Charleston County ScArchives History - Letters .....Letter From Charles Fraser To Ann Fraser September 25, 1806 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sc/scfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara B Hootman bhootman@juno.com August 8, 2007, 4:30 pm DISCLAIMER: The Fraser line is not mine, therefore I will be unable to answer any questions or concerns regarding this family. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA Charles Fraser letter to his sister Ann Fraser New Haven September the 25th 1806 Dear Sister I am very much disappointed in not hearing from the family. I requested Mary in my letter to her from New Port to write me and direct her letters to New Haven as I should certainly receive them by the means of my friend there, but failing in this expectation, I am quite in doubt, about the health or circumstances of all at home. How you have passed the summer and whether I still hold a place in your remembrance.--however I shall notwithstanding be mindful of my duties and the promise I made of writing to you--I believe the last accounts you had of me were from Boston. I mentioned that I passed my time as agreeably as the civilities of the Inhabitants and the ??? of the place could render it-- since then I have been much further to the Eastward having visited Port Smouth the Capital of New Hampshire - It is my wish when there to have gone over to the district of maine - as there is only a ferry that divides them from but the day was very stormy and I could not cross it without great ??? & as I remained there ?? a day I lost the opportunity - however I was highly compensated by the delightful views with which that part of the country abounds. As my object was to combine ext??? with variety. I went on one road which leads along the coast, through Salem & ??? bury Port, and returned on a new turnpike which is more in the interior, and one of the most delightful roads you can imagine. However it ought to have every advantage when it cost in some parts ten and in other fifteen thousand dollars a mile. This may appear incredible to you who have no Idea of the immense hills through which it passes, and the vallies that are ??? to bring it on a level. The country there is one continued variety of hill and dale. - The day I arrived from the excursion I dined with Mr. Winthrop, and passed the evening with Mrs. Mason -----and I had promised to be at New Haven with a party from Newport by the time of Commencement. I left Boston the next day. - when I got to Providence I could not think of being so near New Port where I had so many friends without visiting it - so I took a???? and as the distance is only 30 miles, sailed there, passed the evening in company with a charming young lady & returned next day although the day was very stormy to meat the stage ion which I came to ????. Providence is a very delightful place. It is built partly on a hill which commands a very extensive and delightful ??????. There are many fine houses in it and ????? as handsome churches as I have seen Anywhere, but unfortunately the ??? is situated in the lower part of ???town, so that the steeple (which is as high as St. Michaels is but just seen above the summit of the hill. It is a Baptist Church - and built on a lowly site to correspond with the humility of the Sect (?). Judge Clay was holding forth when I was there --The other which is a Constitutional Church, has two steeples in front and a remarkably fine organ. I mention the organ as I went in there, with some ladies and prayed for them (copy cut off here) The first time I went to Providence I passed my time very delightfully as I went, and was all the time, in company of Charming girls --- I shall always remember with singular pleasure, the time I passed in New Port. It was filled with so many agreeable little incidents and rendered happy by so many cordial civilities. -- The ladies there are remarkably beautiful, and their minds are well informed, two circumstances which induced me to seek their company as they are socially inclined. I enjoyed much of it. They are very fond of riding and walking, and they have great advantages in these aspects for the whole Island is very beautiful, and there are two beach ????? near the town a mile in length which is much reported by company, ??? ??? largely by moonlight ??????.------- -------- I arrived in New Haven the day before the Commencement. It is a very splendid anniversary and collects a great deal of genteel company from all parts of the State. The ??? which consisted of ??? Dialogues lasted the whole day. They were concluded by the ceremony of conferring degrees. -- There were 70 young men who graduated on that day -- The Church in which the meeting was held was absolutely crowded(?). There was a sale in the evening which I went to,, there were 180 ladies, and as many gentlemen at it. - - I was surprised on such a crowd, not to see more beauty. However they all very lively and fond of dancing. I felt for the first time the inconveniences of being a Stranger in a ballroom. For I knew nobody but the party I went with. However, Mr ??ulles ????? introduced me to some very ladies --There were three or four of the ("Naupages")?? of the assembly. Mr. Ruttledge gave me a very minute detail of the Sufferings which must have been great beyond conception; a number of little incidents he mentioned which were too minute to be introduced in the Newspaper, but which much have heightened the horror of their Situation.- ----------------- ---------------- I remained a week in Newhaven when I set out with my party for the Stafford Springs in that State which are a sort of fashionable resort for Company-- -We passed through many handsome little towns on way, one of which ???? of nothing but onions(?) and smelled whole fields of them. - We went to Hartford the first day which is 40 miles from town. It is a handsome creation and has a great many fine houses in it. The evening we arrived there was a young man drowned in the ferry, near it, who had graduated my ??? a week before in Yale College. --I mentioned this little accident as you ??? will see it mentioned in the papers. We crossed(?) the ferry ?????? proceeded to Stafford. The Scenery around there is very wild and Picturesque - hills of immense height, ????-- ????? God(?) made it one of the most striking scenes I ever beheld. ---- I remained there but a day, left the party who proceeded on to N Port, returned to New Haven. ------- Mr. Rowans was the commander in chief of the Expedition and ?????? appeared to enjoy it as much as any in Company. ???? Sarah that he ??? several young ladies to share his privilege of calling him Grandfather. Indeed when any questions were asked on the road, I always passed him them off as mine too.--I shall leave the ??? of October for New York on my way to Philadelphia & ??? ???? to be home by November. Remember me affectionately to all. Yrs - Charles Fraser _______________________________________________________________________________ _________ ENVELOPE: Miss Ann Fraser ~Charleston, S. C. By Mail ???? King Street нннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннннн------------------------ ---- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- On the left side of the letter, Charles entered this info (vertically): "I am staying at a littler cottage quite embowered in trees and surrounded with lofty hills 3 miles from New Haven" . File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sc/charleston/history/letters/letterfr44gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/scfiles/ File size: 9.2 Kb