Note: Very hard to read as is the original. Photographed in natural room light through archival mylar.  

My Dear Child,

I recievd yours of the 22d of July and you can hardly imagine the pleasing sensation I felt at the reception   I have been very anxious sometime past to hear from you and am happy to learn that you are all enjoying health as there is not any thing to enjoy without [] tolerable share of it and have reason to think you are placd in situation where you have all the comforts of life and A very kind Companion which I think must cause time to pass very agreeably.  I am sorry to inform you of the very sudden death of our good Cousin Oliver Bostwick who you know has spent several years with us here and always kind and obliging both in sickness and in health and always found to be the same in all situations of life.  It was July the 30th that he left us   On Sunday morning he was up and stirrng that is he was walking the room with his hands on his breast and Mrs. Lines the woman that lives with use was asking him what was his complaint and he said a pain in his breast and she stept out to milking as usual and when she returned found him dead upon his Bed which suprisd us all  to A very great degree and whose death we all very seriously lament and which leaves a very lonely House: but hope we may be prepared for the ills that befall us here in life that is to bear them with resignation and patience as we know not how soon we may be in the same situation.  Your Uncle Oliver Lazarus and Wiliam Lane are here from New York and also A P [Couch] and his Lady; and yesterday your Aunt Phebe came from Salisbury to meet them all here so they have quite A sociable time of it.  We have been [] pecting your Aunt [], you Aunt N[] Maria Bright and several of them from Poughkeepsie but hear your Aunt Canfield has accidently taken one of Lees Pills which has thrown her in A [] deep salivation but thought she was taking one of a quite different nature which we fear will keep her weak and low for A long time but hope for the best.  Oh my dear Child that it was in my power to see you but I hear from your Aunt Hawkins think of going to Delhi and spending some time with you if she can make it convenient to get there which I hope and pray may take place as I should rejoice to hear she was with you at the time of your confinement but fear it will not take place.  Write my child and let me hear from you often as you can possibly make it [convenient] as I am very anxious to hear which will much oblige your ever affectionate Mother.

Polly Bostwick

Courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753.

Further information on the Sherwood Family is available in the Letters and Journals of Samuel and Laura Sherwood (1813 - 1823), edited by John Crocker, Delhi, NY, 1967,  available in the Delaware County Historical Association Archives.

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