Sempronius, N.Y.

To Molly Ellis, Ashfield, Mass.

These lines come to let you know that we are all well. I think I am better than when I lived in Ashfield. Your father also has his health I think remarkably. David [see page 368] and family are well. We heard you were coming up this fall. I suppose you and your child are well, but, oh! Remember, we are liable every day to sickness and death; and do, Molly, let us strive to be prepared to change worlds, it will soon come; and do let us strive to live in love with God and set our affections on things above, so that we may live happy and die happy. When you see Hannah H., tell her that Irene [probably 34] does not forget her - wants her to live so that she may be happy with Christ to all eternity. Your Uncle, Thomas, [see page 366] seemed to live this world purely. He told me, often, he prayed all the time. I take much satisfaction in Moses [probably her grandson, Moses Bartlet] and his wife. I bid you farewell.

Dear Sir: Ashfield, Mass., May 12, 1802

The note that you left in my care, against Ezra Williams, I have received the contents of, except seventy - three dollars. I have taken up the orders as you directed and have paid Dr. Dickinson, Dr. Smith and Thomas White some money, in settlement of their accounts. I did not take my pay my note that I hold against you, as I did not stand in need of it, but will send you the note and take my pay of Williams, when he pays the balance due you. I am well at present and Polly also. Our child is sick, but I think he is getting some better now. I hope these lines will find you well. Give our love to father and mother Annable and to all inquiring friends, etc.

Sempronius, N.Y., Aug 26, 1806

Dear Sister: I am now quite sick. I have not been well the last two years as I was the two first years after we came into this country. Dear Sister: The Lord, in his providence, has been pleased to visit this family with the stroke of death. Our brother Samuel is gone and left us here to mourn, but not as those with hope. [See page 367.} You desired us to write the particulars of his death. He was sick about two months, he got better twice when he had the third relapse. David [his brother, see page 368] told him he must certainly die. He said they must send for his brother Barnabas, to pray with him, for, said he, I must certainly go to -- --if I die in my present situation. Barnabas went and stayed with him until the day of his death, all the time of which he appeared in bitter agony of soul, pleading for salvation, until about three days before he died, when he received and said he had been in perfect readiness for three days.

Ruth, failing, I take the pen to finish her letter. He readilly confessed that he had many hard thoughts of me for spending so much time in preaching, but now, said he, I see that souls are of some consequence and you have done much good in preaching; therefore, go and do all the good you can. Respecting his property, he left it in will to his wife, or widow, during her life, directed after her decease to Hiram Dennison, provided he serves the widow faithfully his time out, and in case he should die, leaving no heir, then what may be left is directed to us, as heirs, the brothers and sisters of the deceased. Peleg Standish is administrator with the widow. It was supposed that she was soon to have married had not the Lord have taken the young man's life. She is now going to live with her brother Peleg.

Respecting religion here Electa has written. Brother Ellis, if you have collected the Crapo notes, I wish you would send the money due unto daddy Moon to him, then take your own pay for your pains and send the remainder to me the first good opportunity and by Daniel Ellis, [125] if he returns soon. * * I have many trials in life which would make me weary of the world did not the Lord often happify my soul with showers of divine blessings. May the blessings of heaven rest on you and yours.

From your feeling brother,

To Miss Polly Annable:

Please to read these lines with patience. Well, Polly, I did begin my school until the third day after I arrived at Shelburne, and those days should have been glad to have spent with you in Ashfield. I have kept school three days and tedious long days they were. I shall not tell you that I am homesick, but will venture to say that I feel very low spirited, though my school is very agreeable, yet the people are all strangers to me in this town and it seems as if they always would be. Mary, [or Polly] if you had any idea of my feelings you would come and see me. I saw Mr. Notron that evening, after I parted with your dear self, and earnestly requested him to wait on you to Shelburne. He said that would be avery great pleasure, but he expected to go out of town next week. Hark! Somebody knocks. I must bid you good bye for a moment, but shall disturb you again directly.

Mary, I have a short story to tell you. While I engaged in writing to you, I was interrupted by a gentleman and lady, who came to see if I would walk down town with them. So accordingly I went, and there I saw a number of your acquaintances, which afforded me but little satisfaction. What I should call satisfaction would be to see or here something from all my good friends at ashfield. If I do not get a letter (if not two) from you soon I shall ever cease to subscribe myself your affectionate friend and admirer. I shall come home in about three weeks if I can have a horse.

Sempronius, N.Y.

Dear Sister: I take this opportunity to inform you that we are well at present. Mother and Bethiah are very well. Mother has been able to visit the Doctor, Moses and Lecta. [Dr. David Annable, Moses Bartlett, her grandson, and Mrs. Electa Phillips, her granddaughter.] I have the sorrowful news to write that we have heard of the death of father and brother Daniel Moon. I think my poor mother must be in trouble. I wish you would come and see your mother and sister once more, if I never can mine. Your mother grows childish, but not troublesome. Edward and Mima [Lieut. Edward and Jemima Annable] were here on a visit last week. Mima was ill. She said the doctor said she was going into consumption. Alcemena [see page 94] has been very sick. Samuel and Nancy [her children] are teaching schools. The Doctor [David Annable] talks of going to see you. We all send love to uncle and aunt, [Lieut. John and Molly Ellis] likewise to Hannah Hale.

