Robinson Family Papers

to gain common respectability amongst men; yet having been taught to think all his acts were good, my understanding was quite beclouded, and now that I see Him a just God I have no slavish fear of him for "love casts out fear."

This is for thy private perusal; yet do as thou thinks best about reading parts of it if urged to it. I trust to thy judgment.

I hope you who are together are in the full enjoyment of domestic comfort and that those wilt ere long let me hear from thee.

Love to all, to thy daughter Mary & thy Sister in [??] thy Sister Mary.

Thine Ann King.

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Ferrisburg 12th Mo. 30th 1863.

My dear R.

I have not spent all the time since thy pleasant visit here, last fall, in forgetfulness of thee, or the subjects we found for conversation, but I have many times recurred to the sweetness of that friendship which then, I believe, clothed both of our spirits; and have mentally visited thee and thine, I cannot tell thee how many times, and tenderly sympathised in thy sorrows, and thy fears for the dear absent ones; yet hoping that those who are near thee were in their usual health, and capable of enjoying all the blessings our impartial Father bestows upon his children. "All are mine", he says, by every favor he extends to us; and yet how many of us fail to return thankfulness. How few turn towards him the moistened eye, flooded with tears of joyful gratitude, and give him the praise which every favor demands. I imagine your little

[in top margin:] object. - This may serve to show thee that I have not forgotten this and I should like to come there but [s?] prospect yet - With our love to thee & thine I am thy affectionate cousin J

[body of letter:] East Greenwich 12 Mo 30, 63

My Dear Cousin

I have very often thot of writing to thee since I recd thine of 7th month, 61 - but having many letters to write on various subjects I am to apt to put of those that do not require an immediate reply and I am apt also to occupy to large a portion in relating my own trials, which no doubt are often per[mitted?] for my own benefit, and therefore it does not seem quite right to tax the sympathy of my [friends?]. The severest one within the past 2 years which thou will be able to realize from experience was an account of [Benj's?] going into the army. But we have thankfully to acknowledg the mercy of our heavenly Father that his life has been spared thus far - He was at home last week on a furlow of 10 days - has been well most of the time and has gained 20 lbs thinks they shall have comfortable [?] quarters and not much to do. Eliza & Chs. are with [Nathan?] & Emily at Saint Louis which makes it pleasant for them all. Frances is nearly as tall as I am he goes to the District Shool here this winter. It is nearly a year since I had a letter from Ruth she was then keeping house and seemd to be in better spirits than usual. Sister R. had a letter from her a few weeks sine but I have not seen it - Joseph has been poorly this winter which makes it very trying for them as he has

a salary that is hardly sufficent I should think to support his family. I have always thot they were not pursueing the right course with their children but perhaps they know better than I do. I had all my teeth out about 4 weeks a go and my health has been almost perfit ever since. They had troubled me exceedingly for many years. I now have an excellent appetite and can eat very well without them yet I shall have a new sett if the children will help me pay for them; I shall be 70 in the 4th mo next yet I feel better able to work now than I have for several years, but have not much to do and on that acct I want to get away but am much attached to this meeting tho. small - I am now generally the only male membe on week days. There are several [fully?] constent attendees on [?] days, that are not members, and they want the meeting kept up - [Gulielma?] is somewhat anxious to leave but I canot seem to do any more than to say I shall probably follow if she goes . The Wilbernites have divided and subdivided until there is only one of a tribe in some places - while some desire to get back again, but I think they would like to do it without request or acknowledgment. We have one here poor solitary man that cannot unite with any party - I have been most a week writing so much - & do not feel as if I could write enough on another page to make it an

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It would be a matter of satisfaction to me to know how the transacting of Henry and Father have affected the minds of some few, for instance thyself Uncle R & Wm Dean not that I wished thee to inquire, but perhaps thou hast heard remarks from which thou couldst draw conclusions for I do not feel [underline]exactly[/underline] as James Chase expressed to Henry, after haveing had a long talk with Wm Thompson upon the subject, who expressed to him that friends were satisfied with Henrys procedings, giving him fully to understand they did not consider he had done anything wrong in it. J. C. said to Henry we need not care what folks a thousand miles off thought about as long as those here were satisfied, that is the meaning if not his words. We expect Uncle Joseph to spend sometime with us I trust it will be a rich feast I must close in haste in love to all

affectionately J H M

[in left margin:]

Please write very soon

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[M?] 1 M 19 1864

My ever Dear Cousin

Though thy kind letter has remained so long unanswered it is not because it was not [underline]very[/underline] acxeptable or because thou wert forgoten, for I often think fo thee in thy loneliness, but as I ever consider the "widow and fatherless" peculiar objects of our Heavenly Fathers care, especially those who put thier trust in him) I trust thou experiences his sustaining Arm to be underneath & around about thee to support thee in thy trials, and his Holy Spirit near to comfort thee in thy afflictions.

Let us ever bear in mind dear cousin that He whose mercies are over all his works does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men; but for the benign purpose of drawing them nearer to himself that he may happy [?] us, and that every chastisement whether

inward or outward is an indication of our Heavenly Fathers love. How very desirable it is to become firmly established upon the immutable Rock, against which no storms ever did prevail; then shall we have a refuge to flee too in times of trouble and a [covert?] from the storms and tempests

I suppose thou art as well and perhaps better informed respecting the destitution in Kansas than we are, are any of thy family there, and doest thou get any information from private correspondance and, what, I mean respecting the famine. It may truly be hoped the troubles in the political world will work out some good but what the result wll be is only known to Him who holds in his hands the destinies of nations, the aspect just now looks dark and threatening but we must endeavor to hope for the best and put our trust in a stronger

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arm than one of human flesh.

