The letter, dated October 18, 1717, from Sarah, describes evangelical activity, Cyrus French, Mary, and the recipient's son, David, lives with Sarah. An enslaved person is mentioned. The letter was found in a house on Montgomery Street in Danbury as it was being razed. (Situated where the parking lot of the Central Christian is now located). The properties in the general area were owned in the 1880s by a Mrs. Moore and a Mrs. Benedict.
Link to Hopkins map showing the properties.
Transcription:
[Page 1]
Granville Oct[ober] the 18, 1717
My near and dear connections[,] I take this
opportunity to inform you that we are in a
tolerable state of health [-] hoping these lines
will find you and yours familys [families] enjoying
the same blessing[.] Oh that we mit? [might] be more
Sensible of the mercyes [mercies] and blessing that we
ar[e] receving [receiving] from the hand of god[.] ? We seke [seek]
to god in the way he has pointed out in
the scriptures[.] We may rest a shurred [assured] that
we shall obtain? [attain?][.] God has seen fit to arrest
the atenshion [attention] of a great number in this
place and still seemes [seems] to be a carrying? on
his work[.] I verily believe that it is none
less than the power of god do such wonder[-]
full things for poor lost sinners[.] I shall
not be able to give you but a short accoun[t]
at present but thare [there] has been a considerable
atenshion [attention] payd [paid] to religion this summer past
and seemes [seems] to be increasing[.] Thare [there] is twenty
that has entertained a comfortable hope
[Page 2]
And a great number in quiening? [inquiring?] I will
jest [just] mention one sircumstance [circumstance][- ]Mr.
Harris our minister be gun [began] to visit his
people last spring[.] each family on ?runpos? [on purpose?]
for religios [religious] conversation? and in his visets [visits]
he went to one house[.] The woman of the house
was so much a posed [opposed] to religas [religious] conversation
that she left the roome [room] untill [until] he was
gone and she has ?cinse?[since] confest [confessed] that she felt
condemned ?nesier? [never?] found peace untill [until] she
found that peace that the world can
nether [neither] give nor take away and to a peani
nce [penance?] seemes [seem] to bee? Rejoysing [rejoicing] in god and the
Savior but but? this ?ronfe? [work?] has ben [been] ?mos?
tly a [mostly?] a mong? [among] the yong [young] people thay? mele?
all most every night in difrent [in different] pa
rts [parts?] of the town and a pon [upon] the sabath [sabbath][.] the
Meting [meeting] house is very mutch [much] crouded [crowded][.] I
presume that the congregation is twice [twice]
as large as it was be fore [before] the revival? begun [began.]
[Page 3]
I want to hear from you all I have nece?
we? ondly? one letter from you cince [since] I have
been hear [here] that was dated January last [.]
I have rote [wrote] twice cince [since] the last by
Cyrus French[.] Doe [do?] rite [write] as son [soon] as you necerie? [receive?]
this[.] I want torite [to write] a great deal
and give me all the infor mation [information] you can
about hulday? [Hulday?][.] I have note [not] to her? [hear] cence [since] I
came hear [here] but received [received] nos anser [answer] and to
cunill? [Camill?] anumber [a number] of times but have not
heard from her own children continues
to talk mutch [much] a bout [about] you and some time
S [times] jump for joy one mentions what you rote [wrote]
about coming hear [here][.] One sayes [says] I hope
that aunt Mary will come and fetch
her little boys and little slave? tries
to talk to [too?][.] he can call your naimes [names] and all the the
childrens naims [names][.] I have oieund? [owned] him but a few
weaks [weeks] and he goes to bed with the rest of the chi
ldren [children] [.] awaik [awake?] he is a brte [bright] little rogue as ever
you saw[.] David is often a folding paper to send
[Page 4]
I made him some cloes [cloths] the other day and
he says that I will kepe [keep] my trousers clean
til? aunt Ann comes[.] she will come next
summer I love ant [aunt?] and I shall kiss aunt when
she comes[.] the girls remembers [remember] granama [grandma]
and talk mutch [much] of her[.] I want to hear? from
her I wish you would rite [write] in per tick
ler [in particular] how she does and a bout [about] your childre
n [children][.] I have not herd [heard] from Squire? since
I wrote to you last[.] I flattered myself
last summer that I shout [should] go and see him
But our children are too youn
g [young] to be left[.] I have ben [been] to Berkshier [Berkshire]
twenty 5 miles from hear [here][.] Mr. J*l*mes?
and Joseph l? and his wife and sone [son] has
viset [visited] us this fall and Mr. David Ballnum?
and his wife and her sister Clavyery? Wheeler[.]
he married Luvina[?] Wheeler[.] thay [they] live 50
milds [miles] from hear [here][.] Mr. Sturges sends his
love to youall [you all][.] he often says that he
wishes that me? it? under? son [Mr. Anderson?] was hear [here]
to take his sasom?
I remain your loving Sarah
