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- THE LETTERS OF ASAHEL SKINNER
- Furnished by John B. Skinner III
Here is the first of Asahel's letters. We will have to publish them in installments. I have used his spelling and lack of punctuation. No capitals to begin a sentence. No paragraphs. You know, teachers did not always spell properly then. He was a fine penman, but the originals are yellow and do not copy well.
Asahel is pronounced ash-el.
- John B. Skinner III
Wayne Township October 31, 1816
My Affetinate Father. I take this opertunity to inform you that throuh the kind dealing of God to us we are all in good health, and should rejoice to know that you enjoy the same blessing. you will wonder when I inform you where I am. But according to my purpose which I named to you in my letter of the 18 of August, I left Mansfield and knowing of no other way but to seek the charity of the people in pursuing my journey, you will readily conclude that I had some hard struggles in my mind concerning the undertaking, but I still felt it my duty to make the trial. When I started from Mansfield I had by the help of friends about 18 dolars in money and 13 dolars in shoes and I concluded by the advice of my friends to go through the large towns and citys for the sake of finding favors but I found it a hard subject to introduce among strangers. but having so large a family it caused some people to ask questions which opened the way for me to tell circumstances. I went through Providence but knowing that town had suffered much by the tempest last, fall. I thought It not proper to ask anything of them. At Hartford I found some small favours. When I came to Newhaven my money was nearly gone and my shoes were in poor demand. here I thought I must make my case more publick than I had done. and I talked with some men that apeared friendly and gave some encouragement but complained of a great scarcety of money a friendly man by the name of Lynes enformed me of one Captain Peck of that town who had land for sale in the county of Crawford and State of Pensilvany on the west side of the Allegany River from 100 to 120 miles from Pitsburg. and oferd to go with me to see him. acordingly I went and heard his proposals which was to sell his land in 400 acre lots at 4 dolars an acre which I though would be a hard bargain, but he said if I would go on to his land and drive a jackass and a she ass and colt and 45 Merieno sheep. he would help me to 130 dolars and I mite charge him with their expenses and he would wait for the rest during the time of payment for the land which is seven years. interest to begin next June. here I felt to be in a great strait. the thoughts of not going to Rutland among old aquaintence and christian friends together with contracting a det of about 1700 dolars apeared very unpleasant to me and my famaly. but the people considered it a fine offer and concluded that. I had need of no beter asistance. after mature consideration and consulting with my famaly a day and a half I took the money and gave my note took char ye of the animals and started on the 28 of August. first to Albany 115 miles then to Utica 96 then to Cannan-Iaigua 112 then to Buffaloo on Lake Erie 95 then to Erie on the lake 90 then to Meadville 44 total 552 there we arrived in 5 weeks from Newhaven. We was all favoured with good health on our journey but Phebe and our 2 youngest children who were for some time troubled with bad colds we had remarkable fine weather so that we lost but half a day by rain from Dedham through the journey. When I got to Meadville I found a house provided Mr. Shaddok Captin Pecks partner who is also land agent who was Informed of me by letter before I arrived. I have agreed with Mr Shaddok to have but 200 acres of land at the same price per acre that they sell 400 acre lots, after spending several days in search of land I have selected my land about 8 miles east of Meadville the nearest boat navigation we have, which is on french creek a branch of the Allegany between 40 and 41 degrees of north latitude we are less than 30 miles from the state of Ohio on the west and about 330 from Rutland by water but not so far by land. the land appears to be good for corn and grain in general. potatoes grow large and as good as I have ever seen. turnips cabage beats apear to do well and it is a great grass country and not hard to cultivate. the country apears to be healthy and abounds with excellent water. my lot has a brook runing to the west near the south Line and I have found a living springs on the north side of the brook 3 of which are within 15 rods of where I am about building a house on the south side of a hansom ridge with a neat growth of timber cheafly of whiteash redash and hickery containing about 100 acres. the other part is mixed with beach rockmaple whitewood basswood and cucumber trees except about 20 acres on the brook which is mostly small hemlock, we have neighbors very handy. we expect a school house to be built this winter within half a mile and a grist mill within 2 miles. I have moved from Meadville within 2 miles of my work. I have part of my timber cut for my house and hope to have it raised and covered in 10 days. my expences was so much in moving that it took nearly all my money but Mr. Shaddok has helped me to a little furniture and a cow and has agreed to find me in provision another year and wait til I can raise enough to pay him and support my family. but I shall have a hard time to pay him if I live, corn is slim this year and the country settles fast which makes bread hard. we expect that corn will be 1 D rye 1 D buckwheat 75 and patatoes 40 cents this winter and hyer next spring, the old settlers are cheafly irish and duch and apear to be good neighbors but the new ones are from Newingland and the people like hunting better than farming and are in det for their land and will sell out very cheap. some people like the Ohio better that this and others prefer this I have seen several that have traviled through that country for land and have purchased in these parts. they say tho land is more fertile there than here but the water is not good which they consider a disadvantage to comfort and health. I do not consider this country quite so good as I hoped to find but I think it is well worth leaving Penobscot for. in all my trials I have never been sory that I undertook the journey but Phebe often tells of being sory. in your last letter you wrote of the prosperity of Religion in several places which was good news to me but I have nothing special to write of that kind at present please give my respects to all our family and enquiring friends tell them I should be glad to see them in this country. it is easy to go to Ohio from here by water I hope that some of you will write to me immediately Direct your letters to Meadville County of Crawford and State of Pensilvany yours Asahel Skinner
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