George Chase

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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

George provides an account of his recent activities and of events in Randolph.

Date

4-13-1826

Keywords

Northfield, Capt. Smith, Mr. Edson, Deacon Washburn, Mr. Russel, Mr. Bates, Sampson Bates, Capt. Starkweather, Mrs. Grover, Mr. Waldo, Mr. Wales

Transcript

Randolph April 13. Thursday – 1826

My Dear Uncle

It happens so again that I write to you in great haste, surrounded by all the bustle of an expected visit. Tuesday I returned from Northfield & as the facts are all you want, I will give as brief an account of them as I can consistent with a proper understanding of the matter. Monday A. M. I arrived at John S.—showed him your letter—he said he would comply with your request & afford me all advice & assistance – he thought W. ought to go – before we had done talking Mr. W. came along – he said he was willing to leave – read that part of letter in which you particularly insisted upon his being treated with justice & kindness – it affected him a great deal – he was willing to do anything – thot. himself it was best to go – agreed to to do so before Capt. S. – also ag’d that the undivided stock should remain until you came home & if he owed you to apply on your debt – ag’d as long as he remained on the place to take good care of stock &c – (I requested Capt. S. particularly to note this conv’n. so that there might be no mistake)

We all proceeded to the village when there was a Court – saw a young Mr [Edson] there from R. he gave me some further information &c. After Mr W. had done his business at N. village we proceeded to the Farm – On our way Dea. W. reiterated what he had said before Capt S. (but the poor man has no where else to lay his head) but wished in case a person came that he might not be hurried out of house.

I told him probably he could make and agt. With that new comer for house room a few days – at any rate I ventured to assure him in the spirit of your instructions that he should not be used with injustice or unkindness. At the Farm I can not say that I found things exactly to my mind – but the cattle did not look as if they were [stinted] for the want of fodder – but what was surprising Mr W. thought & told me that he had hay sufficient to winter them thro’ when the whole was the 2 tons under the wheat & about 3 hundred in the other barn – he also fed them with corn.

Even my limited knowledge of such things convinced me of his error – 13 lambs came in Jan & Feb & Mar of which 9 are dead – there are 4 good calves – has lost no sheep according to his tell & accord’g to count – has lost 2 cows—one, a few days since was hurt by a fall on the ice going to the water trough—the calf probably killed within her & the cause of her own death – one yearling hooked to death completes the catalogue of deaths. What has gone wrong this winter was as Capt S. said to be more attributed to old Mr Washburn than to his son – dear W. has so far recovered from his lameness as to be able to walk about & do the chores. Went to see Mr P. Russell – he confirmed me in my opinion about the hay – said very much as Capt. S. had said – also that any assistance he could render should be cheerfully done – that the place had been a [moth] to you & he wished some good industrious man to come there – in reply to a 2. He said there would be no danger at present in risking the care of the stock to Mr. W. that he would himself keep an eye over things – that he would in compliance with my partic’r request consult with Capt S. as to whom it would be proper to go on to the Farm – knew of several but could not reccommend [sic] them – In the evening I went down to Capt. S. – he returned soon – & he agreed to take the agency of the business in connection with Mr. R. – thot. a suitable man might be found &c – ag’d to procure two tons of hay from the most convenient place & see it del’d at Washburns at as little expense as possible – said that a good man must be found soon before it is time to get in crops &c – or a man must be sent up there on purpose – he would do his best to oblige you as he had long thought it was a losing concern.

Many other things might be said but I think of nothing at present of consequence.

I never suffered so much from the cold as I did riding from Northf’d to Seaburys mills – the road, ever so hubbley that I could not ride fast – I therefore thought I would stop at Mr. Wales’ (late of R.) house & warm my feet – as good luck would have it Mr W. & another man who looked like a farmer said they knew of a man exactly suited to your purpose said his name was Sampson Bates of Rox – that he was honest industrious temperate a good farmer – had taken a farm (a very poor one) which he left much better &c – that he has some stock oxen &c – that he wanted to get into a better house & on to a better farm –. I told hem to send word to Mr Bates to apply to Capt. Starkweather for information, who is acquainted with the man – hope that he will & that you are supplied with a good tenant.

Thus far I have written in great haste with the back of an old pen – my knife too dull to mend one & besides can not stop.

Old Mrs Grover is here – I have a very fine cow & calf from Mr. G.’s.

One word on the Waldo business – Which lot on the E. Branch does the lower lot mean? – the one up the stream or the one down the stream? I never wrote to you relative to any other lot except the one down the stream. Desire further instructions.

Pray pardon all imperfections in this letter as you see it is written very rapidly

Ever yr. aff’c. Nephew

Geo. Chase

P.S. My dear wife respectfully desires to be affectionately remembered by you

Hon D. Chase

Washington

Letter to Dudley Chase

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