Letters from Joseph Wing 1796-1798

113 Letters from Joseph Wing 1796-1798 (Furnished by M. G. S.) Sandwich, n mo 12, 1796— Esteemed Friend. Abram Swift * I had a very Lonesome journey after I left Oblong all the way alone clear home which Rendered it very Disagreeable. Since that i have been a Longer one than that was, which was to hallifax & this Novia scotia & if thou would wish to know how i got there, there was fore that Requested Friends care which was braught from the monthly meeting of Nantucket up to the Quarter, which after being Deliberated on was Thought best to appoint a Committee to visit them, which was Done & it fel to my lot to be one of the Fore—it took about Nine weaks. We Sailed from Bedford in the Eighth month, & in ten Days landed at hallifax & after a visit there hired horses & Rhode to Anipolis a hundred & thirty miles, wheir we had many meetings among the people at larg. Some of the oppertunities I believe will not easily be forgotten by them Nor us Nither. There is many Seaking people in Them parts & haveing accomplished our appointment their, we hired a vessel & Endeavored to Reach home again & after beating fifteen Days, we gave up the prospect of Gitting thro by water & landed at the head of pennabscet bay where we parted. Jethro Mitchel & William Roatch Jun'r went directly on. & James Davis & I went to See the young Convinced people where David Sands & I was the Summer before— We had many precious oppertunities amongst them which Rendered our viset very agréable to us— they at broad Cove drew up a Request & sent on by us to the Monthly meeting to hold a mid weak meeting, which I Expect will be granted. & think that it will be but little while before they will hold a preparative meeting— Some of these begin to apear very Brile— we visited another meeting which was sat up by & thro' the Convince- •Abram Swift had moved from Sandwich and settled in Nine Partners, Duchess Co., New York. 114 ment of David, where things was in good order among them. & heard From two other meetings that was sat up in like manner, where they seam to Do well. & when i got home i Received a letter from David Sands wrote Last of 7th month from London, Just before he Embarked for hollen & Germany & said that he haith Sent a thousand books to the people of the Eastern parts, which is got to Boston. His health is much better than it haith I may inform thee that there were Seven of the Followers of timothy Davis x Requested at our last monthly meeting & more is Expected & we have a prety Deal of that kind of agréable Service tc Do which I hope will Increase. Dont forget that Joseph Wing will be very glad to receive a line from thy hand— So haveing nothing more to Communicate at this time- with a Salletation of affectionate love Joseph Wing. Sandwich in Barnstable Countie The 8 of 12 mo 1798. Dear Friend Joanna Swift. 2 these may inform thee thy Exceptable Communication of 10 mo 4th Came Safe to hand, altho Nearly two months from the Date their of ·********** I may inform thee that it haith been my lot to travel twice thro Noviscotia since I saw thee, the first time I believe I have given thee the perticulers of before : & the last viset Was in Company with John Wigham 3 I was gon from My own home three months to a day & traveld by land & water 1775 miles, in many places where Never a Friend traveld before— Sometimes traveld from 12 to 17 miles between houses & had the advantage of a foot parth with marked trees to Gide us. Sometimes got but two meals a Day & them were Corse tu: These were Walks Not very pleasant to the Natural part, but so it is & it is Not best that we should have Smooth things all the time : we had once to lay in the bottom of a Small bote & coverd us with our Sales, once laid on the beach by the Side of a Fier & 1FOr note on Timothy Davis, see page 91. 2Joanna Swift was wife of Abram Swift. 3Friend Minister from Scotland. H5 had our Saddle bags to lay our...