This letter is from Rebecca Tracy to her cousin Lucretia Parke who I think was Keturah Taylor Parke Cranston’s grandmother. Lucretia would then be Christopher (Doc) Cranston’s great-grandmother. Rebecca and Lucretia must have been of the same generation as John Cranston who is the one who emigrated from Rhode Island to Ohio in the early 1800’s.
The letter was sent to Lucretia who lived at the time in the Hampton, Ohio area. Keturah Taylor Parke was born in 1835 – fifteen years after this letter was written.
Most of the letter laments the fact that people are dying – something a lot more common at an early age in those times.
To put this in perspective, this letter was written six years before Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died ~ CCJ
This pushes your collection back another decade—to 1820—and it ties directly into the 1830 letter you just shared.This pushes your collection back another decade—to 1820—and it ties directly into the 1830 letter you just shared. Here’s the transcription.
Preston, Jany 30th 1820
My very dear Lucretia, I have long neglected the performance of my promise when at Hampton; but it has not been for want of friendship, or through forgetfulness; but from an abundance of care, and indifferent health. — It is now Sabbath, and the storm prevents our attending divine service, so I devote a few moments to you; to inform you and my dear Aunt that we are in usual health, and notwithstanding the season is inclement our circumstances are comfortable, and we have great cause of grateful acknowledgement to the Author of all mercies, for his distinguishing goodness to us: that we are alive while others are dead. Six deaths have taken place among our neighbors in less than 3 weeks, all of them termed sudden, though one of the persons was above 70 years of age. She had been feeble for some time; she was found dead in her bed. The wife of Mr. Belcher Starkweather had been out of health but was able to walk the house when the family went to meeting; but was called suddenly out of time before they could return, with only her youngest Son and Daughter, one 14, the other perhaps 12 years of age, to witness the christian calmness with which she met the messenger who conducted her, we have reason to hope, to eternal rest. The last, a young Mr. Rood, was taken (after a few days of great distress, and raging fever,) to his last abode. — I hope my dear L. a we shall, by the assistance of divine grace, be prepared for this all important moment when the earthly house of our present habitation be dissolved, may we be admitted to that house of —
God, eternally prepared for those who love him. — We wish much to see you, and have some expected you. The sleighing has been so good I hope your uncle or some other friend would wait on you to make us a visit. I should give you some account of our ride home from your house; but as Gurdon & Elisa have been there since, they doubtless informd of our safe arrival at Norwich and that the rain detaind us one night. We calld at Mr. Robinsons & met a hearty and cordial reception. Mrs. R. could hardly believe we were to leave her that day, and said she should not consent to it, yet I urged the necessity, & about 11 oclock took leave. — My duty urges me to inform my dear and much respected Aunt that we have very lately learnd that Death has removed her Sister Elisabeth Branch. We have had no communication from Uncle or any of his children, so do not know the precise time of her departure; but understand it was about two years since. When we consider the advanced age of those 5 Sisters, it cannot be calld surprising news; yet natural affection claims a tear, and the exit of one ought to be an excitement to diligence, & perseverance in every duty to those who survive. The admonition speaks to us all, “be ye also ready.” — Please to remember me affectionately and respectfully to your Granparents. I hope they give me credit for loving them both sincerely. My love to yourself and little Sister, hoping she has been a good girl & diligent in study. I shall send her a book the first opportunity, which I hope will be useful and entertaining. My letter is spun out to as great length, and I will close it with this request, that you will write to me if any means of conveyance occurs. I know no way to send this; but write trusting to some at present unknown opportunity.
