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The Edgerton Database |
The Letters of Asenath Edgerton Mrs.
Ann Wales Hartford,
or Newark Licking
County State
of Ohio Mr.
Orrin Barrows My Dear Sis[ter], I
understand…down, and bring word that you…seen them yet myself, tho, I hope
and expec[t]…my return. I hear that
Mrs. Dunham and child got badly hurt, a few weeks since which, I conclude is
the reason, that you, or she did not write – I hope they may soon
recover. When I heard that Mr.
Barrows was expected down, I could but hope that you would come too, and now
I hope that you will come before long, if it is practicable. O my dear sister, how I do long to see you
once more, in the land of the living.
But, God only knows, how that may be.
Father & Mother, Sisters & Brother, have all forsaken me, and
the most of them are dead, and gone from this world. I hope to a better. I hear that James is married, & has
lost his only child. I hope it may be
for his best good, that he has been thus afflicted. – Mother Died Octr 4th
1821, aged 89. Brother Zebulun died
April 25th 1822 aged 68, and his widow died August 5th, 1826, aged 70. Sister Munro died Novr 4th 1823, aged
65. Sister Elisabeth died August 18th
1822, aged 66. Brother Eleazer
Bentley died March 7th 1827, aged 67.
Eleazer and Bethiah are all that is left here of our family, and
Bethiah is a very great comfort to me indeed, for I hope she is truly
Pious. It has been, and still is,
quite sickly here with a fever, & 19 have died this year, (viz) Widow
Abigail Armstrong, 92, John Ayers wife 72, Hannah Crocker, 47, Brother
Be[ntley], [Anson Gleason] Willes 6 months, Capt. Eb. Hartshon’s widow, 84,
…ton, 90, Capt. Amos Armstrong’s wife, 71, a Son of Jo[hn Congdon], [Oliver
Wolcott] Avery 10, Walter Gidding’s wife, 37, Thomas Pember, 46, his Son
Jacob, 7, Capt. Timothy Chapman, 67, Naomi Ladd, 25, Lucy Daur to Robert
Hyde, 21, Wid. Tabitha Rudd, 84, and Charity French, 52. You too, have experienced trouble and
affliction in your own family, one half your number are gone, may your trials
all be sanctified to you, and your surviving children for your, and their,
everlasting benefit. Wid. Lee
Armstrong has been with her children at the westward about a year. I have lately had a letter from her, she
has been at John Munro’s, & found them well and doing well, they have 8 children. His Father & Sister Silence were
there a few days before, and were well.
She likewise writes that Sister Root’s Son, now takes the lead in
business, and they are doing pretty well.
Eleazer Root has lost his wife, and I hear is about to marry again,
his Grandmother Root is dead. Mrs.
Mead I have just seen once. I still
live with Mrs. Gager, who is very feeble, and apparently almost worn out. The rest of the family are well, & all
unite with her, in sending much Love to you and yours. Mr. Nathan Wales Widw slipt down, &
broke her hip last winter, but she now walks on Crutches. Mrs. Badcock and family, I believe are
well as usual. Esqr Oliver Johnson’s
wide Died with a fever, the 30th of last November, a great loss to this
neighborhood, & to her family.
Please to write every Opportunity.
My love to your chil[dren] & families & all friends. I wish your best good, for time &
Eternity. Your affection[ate sister] [Asenath Edger]ton Mrs.
Ann Wales October
8th – Since writing this letter,
I…tidings, (by way of a letter from Reuben [Edgerton] of Pompey, N.Y., to
Capt. Milton Hyde,) of the Death of our dear sister, Silence Bentley, which
took place on the 15th of last August, with the Consumption. Reuben has seen a neighbor of hers, who
gave the information. His family are
well. Carlos Tracy, Son to cousin
Eleazer Tracy, died with a fever, at Beaufort, South Carolina, on the 15th of
August, Aged 34 years a very heavy stroke to his Parents & friends, who
had a great dependance on him. He had
a family, & was a Merchant, in Charlston, of the same state. Another death in Franklin, on the 25th of
September, Lydia, Daughter to Mr. Edward Armstrong, aged 19 years. I expect that Sister Bentley was not well
as I wrote before, when at John Munro’s, but I think probably that her close
confinement was short. Capt. Cherub
Abell & wife, are very feeble, he had a shock of the palsey last winter,
& has not been able to walk alone since.
Bethiah sends her affectionate regards to you and yours, and wishes
your best good. Mrs. Levi Gager
likewise wishes to be remembered to you. – I called and had a short
opportunity with Mrs. Barrows at her father’s and she informed me all she
could about you, but I had no time to ask her half the questions I wish’d,
but I feel in a measure satisfied, that I have seen her. If we never meet again on earth, my Prayer
is, that we may eventually meet in [a] better world. Your aff[ectionate sister] [Asenath Edger]ton Back to Asenath Edgerton main page |