Text of Letter – 1858

If you have trouble reading the linked letter, I think this is what is says:

“All creation a far” 1858″

Dear Sarah

Please let the Reases (Beases?) (Bearses?) have “Derry’s” old no top wagon, should he (“Derry”), not be at home. if there I expect him (him is underlined) to the the honours(?) – Expedite the “African” as I am going a long distance

Most devotedly your cousin

Will?
March 25, 1858

One Reply to “Text of Letter – 1858”

  1. Now that I know more, the difficult word was bearer. The recipient of the letter was Sarah Derickson Harvey, who was living with her parents, Amor H. Harvey and Martha Derickson Harvey at 1801 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware. The “Derry” mentioned was Jacob Derickson Winslow, her first cousin and the “Hill” sender of the letter was William Hillary Alderdice who was married to Derry’s sister, Elizabeth Sarah Winslow. All had fathers who were birthright Quakers, though married out of meeting. Amor’s brother and Sarah’s uncle was Ellwood Harvey, a noted abolitionist who lived just over the state line in Pennsylvania.

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