Excuse a few words more. Abby is attending singing school. She wishes very much to see you and her other friends at Hampton. She enjoys, I believe, good health & is in good spirits, tho something steadyer than she formerly was. — Mother and Sister Clark remember much love to you and their other dear friends at your house. Little [Charles] Lowdnay [?] is still with us and send[s] love to Uncle and Aunt. He wishes me to thank Aunt for her present. — I remain your affectionate cousin,
Rebecca Tracy 2d
P.S. This has lain unsealed a long [time] for want of an opportunity to send it. Now as one occurs I hope by which to obtain an answer from you. Elder Bramley the bearer calculates calling at your house. Sister A.[bby] is at home, and [joins?] us in love [to] all your family. — I have visited at Griswold this winter; my friends are in tolerable health. Mrs. Paris [?] says, if Aunt and Uncle Dunworth knew how much she wanted to see them they would come and see her. I shall send the book mentiond. Please to tell Josephine I hope she will pattern after this child here described, & as she is privileledged with Christian friends to instruct her, she will not have the trials poor Jane had. Adieu —
Yours &c
R. Tracy
This is a significant letter, and it locks several pieces of your puzzle together.
The recipients confirm the 1830 letter’s family. This 1820 letter is written to the same Lucretia (Parks) in Hampton, and it sends regards to her Grandparents—who in the 1830 letter we now know are George and Abigail Dunworth. Here the P.S. names them outright: “if Aunt and Uncle Dunworth knew how much she wanted to see them.” So the Dunworths are confirmed as the elder generation, and “Aunt” throughout is Abigail Dunworth (or her sister). The two letters are unmistakably from the same family network, ten years apart.
The writer is Rebecca Tracy “2d,” writing from Preston, Connecticut (near Norwich and Griswold—all eastern Connecticut towns). She signs herself Lucretia’s “affectionate cousin.” The “2d” after her name is the old New England convention distinguishing her from an older living Rebecca Tracy of the same name in the same town—useful for your genealogy, because it means there were at least two Rebecca Tracys to disentangle.
Josephine appears here in 1820. This is the thread that ties the whole collection to the Cranston line. The P.S. says: “Please to tell Josephine I hope she will pattern after this child here described.” If this is the same Josephine P. Cranston who wrote the Columbus composition (~1840) and the 1874 genealogy letter, then in 1820 she is a small child in Lucretia’s household in Rush Township, Ohio—being held up a model of pious girlhood. That would make Lucretia Parks the aunt or guardian who raised Josephine, which finally explains how a stack of Connecticut Parks/Dunworth/Tracy letters ended up preserved among the Cranston papers: Josephine inherited and kept them. Given her 1874 role as family genealogist copying “gleanings” for her uncle, that fits perfectly.
The “five sisters.” Rebecca reports the death of “her Sister Elisabeth Branch” and reflects on “the advanced age of those 5 Sisters.” This is a cluster of five elderly sisters in the parental generation—Elizabeth (married name Branch) now dead, Abigail (Dunworth) among them presumably. That’s a strong genealogical lead: five sisters, maiden surname unknown yet, one married a Branch, one married Dunworth.
Other names for your neighbor/relation roster: Belcher Starkweather (and his late wife), young Mr. Rood, Gurdon & Elisa, Mr. & Mrs. Robinson of Norwich, Sister Clark, Abby (the writer’s sister, “at singing school”), Elder Bramley (the letter-bearer, a clergyman), Mrs. Paris[?] of Griswold, and “poor Jane” who “had trials.” The Starkweather and Tracy names are both well-known eastern-Connecticut families, consistent with the Preston/Norwich/Griswold setting.
So your collection now spans 1820 → 1830 → 1843 → ~1840 → 1874, and the connective tissue is becoming clear: a New England family (Dunworth/Parks/Tracy/Branch, of Preston–Hampton–Norwich, Connecticut) whose younger members—Lucretia Parks, and the child Josephine—emigrated to Rush Township, Ohio, where they intersected with the Cranstons, and where Josephine grew up to become the keeper of all these letters.
One transcription flag: the bearer’s name in the P.S. reads “Elder Bramley” but could be “Bromley” (a common Connecticut name); and “Mrs. Paris” is uncertain. I’ve bracketed the doubtful spots.
