Esqr. Holms Thomas, Hebron, the County of Oxford Hi. This is a letter I own (I collect period letters and documents) which was written in 1826 in Fairfield, to a friend and his wife (possibly a cousin too, but it's hard to tell; these people sound like Quakers or Shakers) in Hebron. Matt Ainslie Esqr. Holms Thomas, Hebron, the County of Oxford (March the 31st written then crossed out) May 9, 1826 Dear Cousens we take this time to write you a few lines to inform you of the death of our brother Arnold. He dyed the 12 of november he want [sic] well all summer but would work as heard as ever he did and gave up work and went raven destracted nine weeks and dyed so. he was under great concearn about his futer (word I can't make out) state for more than a year if we could see you we could tell you more than we can write and we hope that happy day will com before long. Sister Arnold has moved hear and lived with us and beairs up under her trubble as well as can be expected noing it is the lord that hath don it we all mourn for him for it is a great loos to us all we must inform you of our helth we have badd colds all of us but are a bout brother Elijah is very week and low and has bin all winter sister Sarah is about as well as is comon theay both send their love to you I lookt for you last fall and lookt till my eyes was sore and have bin sore all winter our earnest desire is for you to com and see us this year as soon as you can and if we all live you will see us all to gather for brother Elijah and Sister Sarah her husband are well theay made us a visett this winter we have heard of the death of Job Cushman I want you to write who of your neibours or aquantence has moved a way for we heard their was five familys had gone of Sister bates and family are well and all our freinds we recived a letter from you last spring and we give you thank for we was very glad tohear from you and dont faile of writing as soon as you get this letter and we will due the same. Sister Arnold sends her love to you & wants to see you we must Conclude wishing you all the happiness this life afords and that wich is to Com we must conclude subscribing our selves your loving freinds Solomon Mcfarlin Deborah Mcfarlin our love to you & all your family dont faile of writing to us for we want to hear from you every week this letter was wrote no chance to send it brother Elijah sister martin is dead and his sister west is dead due write and com and bring it your selves if you cant send it no other way you have a better chance to send letters than we have Anyway, please post this or file this wherever is appropriate. And if you have any idea who Holms (also spelled Holmas) Thomas was, or any of the other people, please let me know. Were there Shakers or Quakers around your area? I have a photocopy of the letter made; should I send it to anyone at the local historical society? Contributed by Matt Ainslie (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Somerset County Me GenWeb Site ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.