Letters from Daniel and Lauren Lyman on farms, family, and church news

Easthampton November 30th 1837

Beloved Children and Grandchild

perhaps you will almost dispair at seeing any more of my writing. I have [?] it so long but I were you it is not because my mind is not from day to day occupied with the thoughts of those dear ones so long for away something I think it would be worth a great deal to step into your little habitation and see you taking care of your little Sarah and see how you are getting along with all your cares but must be denied this priviledge yet in imagination I can see you in all your trials and troubles but [?] to the Lord hath helped you we learn from your letters that you have passed through trial and suferings but I hope all these trials will be for your good I have many anxious thoughts about you but our Father in Heaven has carried you along thus far for which we ought to praise his holy name: Tell Sarah that Grandpa should love to see her and take her in his arms and see if she looks like her aunt Sarah; my health has been pretty good the most of the time since you left home very well at the present time your Mothers health is better but not well yet so much improved that she has been to meeting two sabbaths but she has had a long sickness and was [?] low at one time so low that we had to move her on the [?] to make her bed in the spring her stomach seemed to be disordered after a [?] and often [?] up her vitaels Doc Clark docttered her for a while but grew no better for a month or two she was able to ride some and went to Springfield to see Doc Cleavland and he seemed to understand to case afterwards he came up here twice and after she got some better I rose to springfield with her Doc Cleavland thinks she will get her health again after a while; we have read your letter in the home missionary which is the last intelligence we have had from you but we hope soon to have a good long letter from you we have lately had a letter rom Addison and from Josiah and all well it is a general [?] of health has your uncle Spencers wife died about a fortnight ago after about a week sickness: perhaps you would like to know something about our farming matter the crops have been very good this year the grape crop abundant rye good some corn field enjoyed with [?] we have had a find crop we planted the west piece on the [?] it way will rope and we think near four hundred bushel F[?] Family well; we have a good Minister [?] Mr [?] has left Mr Stone about fills his place but no special revived but a number adisions to the church from time to time: it is decided that we are to have two parishes another church to be built in the spring something the old society will run down but I think that if we can stick together we shall get along pretty well, m Lauren would like part of the [?] and perhaps your Mother will write a little I must come to a close [?] you that your welfare and that of Mary and Sarah lies very near my heart [?] we may never meet against still Though we may but is not I hope we shall be prepared to spend an eternity together with our blesed lord and Master and I might now bid good night let me [?] a good long letter let us not forget to pray for one another I remain your loveing Father

Daniel Lyman

Ever dear Children, sickness prevented my writing a long letter as I designed in July as I thought it might then pay for reading It seemed sometimes that my work was done thought comprofilable God has spared me a little longer. I hope through his goodness to be some comfort to your father and be more faithful in serving God I can write but little now so I will name thing that our folks said not Rev [?] Sears lost his oldest child He married his sister Sophia to Mr Rev Seymor of Harley a widowed without child Lucy [?] Sears is engaged to a Rev but her health prevents the union having bled out the lungs Dr Knowlton is all engaged in doing good, being skilful & hopefully pious [?] Mr Clark has gone to Lee Dr bards the candidate and gives gratuitously to obtain him fold Pastor I tires I am remembered & we may meet again M Lyman

East Hampton Dec 18th 1844

Dear Brother & Sister

[?] conversation with brother James a few weeks since we concluded to get up a letter so that we could send it at about thanksgiving but you see that it has not yet gone though I hope we shall get it off soon, we had not ceceived any letter from you since early in the spring yet we thought it best to keep on writing not knowing but your letters might have miscarried but about three winnings since we were made glad by receiving you letter dated Oct 22nd In regard to your apology for [?] [?] to me I thought that perhaps I expressed myself strong than I intended, and in reply I will only say that you need not be alarmed as I did not lay up anything against you but you are just as near to me as ever + you have my warmest sympathy and always will have I trust I know that you time is worry much occupied and that you cannot write often but we like to receive letters often and hope that you will manage to write as often as you ca; there are many things that we would like know in regard to your affairs more than we ever shall probably by letter, but I believe you have never informed us in regard to all your bagage in what condition it got them, whether it was injured or whether your tools had rusted in this passage & in regard to your waggon whether that got there safe, and what you have done with it & what the [?] of such articles is; these and many other questions my curiosity, would like to have answered, but as I said above I do know that we cannot be informed of every thing by letter, you must write as much as you can as particular as you can so that we get as much information as possible. Last spring our Sabbath School voted to send their contributions which amounted to twenty two dollars to the treasurer of the Map [?] [?] to be laid out in books to be sent to you. I suppose when you quit the books it will be inicated who they cam from but I thought that perhaps it might not therefore I thought I would mention the past & also that it would probably be expected that you write us a letter of acknowledgement when you do receive it, you can dirict the letter to me for the Sabbath School as I am the superintendant this year. The sabbath school seems to be at present in a prosperous condition outwardly at last the teachers are generaly I think faithful & there appears to be some interest manifist in some of the classes & I hope there have been some conversions since the year commenced (in May) We need your prayers that this large company of youth & children be converted from sin to holiness I feel that I need your prayers that I may discharge my duties aright for I do believe that if Christians will do duty there are blessings in store for [?] O that the Lord will appear for us in mercy & [?] up this cause & revive His work in our midst

George Lyman was ordained a few weeks ago in Sutton Worcester county & is soon to be married to a sister of Lena Phelps brother Addison classmate Brother Josiah and family made us a visit same weeks since they were will and in pretty good spirits more so than I should think, under there present prospects, yet I think that if their affairs should take just the right turn they may weather the storm.

Dear Charlotte wishes a kind remembrance to you & Mary and little Sarah and wishes you to keep her for her she also says she wishes sister Mary to answer her letter if she can get time

Little Addison Dwight is well & runs along and if church were he would keep her all but Mr [?] Lauren D Lyman

Tell Brother Henry that we often think of him and shall write him a letter soon and we want to have him [?] to us a good doing better tell him that his letter has been received

& sister may have written him a letter to go by the next steamer