Robinson Family Papers

gorillas are men that live right around there. Should think we had an army there large enough to stop such doings. H. has seen a man that was captured sometime with Willie - who ran from them - the rebs. fired twelve shots after him but none took effect. H. was very well except his lameness said he thot he should be at home when his month was out- so I looked for him last night - but a [underline]letter[/underline] came instead he is so lame P. told him he must not come yet - I think he is hurt worse than he tells us - is mostly confined to his tent - he has a stove in it and his darkies are very kind to him - says they beg

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of him to stay - & I presume he will another month. He saw a man the day before who has just been a prisoner in Richmond - was gone but three weeks - was treated well - says Willie will be back soon he has no doubt - as they are so short of provisions they are glad to return our boys. H. says O. Hill has come home - his father failed so fast they sent for him - have not heard how he is since. Spafford is better. Sixth day Thankful and I visited cousins Mary Libby - Dianna was there - also Austin's wife who is down on a visit, left all her children at home - she was sorry not to see thee. Sarah [Yaster?] was quite sick - they feared diptheria

[envelope]

Rachel B. Stevens East Montpelier Vermont

[blank back of envelope]

Ferrisburg 11th 14/63

Dear Cousin

I send today two barrels of Apples Marked Thos. B. Stevens E. Montpelier

You, of course will open them soon & use them as they [ripen?] - All well except colds. A letter from dear Ann mentions their safe arrival home, poor little Fanny had another chill & fever on the last day of travel.

Excuse brevity as I am very busy with the apples & believe me as ever thy affectionate cousin

[Robt?] T. Robinson

N.B. This fancy Envelope is a donation

Ferrisburgh Nov. 15th 1863

Dear Cousin

I write, according to promise, to inform thee of my safe arrival at home, last night at 11 o'clock. The walk down from your place did not injure me at all, nor did the rain trouble me any: only made the road a little slippery, toward the last: but I took my time and did not get tired. I was very sorry to have occasioned thee so much un =easiness, and might have avoided it by lying a little, when asked how I rested: but I feared my looks would betray me, and I make it a point [underline]never to lie, when sure of being caught at it[/underline]. After going to bed last night, I had considerable of the same trouble: but not near so much as the night before.- Perhaps with care, I can get the better of it.

Our folks heard from Ann since she went back, they had a comfortable time, only Fanny was quite sick on the second day of the journey.

Please give my love to Mary and say that I fully intended to go to her place: but was so afraid of coming down with some serious illness that it was wisest to hurry home. Our family are well as usual and all send love.

Thy aff. cousin

Geo. G. Robinson

Providence R I 11th Month 23d. 1863

Dear Cousin

Rachel B. Stevens

Thy letter of the 15th to my wife, came [duly?] to hand, and enclosed therewith a bill of the Butter and Cheese, which also came to day - Thee says thee does not like to name such high prices. I had supposed it would be some higher than last years, and I suppose you put it at the market price - The two cheeses thee calls 25lbs @ 11¢ is 2.75 & the Butter $167.44 Amtg together to one hundred and seventy 19/100 Dollars, for which sum I herewith enclose J. Suther Cashiers Check (No. [blank]) on Webster Bank, Boston, Endorsed by me Payable to thy order, which, when received please acknowledge and oblige

Thy affectionate cousin

Joseph C. Peckham

[left page] [?]acted Rachel weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted because they are not. yet amid all the commotions even when the very Elements seem clashing one against another and brother against brother, there is consolation to be divined in leaving of it all in the unto Him that can make the wrath of man to passe him, while the remainder of wrath he can restrain, and who will in His own infinate mercy cause all things to work togather for good to them that love honor worship and obey Him. Thy connections and friends here a way all in usual health as far as I know and dauntless our mutual friend Hannah Pectham and family want wish their love injected if they knew of my writing

With the salutation of love myself and I am as ere thy afft friend and fellow traveler in tribulation E Meader

[side note]

Please excuse mistakes for this has been written or afoot at least in the room where reading was going on. [/side note] [/left page]

[right page] [top note] Please write in this [?medium?] that I may hear how it fares with thee and thine whome I love in the gospel my love to the Children also to dear Palina if thou please. [/top note] Providence 11 Mo 29 / 63

