Letter from Rev. John Stubbs: May 1847

One of Four Known Letters sent by John Stubbs, his daughter, Mary, and son-in-law Thomas Williams, of Kendal, Westmorland, England to his son, Reverend Thomas Stubbs, a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, in the United States of America.

From: John Stubbs Kendal, England

May 2nd, 1847

Dear Son,

I have to apologise for not returning you an answer no sooner, the chief hindronce was the Declining health of Isabella's Husband. He Died on the Fourth of April and and was interd on the Eight. They lived very happy together. Their Child is ten months old. How little there is to set down on in this life, all is changable in this Life. Isabella's Husband died, well he is far from a World of grief and sin.
Elizabeth is Confined of ther fifth Son she was not able to be at the Funeral of her sister's Husband. Mary and Rachel are in health at Present thank the Lord for there can be no enjoiments of the Blessings of this Life without Health. Thomas Williams and Robert Sanderson are both Well. Margret, Rachel's youngest Daughter, has been with Isabella many weks since her Husband began to grow worse. Thomas Robert and James Sanderson, Rachel's sons are all well.
And with regard to your Father I am a wonder to my Self, when I looke back to by gone Days, what a delicat man I was for some years and yeate I live that my lengthened Life may be a life of faith in the Son of God who Loved me and gave himself for Me. I was at Mrs. Jenniens on Sunday the Leventh of April talking to them of the things of god. I walked thither and the same came home and the same day shuerly the Lord helped Me. Mrs. Jennines is a fine old Lady she is in her Eighty sixt year and has all her Facelties. Mary Greenbank is with her. I asked concerning Hasterwell's family. Mary told me that her Father Lived with Martha. Likewise Martindale (that is his mother) lives with them. They live 2 miles south of Bowness. Martha's oldest child is Twelve years old and she has Ten Children the last are Twins so you see our woman are verry prolifick. I made inquiry the Age of Marys Father they thought that he was about seventy. He is not what we call an old man. My granddaughter livs next door to her that livs in Stavely Betty Swinbank her husband is a Tailor their Daughter was only married a few months till her Husband Died.
John Matthews and Eve that lived with you while you were in Liverpool are begun business in the grosery line and appear likely to do well. She makes a verry careful industrous wife. They have no children. They sende their kind Love to you.
Since I wrote to you last, many are gone of the stage of Time into the Boundless ocen of Eternity. You knew William Elwood who lived at the Spittle, he is dead some months Since. Robert Lowrance Family has been in the tipus Feever, first one and then another, from first to last of their suffering was seeventiene weeks yet they were all spared with Life. Young Robert they stood over him a whole Day expecting his death every minute but he recovered to the wonder of all that saw him. This Winter and Spring has been frought with sickness and Death. Many Children have Died. And old Peopel likewise. When I indeavour to write you a few Lines. I think before these get to a merica I may be in a nother World, for what is our Life but a Vaper that appeareth but a littel Time and then Vanisheth away.
This year has been attended with many Difficulties for the poor people of this Nation. It has beene a long and hard frost But no much Snow at Kendal. We have still high markets Provisions are very High. Flour 4 Shillings. Meal when Baked into Bread 4.3.10 per stone. Butter has been one and twopence Per Pound. Eggs Eight for sixpence. Potatoes one Shilling and Eightpence Per Stone. How often we have made light of Potatoes. But now they are a feast. With regard to Ireland that People has been much worse off than the English. Shuerly this Calamity has overtaken us because of our sins. And I am afraid that our sufferings are not over. We have had a Coulered Woman from Americk Preaching in Kendal. She was not Permited to Preach in our Chapel, as she had no proper credenciels. She is now in Lancaster. I was invited to tea where she was. She has Published her Experience. There is some wonderful things in it as I have had the oppertunity of reading it. Some things that people will not believe.
With regard to religion in Kendal I cannot say that we are Prospering, Neither do I think that there is prosperity in any other place of Worship in the Town. Instead of humbling us with regard to the scarsety we have had. I think we are more careless. But as a Nation and People I think that our Calamity is not over. The Line of Rail-Rode Between Lancaster and Carlisle was opened so'month ago. The Line from Oxenholm - Bowness was opened on the 14th of April. It was what we call a great Day in Kendal. Thomas and Mary was their. There was a larg number of people. The Day was verry fine, the sun verry imposing. It took half an Hour in gowing. But in their return twenty minits. Their now in hands in making a Reservoier at the high side of Birds Park To bring soft water in pipes to Kendal. So that every family may have it into their houses who chous. For this Convenience they must pay for it that has it. Mr. Raine told me that he was in London at Nine o clock Last night And that he was in Kendal at Eight Next morning, this is rapid work. What changes in Less than a Centery. I can just remember the Pack Horses come by our place, I was a verry little Boy. The roads wa not made passible for carts and wagons. I think that in a few years to come they will not be wanted. It is astonishing what a quantity of Good is convayed in a single traine.
And what are all these things to a dying Man like your Father. Thomas Scott Daughter Husband Is Dead and left his Widdow with two children. She was married verry young. So true is that Scripture, Hear we have no continuing City How necesary to seeke one to come. I must Draw my epistle to a Close, and comend you to God and the Word of his grace. Give our kind love to Mary Cooke her Husband and Children. May the Blessing of Heaven rest upon Both Families is and shall be the Prayer of your Loving Father, John Stubbs.

Let us Have an answer to this epistle as soone as your Conferance is over. I know that it shall be well with them that Fear God. Fare Well
Edward Birkett Widdows was over at Kendal. She wanted to know how to write to Edward. She thinks highly of Edward. She is now Living in Sedberg so that if he will faver her with a Letter it will be a comfort to her.
Dear Brother,
I have just a few words to say at the end of your Fathers letter. That is we are all well in Health witch is a great Blessing. You will see in the above letter that Bell has lost her Husband. She is now coming to live with her Father and her Mother in the same yard with us. She apears to bear the berevment with resignation to the Devine will. Excuse any more as the sheet is Full. Thos Williams