Thursday, May 2, 2013

Old Letter Gives Picture of Marietta in Long Ago

Marietta Times, July 15, 1939

On June 7, 1808, David Ward wrote in Marietta a letter to his brother in England, describing his voyage across the Atlantic and what he had found in America.  This letter is now in the possession of his grandson, O. J. Hoyland, The Grove, Old Bletchley, Hertfordshire, England.  On rereading it recently he thought it might interest Marietta people of today and he sent a copy to Professor John Chilton Scammell of Boston College, a descendant of General Scamel for whom Scammel Street in this city was named. 

Professor Scammel, who is an official of The World Wide Broadcasting Foundation, a non-profit organization that operates radio station WIXAL at Boston, Mass., recently made his first visit to this part of Ohio.  He was delighted with this part of our state and found in the land a similarity to certain parts of England, of which he is a native that to him were almost startling.  He was surprised and pleased, also, to learn that one of this city's prominent streets was named for his forebear.  He gave to this newspaper a copy of the David Ward letter and expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoyland would be glad to hear from anyone interested in the letter to communicate with him.  The letter, with spelling and punctuation unaltered, follows.
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Marietta May 20th 1808

Dear Brother

I have taken a opportunity to write you a few Lines to Let you know of my safe arivel at New York on the 7th of January  we sailed from Liverpool on the 13th of November with a very good wind and Lost sight of all Land the next day  we had a very good wind for 5 days then the wind Changed N. W. and Continued there about 3 Days  on the 20th we got sight of the Azores or Western Islands  we got to the Banks of Newfoundland in 17 Days then we had head winds 32 Days which Cauased our Voyage to be reather tedious

the 20 of December was a very bad Day at Sea ran Mountains high attended with the Strongest wind and the severeist Storms of Snow and Hail I ever saw for a few Days the Thundred and Lightning so severe that it made the water Flye on the Deck of the Ship same as Hot Iron in water  56D we arrived Safe in the Land of Liberty

My Love to Doctor Nightingale and tell him the Bad Country he spoke of I have found a good one the repentance Joey, we saw Samuel and Caleb Thorniley  Samuel is at Newark 8 miles from New York  Caleb is at Brooklyn  both of them Follow the Gardening and Shrubery Business and are doing very well  we was at Samuels 8 Days  New Jersey is in Generley sundry and poor but there is the best Orchards I ever saw  there is a very Large Traded Rode through there from New York to Philadelphia  Philadelphia is the most beautiful Town I ever saw  the rode from there to Lancaster is as good as any I ever saw the Land very good producing grain in abundance and good pastures

we saw Joseph and William Schofield and Samuel Worthington at Shipinsburgh  we are doing very well  William is married and as one Child he as named it Henry  I was very glad to see them so well situeated but I can not tell what the young nymph in your Country thinks about it  tell her to Drive away those Thoughts of Love and perhaps young Cuped with is Dart will strike some Loveing Swain.  Joseph and William are too industerous men, but Samuel Worthington and for ever will be,  Joseph and William are Disireous for there Father and Mother to come to America then they will move to Marietta  I saw James Cross and Samuel Scot at Pittsburgh  Cross keeps Tavern and breaks Bread and is doing very well  he knows Fitten in Stockport  Pittsburgh is situeated in a very beautiful pleace at the Head of the Ohio between the rivers Monongahela and Allegany  it is a very florishing place  it is allmost as Large as Macclesfield  it as a good market House Academy and Bank

when I got to marietta I eared to my great surprise the Death of old Caleb and Sarah Thorniley  there was but 48 hours in the Difference of there Death.  Marietta is the Beautifulest Town on this side of the Mountains  it is about two Hundred Miles down the river from Pittsburgh at the Mouth of the River Muskingum  the town is on boath sides of the Muskingum but they are building a Bridge over Muskingum  the Inhabitance are most of them English and Yankes  English are most of them from Cheshire and Lancashire  I can not think of old Sam Royle giveing Marietta such a bad Name for he had 3 Dollars per Day which his 12s 6d Sterling

there is one William Green here a Stone-mason  he knows John Leighton, John Ward and my Uncle and Aunt in Gawsworth.  Mathew Corner and Mellers Live Twenty miles from Marietta up the wolf Creek wo are doing very well   I have seen Samuel Wright  he is Married and lives at Zeensvel 80 miles from Marietta up the Muskingum   he keeps Tavern and Treads up & down the Muskingum  he Desired to be remembered to his Father, Mother and brother Joseph.  Mrs. Allcock keeps Tavern and is doing well.  John Thorniley Distills Whiskey and Peech Brandy.  Whiskey 32 Cents per Gallon Peech Brandy 75c per Gallon.  harriet Thorniley is marriet to Joshua Amitage from Leeds in Yorkshire  he is Manufactureing Cotton with Samuel Scot at Pittsburgh wo is doing well  Mr and Mrs Plat Lives in Marietta  Mrs Plat was much Aquinted with Fanny Hewet in Portwood  they are doing very well

the prise of Butter and Cheese in Marietta 16-1/2c per pound  Beef and Pork 4 Dollars per Hundred Wight Potted, Potatoes 33 Cents per Bushel Wt Flour 3 Doll 50 Cents per Barrel.

Remember me to My Honored Mother to my brothers and Sisters to my Friends in Gawsworth John and Elizabeth Ward and Isaac Falkner, James Leah, James Holt, S and N Holt, William and l Schofield, Cabrows and Thomas Wilson, Dunkeries, Leightons and to all my Old Friends and Companions.  My Wife and me Joins in Love to James Williamson and Harrops in Cheadle  She desires to be remembered to her Uncle Henry and Brothers and Sisters.  Inform Isaac Falkner that I should wrote to him but Joseph Schofield promesed he would write to him and I Thought that he Could give him a more perticular account of the Manufacturing Business then I Could  tell him that I Should be very Glad to have a Letter from him and Leah  I desire that you will write wen this comes to Hand

I have sent this Letter by a Gentleman from Lancashire wo came to Marietta upon Business  when you Answer this Letter Direct to David Ward Marietta Washington Countey State Ohio America no more from your Loveing Brother

David Ward
Marietta  June 7th 1808

When you Answer this give me all the perticulars that happened Since My Departure from England if any of my Friends or Companions Enquire if I Like This Cuntry tell I Like it very well


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