1841: Patience Pierce to Hanna & Eliza Chase

Patience Pierce Spalding Gravestone

Most of this letter was written by Patience Pierce (1819-1854), the daughter of Nathan Pierce and Sylvia Chase. Patience married Charles Spalding (1802-1861) in December 1842 in Columbia, Whitley County, Indiana. They resided in Kosciusko County, Indiana. They had three daughters, Sarah Ann Spalding (1844-185x), Lovina Spalding (1845-1930), and Emaline Spalding (1851-xxxx).

A small portion of the letter was written by Sarah Ann Pierce, a younger sister of Patience Pierce. Patience and Sarah Ann addressed the letter to their cousins, Hannah and Eliza Chase, the daughter of Nehemiah and Mary Chase of Clinton, Wayne County, Ohio.

The marriage of John W. Mosher and Elizabeth Shoemaker is mentioned in this letter. Their marriage took place on 17 September 1841. She was the daughter of Asa Shoemaker and Elizabeth Converse.

I have found information regarding the marriage of Nathan Pierce and Sylvia Chase, 1809 in White Creek, Dutchess Co., NY. They moved to Oswego Co., NY and about 1840 they moved to Whitley Co., IN.

Known descendants of Nathan and Sylvia Pierce are:

1. Cynthia Pierce, b. 2 Aug 1810, NY; m. Benona Mosher (1) abt 1829 in NY, John Betzner (2) in Whitley Co., IN, d. 20 July 1862 in Whitley Co., IN.
2. Celia Pierce, b. abt 1824 in NY.
3. Joseph Pierce, b. abt 1824 in NY, d. before Feb. 1855 in Whitley Co., IN.

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TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to Miss Hannah Chase, Wayne Co., Clinton Township, Big Prairie Post Office, Ohio

Columbia [Whitley County, Indiana]
October 18, 1841

Dear & Affectionate Cousins,

I take this opportunity to write a few lines to inform you that we are all in tolerable good health at present & hope these few lines may find you the same. I received your letter the last day of September. I had been away and was returning home and I overtook Orrin Mosher and he gave me the letter. I expected to hear more news. I got disappointed. I have been away from home all summer teaching school. I expect [my brother] Neriah is there yet, If he is, I have some news to tell him. John Mosher is married to Elizabeth Shoemaker. They ran away to Michigan & I expect that Lydia is a going to be soon as she gets well for she is sick now.

I long to see you very much but I expect never to enjoy that privilege. I often think of you and the times we have been together and the enjoyments. But past pleasures will not satisfy us now. It is a great privilege to converse with each other on paper.

I have been to meeting today which is Sunday. Tell Neriah, if he is there, that we want to see him very much & also to write for we have heard that he is about to be married. You see that my pen is not first rate. I made it with a jack knife, if you will believe me. O Hannah, if bodies could move quick as thought, me thinks I often would see you. I could write more, but shall have to give room for Sarah Ann.

I still remain your sincere cousin, till death part us, — Patience Pierce

My very dear cousins,

I now take my pen in hand to inform you of my health, which is very good at present, and hope you are enjoying the same blessing. I have not got anything to write in particular. It has been so long since we have seen one another. I expect next time that we hear from you, it will be that Hannah is married. O what comfort we used to take when we went to Mr. Grimes and took tea. It makes me feel very bad to think that we shall never meet again but I hope that we shall hear from each other as often as circumstances take place. Give my love to Uncle & Aunt Mary and all of the children. I have nothing to write at this time, so believe dear cousins, your ever sincere friend and cousin until death. – Sarah Ann Pierce

P.S. Give my love to Ahab & Iba Davis & all of the rest of the folks in that neighborhood.

P.S. I will write a few lines more seeing we have been so long a finishing it. I am ashamed to send this letter — it is so badly written. Tell Neriah our folks want his help very much indeed, & if he can’t come, to send a letter soon. I want you to write soon as you receive this letter without fail. We should have finished this sooner but we had no chance to send it to a post office. Mother wants Uncle Nehemiah to write. Give my love to all, Aunt Emily & Uncle Samuel, & to Mary Ann & Phidelia, & accept yourself the same. I cannot think of anything more that will interest you. If I knew Neriah was there, I could tell some news to him. Write soon. I can’t no more at present. I will add a few more lines to Neriah. We want him to call on Mr. McPherson on his return home & get D. and Patience pay for weaving which will amount to $3.78 cents, &c. &c.

Benona & Cynthia sends their love to you all. Eliza, the Indian Chief, was here yesterday with his ______ica. We have lost half of our sheep & lost two of our cows. I believe that is all the news I can find. So adieu, dear cousins. And believe me your true friend & cousin, — Patience Pierce

To Hanna & Eliza Chase

Pierce-Spalding Marriage Document