Note - this is how it appears in the copy, including the lack of punctuation, spelling, etc. I'm convinced that Herrick is not a ship, but someone's name, Mr. or M. Herrick. In the source, "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men with Portrait Illustrations on Steel, Volumes I-II," about The Reverend Charles Carroll Miller, his father Jeremiah G. Miller is identified as "Captain.". Jeremiah died 9 December 1836, reason unknown, and Jane Warren Green Miller died 29 September 1868 from Consumption.
We had believed the old family tale about Jeremiah Green Miller and his parents, etc, being involved in the ship building business but have found no proof of it. We have also found no proof of the story about what lead to his untimely death, which was a mutiny by sailors on a ship he was Captain of.
Kennebunkport September 8th 1835
Dear Wife
I had the pleasure this morning of receiving your kind letter of Sept 5 informing me that you were alive and some better than when you wrote me last, the Lord grant that you may continue to grow better until your health is restored. Altho I am surrounded with company still I am alone without you. and wish I could fly up to N. H. to night if it was consistent to wish so and spend the night with you. I hope that you may be able to ride home by the 21st for I propose if I am well to come up the last of next week which will be the 18th which will make one month since I left you there. Should this proposition suit you, you will write me to that effect as soon as you receive this. perhaps I may conclude to ___ up there two or three days and make a visit with you to Mr. Noyce. My health is about the same as when you saw me; our family are all well as usual. Nothing very new or strange has taken place since you left home. Sally Thompson died last week. I was with her a few hours before her death she appeared very happy and resigned to die; John Wilder has lost his infant three weeks old born since you left I believe. Jonas Merrill has lost his wife died last week with consumption. Only been married one year or thereabouts. No other deaths that I know of since you left home. Our Election takes place next Monday the 14th and I shall be glad when it is over – it is very still however politic, do not rage as they did last fall. People are more taken up in land speculation. I wish you to eat beef steak and lamb for that will stimulate you and (strengthen) more than any food you can eat I know by past experience. If your bowels will bear it - I have sent you a number of papers please let me know if received. Mr. Herrick has not returned yet, been gone nearly three weeks. I look for him tomorrow. Lyman came to see me between meetings last Sunday and says he should like to come home and wants to see Carroll to.
I have not anything more dear wife to write you that will be interesting. Write soon.
S.B. Tell Carroll He must mind his Mother and pray for Pah (father)
The Jonas Merrill mentioned above was likely a member of the family whose members are buried in Merrill Cemetery, along with Jeremiah and members of his family.
A cholera epidemic during the years 1816 to 1837 may have been the reason Jane was not home in Kennebunkport with her family. See Diseases and epidemics of the 19th century for more information. Her parents and family lived nearby in New Hampshire, so maybe that's where she was during that period?
Information received following a posting to the MEYORK Newsletter in the RootsWeb forum indicates that "Lyman" may be Isaac Lyman, the name of the minister of the church that Jeremiah and Jane attended.
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