Author
Fowler, David
Date2 May, 1765
ms number765302.2
abstractFowler writes to Wheelock about his intention to marry Amy Johnson,
and states that he has bought her a ring. He also writes of his worries concerning
her
health.
handwritingHandwriting is formal and clear.
paperLarge sheet is folded in half to make four pages. Paper is in
good-to-fair condition, with moderate creasing, staining and wear. There
is
significant tearing near location of seal, but it results in no loss of text.
Heavy creases are silked.
inkBrown-black.
noteworthy The trailer is in an unknown hand. A note under the trailer
reading "about a wife" is likely 19th-century and has not been transcribed.
layoutThe first page of the letter is on one recto, however the second
page is on two recto, not one verso.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Hartford
May 2 1765
Rev. and Honoured Sir.
According to your desire I now
send you a few Words of our Transaction.—I have determin
ed to have
Amy for my Companion: I shall marry her as soon
as I return from
Oneida, if I find all things well betwixt us—
We have settled all those things I told you of. some
she
confessed and
some not: I suppose
some were false.—I hope, Sir you will
take the best Care you can of her. She wants a Gown very much,
Handkerchief, also I wish you would let her have some fine Lin
nen to make her etc. I don't know what else
she wants; it is like
ly you will when you come up.— I
know if you love her
as much as you do me, all what she
desires will be given: it is strange
(if
Mr. Wheelock, don't love my Rib as well as my whole Body.—
—I have given her a Gold Ring, which cost two Dollars:— I hope
Sir, you won't be displeased with me for that, I think it will do her
good; now she
sees my Sincerity towards her. therefore she will put
more Weight upon what I say to her; it will also
serve to keep her back from
those things. she has been apprehened too often; though not once since
she
came here. She tells me that she is quite contented here and hopes
to tarry all Summer.— Do let her
tarry the biggest Part of this Summer,
if you don't design to send her to
Boston. Sir you know,
Woolly don't
want one so dexterous as I do, at least he can do better with poor one than I can: for
I
want one that is Handy in everything; I expect to do great deal in
reforming my poor Brethren both in spiritual and temporal things;
also I shall be always crowded with guests: I believe, you seem to see
how it will be. from these reasons and many others I can produce had
I Time, you may see that I require one that can turn her Hand to
anything that belongs to housewifery.
After I had some
conversation with
Mrs. Bull about
Amy I understood that she
hasn't
had one well Day since
she came here; I
suppose
she
catched Cold when I brought her up: She has conti
nual
Pain in her Side and Head. I am afraid she
is in a consumptive Way;
she
should go to some
skillful
physician.— Sir, you dont know how much
it disheartens me, when I consider her Weakness it strikes
such
heaviness in my Heart so that I am unwilling to leave her; for
fear, you wont try to get her healed.
O pray for her in se
cret and Private, that God would give Her Health and strength
also all the Graces she
stands in need of and continue her a long
and rich blessing in the World, that he would make her a
Pattern of Piety and Virtue to all her poor Kindred, who will
Blank page.
be about her. I am cut off from my Expectation, I thought I found one that was able
to go through hard Work: but I see now I am in the same Difficulty as before; but I hope for the Better not for the worst. —
I did not hear of her illness
'til after I wrote you one Letter, so I was obliged to write another, that is the
reason why I put it in the last Place. — Poor Girl I cant help loving her, she is indeed a pretty Girl. And therefore from this Time I shall keep clear from all Girls whatsoever.
Sir I shall be exceeding glad if you should tell
Jacob to
put all my things into
Jacob
Woolly
chest and let not one of them be
lost.
May the blessing of Heaven rest on you and Family, and continue you a long and rich blessing in the World, may God
bless all your undertakings; and give you Skill to conduct and Govern all those that
are
committed to your Care: is the sincere Pray er and
desire of him, who desires
the continuance your Prayers.
P. S. My
Amy gives kind Respect's
to
you and
Madam.
Sir, I hope you won't let this Letter be exposed.