SC1896_FF1_004

[in margin: 1787]
(2)
impression was strong & deep, on my infantile
mind that it has been retained; the same
may be said, of the other circumstance, in addi
tion [addition] to which, the dry clothes that were put on me
after being taken out of the water, were kept
for 3 or 4 years, & wearing them only occasionally
when put on, they were spoken of as the clothes
that I was dressed in, after having been taken out
of the River. I have no recollection of any parti
cular [particular] circumstance for years afterwards.
I cannot recollect, when I could not read.
The first particular that I remember, at school
was on a Monday. The father & mother, were
members of the Baptist Church, of which the
Revd. John Price was pastor. I was taken to
church on Sunday. Parson Price preached &
several persons were baptised. On Monday at
noon, I separated from the boys, & joined the little
girls at play. Whether Involuntarily offered, or the
little girls at play. Whether I voluntarily offered, or the,
little Girls out of mere wantonness got me to
preaching, I don't remember. So it happened
however, I preached them a sermon & baptised
them, one and all. Of course the boys heard of it
and I did not hear the last of it, for years.
I must have been very young, probably not more
than 5 years old.
My brother Benjamin taught school. He had
taught in Maryland before we left, being then
only in his 17th year. He was a good, old fashioned
English scholar, wrote a good hand. Was a good
Arithmatician, Mathematician &c. and a youth
of pure & unblemished morals and so continu
ed [continued] to the day of his death. He was indeed a most
extraordinary man He was temperate in every
thing - never drank spirits - professed great equa
nimity [equanimity] of temper - was always gay, lively & cheer
ful [cheerful] - fond of company - and when pressed to take
a social glass, would decline in the most
pleasant manner, saying to his companions "drink
as much as you please Gentlemen to keep up