My dear friend Rachel Stevens

Deep Truly Calleth unto deep, and while I am fully aware that the pen will fall far short of conveying the beheth of the heart felt sympathy which has been my privilege to enter into, with and for thee in the trials that thou art now pertakeing of, yet it may serve to asshure thee that thou holds a vary near and dear place in the feelings of thy unworthy friend, and one who mingles her tears of sorrow with thine, yet dear, R. while it may seem as though the very dregs of the bitter cup was poured out into thy already aching heart, He our mercyfull Redeemer Ne'er Suffereth not a sparrow to fall to the ground [/right page]

without [underline]His[/underline] knowledge, and numbereth the [hours?] of our heads, willnot fail to sustain those that cast all their burtherns upon [underline]Him[/underline], neither will [underline]He[/underline] fail to keep that which is in faith [committs?] into [underline]His[/underline] holy hour, and it may be the [very?] means which the great [?] [our?] who knoweth the end from the beginning, has seen mete to dispence to thy darling son, that precious [plant?], in order to convince him that the children which [underline]He[/underline] owns cannot bathe their swords in blood, and by the teaching of [underline]His[/underline] holy spirit enable him to see into the glorious doctrins of the gospel of peace, and thus leade him gently back to [underline]His[/underline] own house where there is bread enough and to spare, that than my beloved [Lestec?] may yet be favored joyfully to proclaim (killing the

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fatted calf) this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found, For did not our blessed Saviour testify that [underline]His[/underline] followers were not of this world and they could not fight.

Truly my heart is often made sad in contemplating upon the thousands, and tens of thousands of poor souls that are sent to meet Judge, by this cruel and wicked war, and oh that the Inhabitance would learn rightteousness while The Judgements of The Lord are in the earth, for truly they are a great deep; and doth not the signs of the times call loudly upon The mourning women, and Those That are skillful in [Tenutation?] to stand firm at their post with the whole armour on, for is not the voice already heard in [?]

Ferrisburg 12 mo the 5th 1863

Respecte friend Rachel B. Stevens

I though it might be interesting to thee to hear a little more about our doings in trying to help the contrabands we have sent to the yearly meetings community since Quarterly meeting, upwards of sixty Dollars in money and a box of clothing weighting 346 Lbs [prized?] at one hundred, and ninety one Dollars [many?] of the articles were new - and they are now trying to fill another Box. Rufus Hazard has gone to atttend the [representative?] meeting at [N.Y.?] - we have heard that Cyrus Prindle is so much [recovered?] as to try to reach home [soon?] his wife is with him. [Lindley?] [Maceomber?] is teaching school in Charlotte there by John Hazard

[In?] much love to all in [?] I remain your [?] friend William Dean

First day afternoon 12 mo 6th

Cousin Rachel Wm Dean handed Rufus this letter unsealed for him to enclose a circular & said there was room to write a little more. I claim the privelage of filling the space. Rufus was only gone three days & two nights there was very important business before the Representative Meeting they had two sittings occupying six & a half hours of courses. Rufus had but little leisure time he saw Cyrus & Almira Prindle they attended Monthly Meeting the day before & were expecting to go to Singsing the day Rufus came home. Esther & her babe has been here ten days has gone home today the babe for a time did not seem well only weighed 12 lbs when 4 weeks old appears to be prety well now has improved much in looks. we want to here from thee & thine what do you know of William. Rufus is well I most sick with cold didnot go to meeting. our love to thee

Sarah [A?] Hazard

[in left margin:]

tear of this part of the sheet before showing it.

[upside down:]

(Johnathan Batty & family are housekeeping at Brooklin

Joshua M. Dean, Elisha H. Purington, William Dean, Lydia Green, and Rhoda Harrington are appointed to inform the friends at Montpelier that this meeting with the concurence of the Quarterly Meeting have concluded to discontinue their Meeting, and that the members there of are attatched to Ferrisburgh Preparative Meeting.

Extracted from the minutes of Ferrisburgh Monthly Meeting of friends held at the Creek in Starksboro 12th Mo 2nd 1863

Joshua M. Dean Assistant Clerk R. M. Harrington Clerk for the day

Charlotte 12th Mo 2nd 1863

Respected Friends Rachel B. Stevens

The friends named in the above minute to inform you of the conclusion of this meeting in regard to you meeting have conferd together, and as it did not appear that any of us could conveniently visit you at this time they requested me to write thee and send a copy of our apointment as above written: Will thou pleas read or cause it to be read at the close of one of your meetings, say the next after thou receives it, and inform me of the reception and of its having been read at the close of your meeting; at thy earliest convenience.

Thy friend Joshua M. Dean

P.S. Cyrus G. Prindle has been sick at N. York City ever since his release, but he is mending now, so as to walk about some. friends generally well.