Letter from R.T. Robinson, dated 1863-04-14

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Ferrisburgh 4th Mo 14th 1863

Dear Cousin Rachel

So long a time has elapsed since any correspondence has passed between us that I hardly know where to begin; but may as well start with the immediate cause of writing at this time - We sent to the Railroad yesterday 3 lbs of Apples marked "To Stevens, Montpelier" [frt?] pd to Burlington which I hope will arrive safely &, though so late, not be unwelcome. We delayed sending them in early winter, having for some time a prospect of sending a lot to [Mont?] & intending to put yours in so as to reduce the cost of frt: but that chance failed & then the weather was so cold that we feared to risk them; so we have put off sending them till the danger from that source is past, as we hope. If they are kept in a cool cellar & spread out so as to prevent the accumulation of moisture I hope they will not decay before you have time to use them up which need not take long.

The last account we have had of you was a [underline]rumour[/underline] through some of the Friends that thou hadst been badly hurt or frightened (we did not learn which) while on a visit to thy Sister; I hope soon to hear from thee & to know the truth of the case & also to get a circumstantial history of all your dear family & particularly (because absent & more exposed to danger) of thy dear Soldier boy. I fervently hope & trust that his excellent moral character & his knowledge of & obedience to

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the Divine laws of health will enable him to escape the doom which swept away so many of the sons, brothers & husbands of our sorrowing country. tell me all about him & all the [rest?] - your prospects, [?] hopes & fears & all that I [underline]may[/underline] know consistent with domestic privacy & decorum on the one hand & my affectionate interest in all that concerns you on the other. I heard yesterday through Arthur Barton, that the Society was about to excommunicate William for the cuase he has felt it right to pursue in the war. I do not see how the society could consistently do otherwise, with its discipline & its assumed obligation to execute it, but to my mind & with my present views of religious organisations, this can only afford one more to the many evidences of the utter irony & absurdity of all rules of discipline or regulations of a church which impose a censure upon any one for following his own convictions of duty & conscience. No doubt it is a trial to thee to have thy beloved son deprived of what is regarded as the privileges of religious membership, yet the brothers & sisters can entertain no hardness toward the church for its action & it is a great comfort to you all to reflect that the offence is not one which his own conscience condemns. To his own master he standeth or falleth & may he long live a comfort & solace to thee in thy decling years & an added living momument to the superior excellence of that rule of life which required obedience to individual convictions of duty rather than the proscribed rules of men.

Though we all continue to feel deeply our great loss yet we are favoured with as good indoor help as we can reasonably expect

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& as far as eating & drinking & sleeping & living as to the body are concerned we get along quite comfortably. We have a widow of 45 from Underhill as principal housekeeper who, tho not a Rachel or an Ann in culinary arts yet does so well that we have no reasonto complain; & we find too, for our comfort, that we can become reconciled by custom to many little changes & even privations which would once have been felt to be annoyances. My only fear with regard to our housekeeper is that we may at a time when we think not be deprived of her by some designing interloper, for I fancy she is not quite impervious to the [softer?] sentiments. It is a great comfort to us that dear Sister Ann is again domiciled with us, for, though from want of experience as well as physical inability she takes no part in the household affairs except the pretty constant use of the needle yet her presence in the old house gives it an air of respectability of which it would be sadly deficient with only hired help & for me the company of one so similar in sentiments & so long acustomed to all my moods - good & bad - is cause of thankfulness. She is well excepting weak & sore eyes & desires her love to thee & thine.

Our last letter from Ann left them all well & announced the good news that their farm was advertised for sale, with a view to their return to Vermont. Though they have an excellent, beautiful & in many respects desirable farm & home yet they have never, since they settled down upon it, felt reconciled to it as a permanent abode, & if they succeed in selling, they will [probably?] find a place in this region & be nearer to us. This at least will I trust be a mutual satisfaction.

I believe thy particular friends here are all in the enjoyment

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of usual health, except Elizabeth [Hazard?] - Robert's wife who is thought to be near her end from disease of the heart. She suffers greatly. I might fill the page with gossip but hoping to be there soon - on the occasion of the approaching Q Meeting I forbear come & make us as long a visit as thou [canst?] afford.

With much love to thee & [all?] in which the boys cordially unite. I am as ever thy affectionate cousin

[Robt?] T. Robinson

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Rowland T. Robinson to Rachel Stevens

Ferrisburgh 4th mo, 14th, 1863

Dear cousin Rachel

So long a time has elapsed since any correspondence has passed between us that I hardly know where to begin; but may as well start with the immediate cause of writing at this time - We sent to the Railroad yesterday 3 lbs of Apples marked "To Stevens, Montpelier" posted to Burlington which I hope will arrive safely and, though so late, (?). We delayed sending them in early winter, having for some time a prospect of sending a lot to Mont and intending to put yours in to(o) as to reduce the cost of freight but that chance failed and then the weather was so cold that we feared to risk them; so we have put off sending them till the danger from that source is past, as we hope. If they are kept in a cool cellar and spread out so as to prevent the accumulation of moisture I hope they will not decay before you have time to use them up which need not take long.

The last account we have had of you was a rumour through some of the Friends that thou head

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