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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Philander Chase writes to his granddaughter Laura to wish her a happy new year and to tell her about his Christmas and New Years. He and his family visited the Cockles in Knoxville, Illinois and experienced bad weather on the way home, causing some sicknesses.
Date
1-2-1844
Keywords
Philander Chase, Laura Chase, Rachel Denison, Sophia Chase, Philander Chase Jr., Anna Chase, Dudley Chase, Alice Chase, Mary Olivia Chase, Mr Cockles, Mrs Cockles, Mr Wells, Christmas, New Years, holidays, preaching, confirmation, baptism, travel, covered wagon, weather, winter
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Laura Chase" (1844). Philander Chase Letters. 1217.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1217
Rights Statement
Transcript
Jubilee College Ill Tuesday 2’d day of Jan 1844
Dear Laura:-
I preached on Sunday & the next day Christmas your Uncle Dudley preached: and I baptized one & confirmed 5 and administered the Holy Comm’n to 43-- Sam’l preached Christmas we and the Church having been most tastefully ornament by our Dear Mary & her pupils[.] The Congregation was most attentive
Dudley had preached 10 miles off at the home of Mr Benson and administered the Comm’n to 11 persons-- & coming home read prayers for dear Sam’l.
The whole Christmas services were most comforting and edifying to all true Believers-- It was delightful to hear dear Sarah Dudley play the organ and to witness the responsive voices of a devout people. The song of Shepherds answering as Watchmen was performed with great effect as a Voluntary.--- Philander & his wife bore a considerable part in this.
The friday[sic] before New Year Mrs Chase my Wife, Philander & his wife and myself set off in our Covered Wagon for Knoxville where I had appointed to officiate on the last day of old year 1843-- We reached Mr Cockles at [French Grove] about 10 or 12 miles before night. Here we had much satisfaction in conversing with the old Lady about my age once so well acquainted with Windsor in Vermont
She has a son and daughter. The son is married to a beautiful Lady the Daughter of Judge Robins of Springfield and she has a little daughter about the age of my Grandson Dudley.
On Saturday morning after promising to return on Monday and to dine at Mr Wells and baptize his three Children and Mrs Cockle’s already mentioned we set off for Knoxville. The Road was good belong just frozen enough to bear the wagon and horses. We arrived at K. at Mr Lanburns and was well entertained on saturday night.
On sunday I preached twice and in the Evening of the same day organized a parish by the name of St. John’s Church
We then went over into another Street & took supper and took supper and thus closed the year with prayer and thanksgiving.
On monday it rained and the wind was from the South East directly in our face. Yet home we must go. A buffalo skin was hung up in front of the wagon & so we drove off: Philander sitting as coachman on the outside.
Coming to Mr Well’s about 2 oclock. No one expecting us there was no dinner prepared: so we ate some bread & cheese and came on: roads bad--horses tired. Philander wet- and all within the coach cold and chilled. Philader & Anna stopped at their Cabin near the Store & spring called Bethesda- and I drove on to the Cottage in the dark. Alexander our man met us at the gate and took care of the horses. We found all well and thought all would go well with us this day--
But the cold-- the damp day was too much for your Grand Mother and the rain of yesterday was most unfavourable to poor Philander. He was seized with a chill-- and your Grand Mother with a heavy cold: so here I am in my bedroom & study [naming] with Mary your sick Grand Mother: and at the Bethesda Anna has enough to do in taking care of her husband. All the rest is well-- Did you ever read anything so [?] like real human life as this? I love to tell you of things and events just as they are. If all would do this there w’d not be so much deception in the world
Lord Kenyon wrote me under date of the 5th of Nov’r 1843. His Lordship speaks highly of my letter to the Bishop’s[sic] and thinks it will have weight in Eng’d. Mrs GW Marriott is much afflicted in the delicate health of her Children. Lloyd Kenyon has 8 Children: Edward has one Mary Ann (Mrs Best) has none
My dear Sister Alice your great Aunt was the first born Child in the Township of Cornish and the kindest of sisters to me when a child and youth: it grieves me to hear of her ill health. Go to see her and make her understand that her youngest brother Philander is yet alive & heartily prays for her eternal welfare
I am glad to hear you are going to spend some time with your Aunt Rachael give my best love to her and to uncle Simeon & Uncle Dudley and Aunt Olivea & Uncle [Bybe] and dear Cousin [Ada] & his good wife and Daughter Lois. Your loving G. Father P. Chase