We have had a lovely winter thus far the thermometer has not been below 22° I think below zero, sleighing good and not a great deal of high wind.

Ellen is in town attending school, were she at home she would doubtless write to cousin Ann. I think she has spoken about it several times, when thou writes, which I hope will be soon, I hope she will write to Ellen.

We luxuriate in sweet made by our own free hands, and of a fine quality, we have plenty of molasses that is beautifully graining the difficulty now seems to be to seperate the sugar from the molasses, we are not initiated in that art yet fully, though we have drained some but it mostly seems inclined to pack or adhere together if pressed. I think steaming rectifies that measureably - the moasses answers nearly if not quite every purpose

North Ferrisburgh 1st mo 29th

Dear cousin R B Stevens

I think perhaps thou would like to here from Friends about here so I write (not however much in the mood) we have very plesant weather warm & nice but with every rose there is a thorn & with our warm weather we have lost our good sleighing but the Thermomater stands now 12 degrees freesing & I hope we shall have a little more snow for I understand that Levi & Sarah Meader thought of comeing to Monthly Meeting & going on the the Q. Achsah has been sick 3 weeks not able to set up only to have herbed [mede?]: more than [foure?] since she first commenced vomiting: yesterday she gave birth to a nice little daughter weighed 4. lb & was comfortable last night. Sarah M Hazard has a little daughter

born the 20th she was not very smart the last I herd. the rest of our friends are in usual health for aught I know. there is a considerable sickness about here. Rheuben Parkers wife is now a corpes to be buried first day: there was a funeral yesterday at the Methodist house an only child nearly 4 years old her parents feel there loss. we here that Esthers babe has been sick but is better; the barrell of goods thou sent came in good order in time to send with our box they wer repacked to prise wer prised at $48 our box prised at $139. the next sixth day after thy children wer here. our sewing cirkle met here & 19 of us quilted 2 bedquilts & done other sewing. 7th day at Andrew Holmses I will try to finish my letter so as to mail it on our way home. William Dean is here [strikeout]says[/strikeout] says Oscars wife is very low has a fever I fear for her but hope she will recover [strikeout]yesterday[/strikeout] Achsah yesterday was distressed & vometed very bad looking matter but this morning is smart & seems like getting well. William Deans mother was buried last fourth day her age was 85 she was very happy seventh & first day said she thought she should not live long she was taken sick that night much as unkle Clark was & died the next morning. We wer very glad indeed of a short visit from thy children they seem so near to us. we are always glad to see or here from any of them. I have been writing & listning to here Wm D. talk & have made so many mistkes I think I will stop. Rufus joines me in love to thee and thy children. Sarah A Hazard

Andrew Holmes & wife wishes to be remembered to thee

Montpelier, Feby 4 1864.

Mrs Rachael Stevens

I find by referring to my book that you have worn your temporary teeth more than a year. As any mouth will heal in one year, I would very much like you to have your permanent teeth inserted this month. It is my custom to make an extra charge for wearing temporary sets, beyond one year, if the parties, after having been notified, fail to have the permanent teeth inserted within a reasonable time.

Very Respectfully,

John M. Comegys.

Pontiac 2d mo 14th, 1864

Dear sister Rachel

Thy letter was duly received, & the contents truly interesting altho some partes of it spoke of sorrow, particularly when it spoke of thy precious Wm. true I had herd of it a few days before still, I did not believe it, thinking if it were so I should ben informed of it, some 2 or 3 week before [E?] [Trish?] was down here was told that she brought the nuse but [strikeout]as[/strikeout] it so happened she did not come here nor did I see her, so I rested easy again, we have felt a great anxiety to have the prisoners at [Richmont?] released on account of a sun of Isaac Potters being their ever since the battle at Gettysburg. They have never herd

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than one sun in the army, has his sun Rozwell got over the hurt he was suffering from when we were their, my love is ashuredly warm to thee & thine. thy scattered ones in particular are often the subject of my thoughts & our conversation; Moses & E H, always wish to be remembered to thee & to all who remember them our monthley M is to be held here the 25 of this mo. I am as ever

Mary S Varney

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does Charles attend school at the vilage this winter & does Howard reially like his book, if so he beats Merrit for he does not seem to like his verry well. I think it would be a benefit to him to attend school but they live to far off for him to go.

Did Horrace see Wm before he was captured & how did you get the information. should you hear more from him do some one informe [?]; has [Nelson?] Peck more

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a sillable from him until a short time after his mothers death when he just wrote enough to let them know he was yet a live, sister I am well a ware that we mothers who have our suns with us, know not how to feel for those who are cituated like thy self & hundreds of others.

I think you must all of you have some anxiety about Timothy & James can you corispond with them whare they are now. I was glad to hear so particular account of Wm. & [Iliziahs?] visiting with you; from the knowledge I have of the visiters & the visited think you must have enjoyed it much. was also glad, Thomas & Jane accompanied them to Ferrisburg as I seldum hear of their going much any where & one thing I will venture to say Jane did not find many who could get a meal of victuals quicker than she can (or did when I was at your house.

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