Sempronius, N.Y., Sept. 27, 1818

Dear Aunt - In compliance with your request, and my own feelings do I gladly embrace the opportunity of writing to one whom I ever have and ever shall cherish the highest sentiments of respect and esteem. I cannot but reflect for a moment on the happiness your presence afforded in the early hour of my life. Nothing could then afford more pleasure than the company of those to whom I was allied by the ties of natural affections. Fondly imagining them to be the best of human beings, I really enjoyed in their presence consummate bliss.

But in the dispensations of Providence, it was ordained that I should part with some of them and move to the new country [from Ashfield to Sempronius.] This was trying, though I was hardly large enough to realize it. Nothing caused greater sorrow and made deeper impressions on my mind than the thought of leaving Aunt Polly - perhaps never to see her again - never did the impressions of sorrow fully wear away; and it was long before, in sweet remembrances of past scenes, I could hail your arrival in Sempronius. Your visits were gladdening to my feelings, and I only regretted that you must return again.

But those scenes are past, and I now one still more trying to relate. Last Thursday, Electa and Nancy, Bartlett and Enos, two ever dear and affectionate sisters, with two beloved brothers, took their leave at Sempronius for the long contemplated journey to the wilds of Indiana. The rest of the family remain till next spring. You will, no doubt, be curious to know the feeling that were manifested on this trying event. In the morning the neighbors flocked in to pay their respects and render them what assistance they could about loading and getting them ready to start. Notwithstanding all seemed to be filled with the deepest regret at the thought of separating, each one assumed as much of an air of merriment as they could, in order to repress in some measure the anguish of those who were about to leave us. Each cordially bestowed their best wishes for their future comfort and prosperity. Sister Nancy, with a firm resolutiion, if possible, to restrain her feelings so as to refrain from tears, braved it till she got as far as Elisha's, where we accompanied her. We went in; I shook hands with sister Electa, and she burst into tears. Sister Nancy could no longer restrain her feelings - she wept, and most of the women present gave vent to their feelings in the same way. For my own part the scene was truly heartrending. The boys braved it. To think that fourteen hundred miles should separate me from those with whom the happy, thought transient, morning of my life had been spent, was truly painful. I could hardly refrain from giving vent to my own feelings in a flow of tears. Yet I did. Not that I was ashamed to cry. Ah, no! Reason forbade that I should add fuel to the fire of anguish already kindled in the beasts of those who were about to leave us. The struggle was hard indeed. With many a deep drawn sigh did I resist the anguish of my soul.

They are gone and how shall I be reconciled. Reason dictates flattering with a hope that all is for the best. Considering it providential, already begins to calm the anguish of my soul. How good, how comforting is the power of reflection. Were it not for this, the passions would overcome the other faculties of the mind, the soul would sink into a state of dejectedness which would render life miserable.

I am sorry to inform you that Nancy, through extreme hurry of business in preparing to get away, was obliged to neglect copying that writing which she promised you. Having to go away myself in search of employment, I could not attend to it.

I have not yet engaged a school, but I expect to soon. Bromley has engaged to work for uncle David this winter in the brewery. We are all in tolerable health. Mrs. Fuller being present, wishes me to write her compliments [Rhoda Annable Fuller, see page 94.]

Grandmother wishes me to remember her; says she is still alive, but does not expect to be a great while. She is nearly as comfortable as she was when you was here. Aunt Bethiah wishes me to write her respects to you and the family. She wishes Desiah [237] would write her. She sends her compliments to Mr. Belding's people [John Belding's, see page 372.]

Father and mother wish me to write for them. They feel anxious to have you write to them. It is a general time of health with us. Give my respects to uncle Dimick, to great-uncle and aunt, and likewise to the rest of the family, your children, and to all enquiring friends. I wish you or uncle would write me.

I am, dear aunt, your sincere friend and affectionate nephew,

Sempronius, N.Y. February 14^th, 1819

May God prepare the hearts of my dear sister and brother, aunt and uncle to receive the particulars of the death of mother Annable. She continued to decline from the time you left here until some of the first days of February, when she grew worse, having her senses to the last minute, and exercising, as her prayer was perfect patience, until her Lord should come. She lived from midnight, after being sensible that she was struck with death, until the next night, sun half an hour high, when faltering a few minutes, her struggles being over, she apparently breathed her life sweetly out. This was on the 9^th day of the month. Another exemplary life and peaceable death stimulated us all to fear God and keep his commands that we may have right to the tree of life, and enter into the city where we trust she is gone. The text was: "Be ye also ready, for in such an," etc. We, our friends and yours in this quarters are well. John is well [68].

We have received a letter from our children in Indiana. They inform us that they are well and pleased with the country, and have bought four miles from Mount Vernon, a village on the Ohio river, and fifteen from the Wabash river. Probably in about three weeks we shall start. We now expect that Bethiah will go with us. However, Edward [39] appears anxious to have her stay and make her home at his house. We shall make it a point to write from that place when we get there, hoping thereby to perpetuate a remembrance of each other. With warm affections to you all whom I cannot see, and strong attachments to all my old acquaintances,

I subscribe myself yours,