Robinson Family Papers

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Cousin R. B. Stevens

I wish thou would confer with Paulina Davis & others of the propriety of your holding an indulged meeting anny longer.

The committee appointd by our monthl meeting to attend your meeting are expected to make a joint report next month.

R. Hazard

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North Ferrisburgh 10th mo. 4th 1863

Dear cousin

R. B. Stevens I have so many things [strikeout begins]I have so many things[strikeout ends] I want to talk with thee about I'll not wait for monthly meeting time again when I hope we ma be favoured with thy company? we have much to discourage us in Society Matters [and?] to make us exclaim with griefe can these things be, so, perhaps thou has heard that James Burton has been disowned for immoral conduct a case something like that of Benjamin Tabour, & our dear Lydia Hazard has attached her self to the Methodist, but again there is a presious remnant left & we find that severe trial brings out the true friend when we thought there was but little. Peter Dakin & Lynus G. Prindle & Lindly Maccomber wer drafted & gave them selves up to commanding officers but Refused to do any war servise they have been brought into severe trial & punishment but the Lord has

been with them through the whole & they have felt great peace of mind they write home excelent letters. Peter says no oficer can place them out of the reach of our saviour nor take there souls from them the last we heard from them they were at Culpeper but we hope(by acounts from Newyork) that through the influance of the representative Meeting they are paroled & will soon be home.

Unkle Nicholas Holmes is very sick not likely to get well - the rest of our Friends in usual health. Rufus & I have been south to visit my relatives started the 30th of last month was gone near three weeks went with our horse & carraige had nice travliing & beautiful weather consequently a pleasant journey found the most of my relatives that wer liveing prety well some had gone to there long homes my brother inlaw that died in eighth month I missed very much.

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A young man a friend from the state of Main staid here last night he was at Middleburg & by enquirey found where Friends lived & came to spend the day & attend Meeting we had a good meeting how much I think of you in your reduced number you cant expect to keep up a meeting, but all, however lonely that silently wait on the Lord with there whole minds tunned to him to know his will concerning them will feel there strength renewed will realize that his arm is not shortened that it cannot save neather has his ear grown heavy that it cannot hear. We want to here from you all pleas write & tell us who is comeing to Monthly & Quarterly Meeting. Perhaps Mary & Ann pleas be at home here. Thomas & Esther wer here this afternoon.

Rufus joins me in much love to thee. Thomas & wife Charlie & the rest & [Let?] [He?]

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Providence 10th mo 11th/63

My dear Cousin

Thy favour of the 4th inst was duly received and was very acceptable- and I plead guilty to the very gentle hint thou gave of my remissness in not answering thy previous letter, but I can assure thee that we have often talked about thee and I have been intending to write but we have had a good deal of company and have been rather unsettled as we generally are in the summer, and every day brings its cares and duties- we are much obliged for the [visetes?], I suppose thy husband is good I believe I never saw him, but thine we think does not do thee justice, the girls say it looks too sober for cousin Rachel, and I should think from the appearance that thou wast thinner than when thou wast here, nevertheless we are much grateful to

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boat which took her to Fall [kine?] to her Sister Amey's, after which she lingered another month and then quietly passed away- Elisabeth Chase was as thou suffered the wife of Jacob, she had a very suffering sickness, I believe there was some difference of opinions with the [?] as to the disease some thought in was liver complaint others a cancer in the stomach- she is a loss to her family and to the meeting, I hardly know how they can keep up the meeting at Portsmouth there are so few members, females particularly remaining- Sister Elizabeth is much the same as last summer- Thou enquired about William, we have received letters from him about once a month since last fourth month- the last was dated 9th mo 20th and we were beginning to look for another, but we see by the news from Havanna that they

