Preparing For The Worst

Sandy is coming. I'm still not feeling well at all. I hope to be here in the shop tomorrow bringing you a smile, but I just don't know what the next few days will bring.

If you're in the path, please be careful. Use common sense. Help others if you're able.

Before I take off to batten hatches and divert auxiliary power to the shields, here's a bookmark from the archives:





Letter:

Addressed to:
Barnabas Brown Esquire
Post Office New Berlin
County Chenango

N. York
Stamped: New York OCT ??
New York 20th Octo 1826
No. 416 Broome Street
direct to me at this house its near Broadway 1/2 a mile North of the City Hall

Dearly Beloved,
I have wrote this since I receivde thy letter of 25th March. I am in tolerable good Health for one that has ???? so many years towards the blessed end of all things here, I ???? tho approved towards eternal Rest with more pleasing comfort, that I ever didthe ?????? in part of any ????? I ever went, I have lived two years over the time Layd down in the Book for human life and I think th??? is very few that have past through so long a life with more peace of mind that I have done.
I have sold my farm at New Rochelle finding it too bothersome at this time of life to have such a charge ........???........ people about me, the crops in all this quarter is very good & fruit extra fine and it's a general time of health and a great plenty of the good things of this world at market. My love to wife and children

Will _____
Found in "The Works of P. Virgilius Maro" by Levi Hart and V.R. Osborn. Published by Joseph N. Lewis, Baltimore, 1833.

-Click to enlarge photos-

6 comments:

  1. Hope you feel better soon and my thoughts are with you all for this storm. Take care.

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  2. I think the first word you had trouble with is traveled, then next would be view, then next I think arrival, then their (sic)...the long bit looks to me like "& care have I none but hired people about me..." Keep safe up there as Sandy comes through...hoping to hear all is well once things have settled down!

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  3. Dearly Beloved,

    I have wrote this Since I Received thy letter of 25th March. I am in tolerable good Health for one that has traveled so many years toward the blessed end of all things here. I view the approach towards eternal Rest with more pleasing comfort, that I ever did the arrived in port of any Vreys* I ever went. I have Lived two years over the time Layed down in the Book for human Life and I think there is very few that have past through so long a Life with more peace of mind than I have done.

    I have sold my farm at New Rochelle finding it too bothersome at this time of Life to have such a charge & care now none but hired people about me. The crops in all this quarter is very good & fruit extra fine and its a general time of health and a great Plenty of the good things of this world at Market. My love to Wife and children.

    Will McTuspin


    *Vreys is Cornish for Judgement, derived from Ymbreys^, which means "To judge one's self."

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  4. I make it "arrival in port of any Voige [voyage] I ever went" and he sold his farm when he found it "too burthensome", not bothersome.

    I make the gentleman to be Will'm Turpin.

    Having a name and address with a date between 1820 and 1830, it will be interesting to look him up in those Census records. I believe there may also be a New York State census of 1825.

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  5. I couldn't resist trying to find out more about this Will Turpin and I'm pretty sure he's William Turpin who originally lived in Charleston, South Carolina. He moved to New York later in life. His will was at one point published in book form.
    The reason I'm pretty sure it's the same Will Turpin as this letter is that he mentions Barnabas Brown in the will.
    He owned A LOT of land - and a lot a slaves - all of whom he freed in his will.
    He died January 21, 1835 at age 81. So, he got a good 9 more years after he wrote this letter!

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  6. Adding to Elly's comment, if Will Turpin died at age 81 in 1835 that would make him 72 at the writing of this letter, which is what he indicates when he says: "I have Lived two years over the time Layed down in the Book for human Life", i.e. I have lived two years longer than the Bible's description of (average) human lifespan which according to Psalms 90:10 is 70. Very moving letter! Amazing find.

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