My Dear Willford
As this is a memorable day to me I think I
cannot spend it better, than in writing to my dear Willford not being unmindful
that last sabbath was your birth ^day^ and knowing where we were last march about
this time, leads me to exclame Ah! what geat changes may take place in one
year and even in much less time— then my Willford was with me—
but where is he now— far far from me acrost the mighty deep but I
desire to be contented and reconciled to the will of God in all things, praying
him to protect you from all evil and return you home once more to the
bosom of your family who are anxiously weighting your return. I wrote to
you the first of Jan. but then did not know that you had sailed for Eng.
but soon after received your last letter from N.Y. dated Dec. 17th the letter
was sent back to me by Mr Killbourn after I sent it to the Office, I them drect
directed it to England according to your diretions and hope that you have
recived it before this time. I have received five letters from you since
you left home— the first dated Farmington Sept. 30th. second N.Y. Oct 23rd
third Nov. 24th fourth Dec. 13th the fifth and last Dec. 17th and have written
you two before this,— when one is deprived of anothers company what a greate
blessing and consolation it is that we can converse with each other by letter
writing— I am anxiously looking daily for a letter from you but take this
opportunity of writing to you lest within a few days I shall not be as well able
to write as now— my health is not verry good at present but I desire to be tha
nkful that it is as good as it is. I can sit up most all day and sew the most
of the time— O my dear Willford I wish you could be with me for a little while
now it would be the greatest consolation to me that I could have.— two or
three nights since I dreamed that you came home to stay with me a week or
two, believe me, I was highly gratified but when I awoke and found it but
a dream I was sadly disappointed,— but as it cannot be so at present I desire to
commit myselfe into the hands of God, with all that I have— Our little Sarah
Emma is well bright, and harty, and I think as busiy a child as you ever saw
she frequently calls aloud for her pa-pa— she clings around me as though I
was all the friend she had here which causes me unpleasant fealings, when I think
how much I am alone in regard to relatives here— she is much company for me
[upside down]
Brother M^e^acham desires to be remembered to you— he has had the misfortune to break his leg this winter
I often wish that you could have her a little while perhapse one night or so and
then I could have her back again— she is a verry affectionate child. I am now at
Father Clarks where I have been about 12 weeks he has no wife she died just
before they were driven from Missourie— he has made me welcome to stay here
untill you return; would it not be for the best think you,— they are a verry kind
family he says he wants me to feal as much at home as at my fathers house
sister Church that he hires to keep his house sends her respects to you and says
that she will take as good care of me as she can, she is a fine girl I think much
of her— Old father John Smith lives in our house in brother Hawley’s settlement
he (brother Hawley) moved his family to Qunicy last fall but is expected back this
spring; he was appointed the bishops assistant, likewise brother Avery and brother
Owen in the same neighbourhood— but I should be verry sorry to be dependent on
them for my support for they talked of makeing me sell my clothes and things
to support myselfe ^when there^, but thank the Lord I am at present out of their hands; I
hear of no such thing now. I have been liveing by the wayside as it were ever since
you le[f]t me, I hope that you never will take another man’s say so in regard
to such things again but I do not blame you in the least for these things but
impute it to men’s not keeping their word; My dear Willford can you not tell me
something near when you will be at home, for the time seames verry long
to me. I have not heared from father Woodruff’s family since you left
N.Y. folks ^shall^ you write to them or must I give them the news from you. I rece
ived a paper from sister Shuah a few days since she said they ^were^ well but Mother
failed quite fast— she has been to N.Y. to visit brother Ilus she waited 2 weeks
to see you there but was much disappointed in not seeing you— Brother
Joseph returned from Washington a few days since the present prospect is
that our brethren will get a redress of their wrongs— they have now 2 mill
ions of dolls. of damage now before the house and a committee is now appoi
nted to go round among the brethren and get their affidavits and bills of
damage (that is those who have not given in their bills) and it is said that
they will amount to 1 million more— the majority of the house is in our
favour— Henry Clay and other influential men are warm advocates
for the church— Judge Higby S. Rigdon P. Pratt and B. Winchester are
in Washington now— When our brethren first went to Congress they
told them they could do nothing for them, but the prospect is quite different
at now ^present^.— I expect that brother O. Hyde is on his way to England as I heard
that he was expecting to start today— I should have written by him had I
known it in time— the first of Jan. brother Young and Smith were on
their way to N.Y. citty and expected to cross the water when the Lord should
I have received 6 dolls. from you five in one letter & one in another which was verry acceptable but
feared that you would need it more than I did as the people are so poor in England
oppen their way, brother Young has been verry sick on his way— brother Kimbal
was in the state of N.Y. some where but do not know where— brother J. Page
is near Lima preaching— has baptized 8 or 10 O. Pratt was expecting to start for
England as soon as he has company the last that I heard of him— Brother
L. White called here a few days since says that he thinks of going to N. & S. Carolina
this summer to preach and does not know but that he shall come over and see you
he says that he never saw the gospel laid open so plain before him as within 2 or 3
week— he has moved about 20 miles above Commerce on skunk river. Commerce
is growing verry fast— the lots of land are about all taken up there now.
Sister Taylor and family are well she has signed for a lot of land since
brother Taylor went away that he was talking about when here, and Br. Joseph
is going to have a house built for her, I am glad for she has had a hard time this
winter— likewise one built for sister Young, and Pratt, and says that any of
the wives of the 12 that wish to live in Commerce may have one built there
what shall I do about it I rather expect to stay where I am untill you
return, but it is 6 miles back from Montrose— suppose that is to far from the
body of the church for you— tell me in your next letter about what you
think will be best to do about it— The work of God rolls on in the east
with much rapidity Br. Joseph said that B. Winchester had about as [much] [page torn]
as he could do daily to baptize in Philadelphia likewise in the south [page torn]
Washington Brandon that ^you^ formerly knew in Tennesse is preaching and [page torn]
living there and the work spreads faster than ever in that place— one brother
Benton has denied the faith there. It is thought that the church is in the most
prosperous state now that it ever was since its rise.
You speak of our sacrifices I am verry sensible of them but consider my
last one greater than any or all of the rest the i.e. parting with my dear compa
nion so long and to go so far from me – believe me there is nothing but the spi
rit of God could reconcile me to it, and knowing that he is called by ^him^ God
to fill a mission and cry repentance to this generation I will try by the help
of God to be reconciled to the ^his^ will of God looking forward to the time of your
return home to the bosom of your family and the time that I trust we shall
be permited to stand on mount Zion with our little family nomore to be sep
arated, Yes my dear Willford I think our separation and trials will then be over,
let us then try to be faithful in keeping the commands of God. I believe that I hav
an interest in your prayers, never do I go before the throne of grace to as^k^ for blessings
for unworthy me but wahat what I remember my companion who has gone far
from me yes I remember you by day and by night even in the silent watches of the night
I now lay aside my letter for a few days untill a certain time shall arrive that I am looking for
daily— dread it much— wish you could be with me. March 22 that day has arrived & I was—
presented with a little Wilford waying Eight po— & aquarter whome I trust I shall be able
to keep with me (at least for a while) I am as comfortible as I can exspect
P. W. Woodruff
Mr. Bogart the Capt. of the Missouri mob their election day shot a man and he died the next
day— he has absconded— there is a reward of 500 dolls. offered for his apprehension— Brother
& sister Smoot wishes to be remembered to you and send you their best wishes, he is ex
pecting to start for the south in a few days— he has been at home this winter. – Father Clar
Clark where I live says he wishes to be remembered to you although a stranger to you
brother Wm. C. his son sends his respects to you & says he is with you in heart in the minis
try, Wesly Clark his brother is out on a mission.— Write often. Our cow and calf is her
on the place where I live. The editors of the papers made some new arrangements in regard
to the papers and began anew in Nov.— do you get your paper— I sent for them to send father
Woodruff & Carter one as you mentioned to them before you left. I have not been acrost the
the river since you left nor hardly any where else; nor care much about going untill you
come home. Please give my respects to brother Taylor and Richards likewise all the saints about you.
14th today Sarah Emma is 20 months old and weighs 25 lbs.— 15th Brother Smoot has preached at
father Clarks & brought news that a company of the saints have lately landed in N.Y.
from England mostly brought over by the generosity of a brother from that place.
A general conference is to be held the 6th of April in Commerce. 17th have just heard that O. Hyde &
P. Pratt are detained by br. Joseph untill they can give in their witness in Congres, 18th just heard
that B. Young and others left N.Y. for Liverpool 25 feb. Sister Young & family are well
I remain as ever yours P W
Montrose Iowa Ty
March 28th 1840
Paid 25
Mr Woillford Woodruff
Ledbury Herefordshire
Ledburyshire
England
[stamp in black ink] WATERFORD
SHIP - LETTE[R]
Willard
Receved May. 30 in bed
Phoebe W. Woodruff
March 8 & 22— 1840—
Answered June 3.d 1840