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have no later dates from Mobile as the last blockade runner was captured- the poor child had not received any of our letters and was getting quite discouraged and thought if he did not hear from us soon he should discontinue writingthey were well and seemed to be getting along comfortably

have it. My sister R. Cobb returned home on the eleventh of last month rather earlier than she had expected to go but the gentleman that she came on with was here and she thought best to avail herself of the opportunity - she regained her appetite and in some other respects we thought her considerably inproved by the journey and change of scene &c but I do not think she felt quite satisfied with her improvement - she had a fatiguing journey home and has had a very troublesome cough since her return but I hope it will be only temporary. Elisa was absent from home four weeks as companion and nurse to Aunt R. in her visits to her friends in this vicinity - Susan and Josy were two weeks at Warren at Esther's where they always enjoy themselves, it is so near the water they can walk to the shore either east or west in a few minutes - Susan spent a week in

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Newport in the eighth month and returning brought her friend Lizzie Collins from Burlington to spend a few days, and at the same time there were three young ladies from Philadelphia visiting at Gilbert Congden's and they had a busy time for a few days - I went with sister R. to visit our brother Samson, we staid about ten days. The country was beautiful and flowers fruit and vegetables were in great profusion, but the weather was unusually cool at that time so that we sat by a fire most of the time - and R. did not seem as well there as she did here - It has been quite sickly in Newport this season and still continues - cousin Joanna Sherman went there to make a visit and was taken with dysentery and was very sick at Cousin Alice Cornell's for a month - Then as she seemed a little more comfortable they carried her in their arms to the carriage and then to the

USA Gen'l Hospital Burlington, Vermont. Oct. 11th 1863.

Esteemed Friend:

Your kind letter found me in a slight afflication of which you have probably heard from my letter to Mary. I recovered from that, but was immediately taken down by another larger and more painful the other. I have been confined to my room for several days and most of the time have not left my bed. I am now recovering from this but slowly, as it was a large one and left a large opening. I am in hopes to be about again soon. The bone remains [underline]in statis quo[/underline]. When will all this end is now an anxious question with me. It seems that I have not sufferred enough in

the long weary months that have passed since I was wounded. There must be an end somewhere. Pain, and toil, sorrow and anguish must sometime cease.

"On the other side of Jordan, In the sweet field of Eden, There is [underline]rest[/underline] for the [underline]weary[/underline], There is rest for [underline]you[/underline]."

Chastening is necessary to fit us to enjoy that rest, and chastening to be effectual must be submitted to without a murmur. We must kiss the rod that scourges us.

I cannot write much more. It is nearly time for the mail to close. If this don't go till tomorrow it will not reach you till Monday.

Mary's letter is received. I have not head from Millie since I wrote her.

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The mail carrier has come and I must close.

I will write more when I get better.

Your Friend

Henry .

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Headquarters 2d Div. 6th Corps,

R. B. Stevens E.Montpelier Vermont

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Assistant Quartermaster's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps,

October 12th, 1863.

Dear Mother:

As you will be some anxious, I suppose, from all accounts to hear from me, once more I will write, though it will be but a few lines.

I am much better than one could reasonably expect to be under the circumstances. I had a comfortable day Saturday and was much in hopes of escaping a chill on the next day, when at Sunset, an order to be "ready", came and at nine p.m. we started on the road.

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We hear they get along nicely at home - Y. & [Y.?] went home 5th day. We [glide?] along smoothly as ever. Horace sends a great deal of love to mother - Yesterday [Alber?] - Hammond's hired man, was driving a span of horses which ran with him - & in trying to jump from the wagon - he slipped so both wheels passed over his head injuring him so he lived but an hour & a half! He was unconscious all the time - What a warning to be [underline]always[/underline] ready. Charlie came down to meeting - says they are all well -

How does thee find the good folks in Ferrisburg - Does [Lenicer?] have apples so we could have a bbl. of Baldwins & Grunings - reasonbly? - Hope thee is feeling well - Accept much love from

thy own Mary

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First day morning. 11th mo. 1st. '63

My dear precious mother,

Do not know but we ought to have written thee, before, but have been waiting hoping to get [underline]some thing[/underline] to write - Third day night [Tho.?] recd. a letter from Geo. Hatch that used to tent with Willie just telling of his capture - he returned thy last letter to Willie - which came after he was away I suppose. Fourth day night I recd. a letter from Horace - he said Willie was taken by gorillas twenty four hours after Lee's army had gone - most every day they pick off men and teams - these