Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 10 January 1841 [LE-443]

Document Transcript

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Scarborough

Respected friend, I set down to inform ^you^ of our hea[l]th and enjoyments that
we possess through the mercyes of God. My wife was taken unwell about
a fortnit agoe but has got quite comfortable now all the rest of our friends
in this quarter are as well as usial I must jest say (although you will hear
before this Reaches you) that one of your best friends is with us and is well
she and her little boy ^and^ have got pritty well rested after their long jorney
Phebe is now seting at the same table writeing to her Sister Kimbal at
Commerce we shoul be very glad if you were here to join us but must
wate contented for you arrival in the spring as your letter received a
few days a goe informed us, now Phebe is here we may rest assuredly of seeing
you when you return to this country in the spring Phebe rote to you when
she was in New York so that I need not say any thing in regard to Joseph
F, Carter
and Luther Scammans journey on where Phebe was as I suppose
she gave you all the particulars in her letter from New York and as I under
stand two or three wants to write some in this letter I must draw to a close
by Mrs Carters with my self presenting you with our best respects–Ezra Carter [Letter from Ezra Carter ends]

[Letter from Freedom Moulton begins]
Being solicited by your wife I just take my pen to drop
you a few lines—saying to you first—that my health
is not very good—my lungs being somewhat affected
by excessive talking in my business of school teaching which
I shall have to drop—was much pleased to hear your
letter, dated in July, read—wish much I could
be with you in walks around England seeing the
many curiosities—your deliniations of them were
excellent, better than any I have read—glad to hear
you and your bretheren are so little persecuted—your
wife seems just as she formerly did—cheerful and
resigned to every thing that befalls her—your boy looks
finely good natured and quiet—my folks are all
well—Grandmother which you saw when you were at fathers
is dead, died with ^a^ cancer—she suffered much—been steadily
engaged in teaching since I last saw you—intend closing
in the spring—it has been somewhat sickly in this vicinity
this fall and winter—many very sudden deaths—see many pieces
in the New York and other papers about the doings of the Latter day
Saints in England—have not had the Western fever much [serum]
I was on—was much pleased to see Phebe I can assure you—
she has given me a history of ^the^ Mormon’s Work—have had
a very favorable winter—very little severe weather—very
little snow on the ground now—as I have already occupied
more of this sheet than I ought I will bid
you good bye—by wishing you health and prosperity

Yours truly,
Freedom Moulton

[sideways text] We have had a severe political contest the last fall—the Whigs have
beaten us by resorting to all manner of deception—such as you would
not hardly credit—if told you—the North Eastern boundary remains the same [end of sideways text]

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My Dear Willford

As father Cand Mr. Moulton has filled the first page
of this sheet I sit down (at the little table in the north chamber where you used
to write so much when at father) to tell you a little about matters with me
and our little Willford Owen,—my health is good and his is better than it
ever has been before, he seames to have got quite well of the ague and grows finely
I suppose you ^will^ have learned before this reaches you that I am Scarborough
as I wrote you while in N.Y. at brother Ilus’s. It was a good opportunity for
me to come home and I hope you have no objections to my improveing it, and
spending the winter with my friends.

I have now^t^ heard from you since the
8th of last july untill verry lately when a mail brought me a letter from sister
Kimball with one from you enclosed in it dated july 19th and one for father dated
London Nov. 9th. I was truly glad to see them it was quite pleaseing to me to learn
that you was thinking of comeing home in the spring and of your health and
prosperity. Please tell me in your next letter what time you think of starting
for America. Your letters contained much information. I learned by fathers
that you had heared of the death of our dear child, I find that time or dis-
tance does not diminish my affection, for her—when I went to Commerce
I did not forget to visit her grave and strew it with flowers or leaves or something
that would please her when living—sister Kimball mentioned some things
you sent designed for her and shall I not say O! that she was liveing that
she might enjoy them and we enjoy her little prattles and society even when you
return, but I forbarre. Brother Turley had not arrived when when we left
Montrose but has since and sister Kimball ^says he^ has brought me many presents and
some for the children a cap for Willford 2 dress patterns the china box you men-
tioned in your letter to father, 2 china pitchers 5 sovereigns in the box and and
& two sovereigns in 2 letters and one halfe one in another she conclude by the sixe
of them, she had not opened them and other things to numerous to mention
she has them in her care and will no doubt keep them safe untill my our return
she is a good woman and a sister that I love and respect—please give my respects
to brother Kimball if he is with you. Sister Sarah Milliken wrote some
in sister Kimballs letter,—she says the steambaoat Nauvoo, returned there the last of

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Nov. and brought John F. Boynton and wife and Lyman Johnson and that they had
purchased lots and were going to build on them—she said she knew not what their
feelings were in regard to mormonism but they ^were^ verry friendly and in good spirits.

(Willy is in my lap and appears as though he wanted to write I will try
him and see [Here Phebe begins to write in her son's voice. The script changes as if Phebe is holding the pen in Wilford Woodruff, Jr.'s hand] dear pa I am down to grandpa with grandpa & grandma wont
you come here and see me I love you pa pa mar [mom] tells me about you W. O. W.)

Thus the most of the apostates seam to be comeing back again. I think it
would have been better for them to have conducted themselves so as to have remained
in the church rather than to make work for repentance, I trust that you and
I shall take warning by them and be diligent in keeping the commands of
God. It truly looks pleasent to me to look forward to the spring when you
think of returning home again, y^—^ you speak of makeing sacrifices in being
deprived of each others society,—yes truly I think it is the greatest earthly
sacrifice that I can make and were it not for Christ sake I feell as
though I wuld not endure it—yet I often feell as the poet says, In hopes of
that immortal crown I now the cross sustain, And gladly wander up
and down, And smile at toil and paine. I can say through the mercy
and goodness of God that upon mature consideration I have not for the f[page torn]
time wished you at home untill your mission is filled then I think you [page torn]
return without delay. I have had some trying scenes to pass through since you left me
but thank the Lord he has been my friend and suport through them all. Do come
home as early in the spring as you can consistently and if you can bring some means
with you to carry us on to Montrose I should be glad as we shall need it. You spoke
about my haveing a house built in Commerce our house was put up to the roof and
one for sister Taylor then they ceased to do more. Sister Pratt had a house and lot bought
for her but the house was not comfortable so they concluded to finish our house for
her and got it most done then for some reason she went into another, and sister Taylors
house was poor so she wanted me to let her go into it I told her to go—so things stand
about so there now I think if you choose to live in Commerce on your return
the way will be opened for us. I feel to rejoice in your prosperity since you have
been in Eng. and hope the Lord will still bless you and return you home safely is the prayr of your
Phebe.

I must give way for Shuah

[Letter from Phebe ends]

[Letter from Shuah begins]

Jan 12

Many thanks my dear Brother for the kind rembrance in your late
communication the perusal of which afforded us much pleasure to learn
of your health prosperity &c. Am gratified in the privilege of filling the small
space allowed me by sister P. not thinking to add to what is already written or
that mine will be read till hers has been perused & reperused

Presume you have heard ere this of her sudden transition from Maine to Iowa or
(or the west if you please) we were truly delighted to see her & the babe & think they
never could have a better opportunity of having company on & back which is very important
for a lady. Willa is a sweet little boy with fine black eyes & we think him very handsome
has four teeth which he uses to best advantage. P. has agreed to leave him with me on her
return in case I can get your consent which I dont flatter myself can be easiley obtained
we are very happy to hear of your anticipated return. hope you will come soon as you can leave much love [from] S.

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[sideways text] Brother Woodruff

I have just come to fathers as sister Phebe is writing
to you and as she offers me a little space in her letter I cheerfully improve it by
saying to yo that I am rejoiced to hear of your prosperity in the cause of Christ and thank
you for your kind remembrance of me, and my family and hope we shall ever share
in your prayers. we are well at present—hope the Lord will continue to bless you
in your mission and hasten the time when you shall have filled your ^it^ in the love and fear
of God and be returned to your family in safety enjoying the approbation of heaven. We learned
by fathers letter that you think of returning in the spring Via maine Con. &c so we think we
are sure of a visit from you as your family are with us spending the winter we are
pleased with their company—little Willy is a fine boy we love him much—my children
want to keep him. My faith is the same as when you left I am suround with dark
ness on every hand—but hope the time will come that I and my family may be gathered
with the saints. Please remember me to all the saints around you and accept a large
share ^of love^ for yourselfe.

Sarah B. Foss

broBrother Fabyan & wife send their love and best wishes to you also Sister Foss likewise brother
L Scamman and wife they have a little daughter 12 days older than Willford. Brother Luther &
Fabyan liked the western country verry much L thinks of moveing out. I dont think I shall
write again for if if do you may not get it—write as soon as you get this and tell me when
you think of starting for home. Though the deep between us roo^l^l
Friendship doth unite our souls

P. W. W.

Sister Mary is standing by and says give my love to brother Woodruff
She is better than when you was here

P.

I saw brother Hyde in N.Y. when I came through there he was ready to sail for Liverpool but was weighting
for br. Page whome he left in Cincinate was looking for him da^i^ly. Give my respects to br. G. A. Smith Kimball and
all the American brethren likewis all the saints around you.

Adieu my dear Willford.

P. W. W. [end of sideways text]

N.B. [illegible] Pillsbury has just come in and [page torn][br]ought me 5 letters 4 of them you sent to Nauvoo
by br. Turly G.R. sent them to me free and [illegible] [page torn] dated Oct 30th which I was glad to recieve they
gave an account of my presents for which I feel g[r]eateful. Please give my respects to all there parti
cularly those who remembered me by presents—you ask me if I want you to get me any thing
I am almost ashamed to say if you could get [blue] black silk for a dress for me and not yet
any more linen for sheets I should like it as it is much cheaper there—some ^A ea^ edging thread
edging one inch wide a black lace wrought veil a wrought lace cape or collar or both
If you cannot get them conveniently
let them go. I want to see you more
than I want them should like both
dont know but you will think
me extravagant

have not seen my presents as Tur-
ley had not arrived when I left
montrose but they have since
arrived as I learn by letter Sister K.

[upside-down text] No. 40, Ironmonger Row
St Lukes Place,
London.

Mr. Willford Woodruff
149, Olham Road, Manchester
England

Scarborough, (Me)
Jan 13, 1841

Paid 18 3/4
to N. York

[stamp in black ink] LIVERPOOL
SHIP LETTER

[stamp in red ink] NEW - YORK
JAN
17

Phebe W Woodruff & others
Maine Jan 10th 1841
Answered London Feb 18th 1841 [end of upside-down text]