Walton, August the 16, 1826.

Dear Children:

            We received yours on the 13 my heart would gladly recount the former mercies of the Lord but I am lost in wonder of God and love and praise.  We are all in comfortable health and the boys in good spirits  They have 20 acres chopt 5 burned and ready to log. Thomas intends clearing it all off this fall therefore he cannot comply with your request and consequently you must come home for all the family wants to visit with you.  The last and only time Mrs. Fer has been home we had little time to congratulate on the mercies of the Lord. We hope you will arrang your business if you can come and make your visit so as to start from Walton the 16 of October. I propose going to New York if the Lord permit and Thomas will help you to Cattskill.  He is feeding his horses oats every day you cannot think how great the oats are.  I presume the cannot be exceeded from here to where you live.  I make this statement that you may know we can keep your horse well and for your further encouragement our potatos is equally as good.  Grass has been very light this season and the grasshopers very destructive in many places.  There is but few share in the mercies of God as we do.  May our hearts as a family be deeply sensible of the Gr[] dealings of the Lord.  Our cousin Mrs. Smith has been confined to her room since last February.  Jane and Nancy had letters last week she wanted to have me come and visit her as she is much depressed in spirit.  I hope you will both write to her – my heart would desire to bring a tribute of praise to God for the temporal salvation of John D. I would write to him by you (if) it was practicable but will omit it at present.  North is moved to the large tavern in the village a few steps from the bridg. The send thire love with the many others of your friends in Walton.  They all want you to come home.  Mr. Coleman lives in the same place you must not pass Mr. C. Frosts.  They have been here and was much disappointed that you did not call and as she spent one day preparing before.  Stop and take pot luck.  Write as soon as you get this. No more from

                                                                                                            Your Ma

                                                                                                            Jane Ferguson.

Esteemed Brother& Sister:

            As Mother has got tired writing between the noise of Father’s loom above and the spinner below she has left this letter and called me from my wheel to finish it. I am happy to have the opportunity to write and beg that you will not criticize but rather pardon the imperfections of an affectionate sister for I have been spinning so hard that my hand trembles so that I can scarcely write and the reason why I have not before written to you is I thought my imperfection to great; This much for introduction.

            I am requested to write for my brothers and sisters as they cannot for the boys are at work in their new follow (?) as black as negroes and Margaret is on the bed she has got the sick headache and Nancy is spinning very busy.  We are hurrying our work to get through by the time you and Mrs. Ferguson come home.  The place looks much pleasanter than when you was here before therefore we thin you would enjoy yourselves much better to come home and see us all than to have 2 or 3 of the family visit you and the rest of us be deprived of your company besides it is not convenient for Thomas to go and see you.  We further expect that the visit you made us last fall was only an introduction to what we should receive this fall.  Esq. Wetmore requested us to tell you to stop and see him; if you can make it convenient to call we think you would find a welcome reception.  –Since the death of Grandfather Clark it has pleased the Lord to remove Fanny from this vale of tears.  She died in the triumph of faith on the 20 of May last just one year from the time she was taken sick.  My heart swells with gratitude to the Father of all our mercies when I look around and see many of our fellow beings called some on the right hand and others on the left and we as a family spared to adore and magnify the Lord.  I would write much more did I not expect to see you soon.  The family all joins me in Love to you and Mrs. Ferguson, likewise to Mrs. Jayne when you write to her.  Mother sends her love to Mr. and Mrs. Lucky and wishes you to kiss little S. Marwin for her.  We will tell you about Eleanor when you come home. Come without fail. I must leave off for the gentlemen have invited us to take a walk this pleasant evening and we must comply with their request.  So no more at present.

                                                                                                Jane Ferguson

Ps.   please do write soon and let us know what time

            you will come home write soon. J F

Ps.   pardon all mistakes.

Courtesy of the Davenport Historical Association, Davenport, NY, 13750. Over 500 letters from the Ferguson and Jayne families, most dating from the mid-nineteenth century, are available in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary S. Briggs, Interlaken New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1981. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved.