Joseph Crumb—1837 Letter

Charles Edward Hancock (1872–1963)

Charles Hancock (1849–1912)

Betsy Jane Fackrell (1824–1851)

Amy Crumb (1799–1885)

Joseph Crumb III (1768–1843)

This is a letter Joseph Crumb wrote to his children from Grafton, Vermont. 

Signed by Joseph Crumb

Below you will find a transcription of Joseph Crumb's letter:

Dear Children once more I have the opportunity to
write to you, hoping these times may find you in good health
would inform you that your Fathers health is poor, ^tho rather beter
then it has ben in the time past the Lord has spared our
unprofitable life whilst many of our friends are sent away
to the world of spirits it has been a verry dying time in Grafton
this winter and Spring I will mention som of them Father Rhod
and Aunt Nabby Brother Cais and wife John Parks wife
Samuel Walkers wife William Hariss wife old mis Zuell
old man Dutton old Mr ^abil Goodeno and a number more have died
the winter past and soon it will be sed [said] of us that we are dead
too and what shall I say O that we were all prepaird for
that beter and briter world when I take a retrospective view of
my life it is a vapour it has flown a way swiftly and is
all most gone O that I mite live the few days as redeeming
the time yes may we all live so that we may enter in to that
Blest Canaan of Rest wher Jesus is gone to prepair mantions
for all that love him O shal we vile cretures ever be permited
to enter that happy place can it be that such sinners
as we can be pardoned yest we are great sinners but Jesus
is a great Saviour he can save to the utmost all that
come to him and may that hand that has led us so far through
this veil of tears still be our gide

Father Says he wants to give you the advise that his old
old aunt give him when he must move back from york state
and that was to stick down a stake and work around it and
not keep moving about from place to place and never
get eny home or eny thing against old age for that will
soone be here verry soone at the longist I have had a kind
of secret hope of seeing you [illegible] in this world but
now dispair of it if you goe so far off, and would say to
you live near the feet of your Saveiour may we all
meat in a happy Eternity is my desire and prayer

Joseph Crumb

It was apparently enclosed in this letter composed to "My ever dear Brother and Sister," dated May 1, 1837. The top right corner reads "Mr. J and Mrs. A Farkwell," which could possibly be referring to James Fackrell and Amy (Crumb) Fackrell, though it is unclear if the letter was to or from J and A Farkwell.

My ever dear Brother and Sister

The back of the letter

I've yet to transcribe the second letter.