(Another in a series of letters of Asahel Skinner being transcribed by John B. Skinner, III. From his accompanying letter: "Asahel's third letter is not very legible, but the post script to Nathaniel Gould Is O.K. It is about the death of his first wife Phebe Gould b 7 Oct 1774 d 13 Aug 1817. The whole thing is a real tear-jerker as you can tell by the postscript to his father in law")

Dear Sir, It is with pain I have to relaited to you and the rest of my friends the sorrowful fact of the death of your daughter but I hope that neither you nor any of your children while mourning together will blame me for carrying her into a far country to bury her so soon. I thought it to be my duty and still think the same and have no reason to think it was the means of shortening her life. I wish you to give my respects to all your connections. May God by his grace prepare us all to follow the Dead this from your well wishes in sorrow.

Asahel Skinner