and it seems very strange not to get a letter every day and I wish you would try to write to me every day and let me know how every thing is at home.

Everett was down yesterday and he was doing every thing that he could to get back in the company but I think if I was him I certainly would stay home now but I do not think he cares very much for every time I ask him about anything conserning his wife and baby he does not seem to want to talk about them you need not tell mother about this for she will I cannot eat my meals right but I can see that it is going to be a lot better when it is all finished and I want you to have yours taken care of as soon as you can and I think it will be money well spent. only worry about it.

I was down to the dentist this morning and if nothing happens he will finish them all up on friday morning but it certainly does hurt when he pushes those caps up on the tooth. And my mouth is so sore I cannot eat my meals right but I can see that it is going to be a lot better when it is all finished and I want you to have yours taken care of as soon as you can and I think it will be money well spent.

I was on guard last night at about 3.30 A.M. we received a telephone message about one of our men had been injured and we went down to the bridge and they had taken him to the hospital it looked very much and that he had sat down and fell asleep and the train came along and hit him in the head but it did not do very much damage as it must’ve hit him a glancing blow and made a big cut in his head and I think he will come around all right. We have not heard any thing about moveing yet and I do not know what we are going to do and nobody else seems to know anything about it either.

It does not seem to be very much more to say so I guess I will stop now so I can get this letter in the mail at 7 oclock.

Do not forget to write and let me know how eyery thieng is at home and you will have to excuse all mistakes in theis letter as I am only an amature on a typewriter I’m going to sen you a lot of printed kisses in theis letter and I am very sorry that I am not home so I can get a lot of the real ones and you do not know how much I miss all those good ones that I get when I am home for the fellow that wrote that song (there is no place like home) certainly knew what he was telwing about and I have found that out. Well I guess I will have to stagt and print those kisses or I will not get this letter in the mail to night.

From the fellow that loves (you) best of

(ALL)

I only wish these were real ones.

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(AND A LOT OF BIG ONES FOR THE FINISH.)

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(GEE WOULDENT BE GREAT IF THESE WERE REAL ONES FOR SURE)

ONE BIG LONG ONE XXXXX SMACK.

YOU WILL HAVE TO DIVIDE UP WITH THE CHILDREN

I forgot to take my mother for the tobacco so you’ll have to thank her for me and tell them all I was asking for them.

(GOOD NIGHT)

DON FORGET TO WRITE EVERY DAY.

Camden N.J.

July 19.1917

Dear Wife & Children

I received your letter this morning and I am glad to hear from you and to know that you are all well. We had to move this morning from the old camp to the New York Shipbuilding Co plant Camden N.J. I haven’t much time do right now and I am going back to the old camp. Will write again soon good night.

Address

Lieut Fred T. Hamer

Co H 2^nd N.J. Infty

New York Ship Building Co

Camden N.J.

Just a few before I say good night

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From Fred

Trenton N.J

Undated but envelope is postmarked 8/21/1917

I am writing you a few lines to let you know that everything is alright. But we have drill 3 ½ hrs in the morning and 3 hrs in the afternoon and lots of other things to do. But I am certainly am discouraged when I think that I have to stay away from home and you and the children and everything cost so much but I do not see how I can do it. But I cannot see any other way out of it so I will do the best I can and make the best of it. I just sent in my pay voucher and when I get the check I will send you all I possibly can and I certainly hope it will not be long before I can come home and stay. Hoping this will find you all well and I happy. Will write more next time. Fred

Camp McClellan

Amiston Ala

Oct 10.17

Dear Wife & Children

I just received the letter from you mailed on the seventh and I certainly was glad to hear from you but I am sorry to hear that you were sick. I am also sorry that you have to look for work but maybe it will all come out right after a wile and I can come home and since they are going to split the company all up I want to come home more than ever for I will not be satisfied with a different company. I have written a number of letters to you and I was getting worried about things for I did not receive any in return. I have not heard anything about my papers but I hope they will come through all right and let me come home so we can get straightened out again. For I’m getting tired of being away from home and I have certainly been home sick since I heard we were going to be split up and I think maby since I heard we were going to be split up and I think maby that it would do some good to try something to hurry up the matter of getting me out that it would do some good to try something to hurry up the matter of getting me out. I was rather ashamed to get out before but now I think I have been a big fool to stay in as long as I have and be away from you and the little girls so long. And if I had done what I shouldn’t have done I would have been home long ago. Makes me feel very bad to think that you have to go short on different things but if I ever get home I will try and make up for all we have lost if I have to work night and day to do it. The only thing I hope you all stay well while I am away for even if I am not home I am thinking of you all and I often lay in bed at night and wonder how you are and what you were doing. So don’t get discouraged yet and maby it will come out all right at least I hope so for I do not want to loose our little home unles we can’t help it for I would never forgive myself if anything should happen at home while I am away. So I’ll take good care of everything and try and keep well and take good care of the children. How is the mothers and fathers and brothers & sisters. I either wrote them letters or cards and have not heard from any of them yet. Well I will have to stop now before I must go to school. So I say goodnight and send you a lot of kisses and again thank you for the birthday cards. Tell Mercedes in Alma I think them for their cards. Fred DaDa

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