4 August 1738

Elizabeth Scott, Ipswich, to the Revd Thomas Scott, Sr,[1] Norwich, 4 August 1738.

Most Dear & Hond Father

         It is as disagreeable to me as it unusual to be thus long separated from ye Best of parents without ye happy Succedaneous of indeared Epistles. I consider your other Engagements & therefor can’t desire much less expect to be favord in yt regard as I have formerly been but you’ll forgive ye Reluctancies of Nature against a total Abstinence & its innocent Cravings for a Moderate Supply & Your tenderness is my Security from too long & deep a Suffering. I suppose my hasty scrawl giving an Account of our safe journey reach’d you on Tuesday Night. We have thro’ mercy injoy’d our Health ever since Only I have been somewt troubled with my old Companion ye Tooth Ach but yt I hope has now left me.

         We are every day commencing new acquaintances & are like to spend our time in a continuall Succession of visits tis a fatigue but is much soften’d by ye freedom & friendship we are entertain’d with every where  Endeed hitherto I see much reason to be pleased with Bror’s Scittuation who is certainly well beloved & together with Sisr well suited to ye people (as far as appears) every way  Yesterday we were at Mr Notcutts[2] place & heard a very Serious Affecting discourse from those words Tit. 2.13 looking for &c wherein he took Occasion to hang upon & argue our Lords Divinity wherein & tho’ I found nothing new (yt my Father I am beholden to you for) yet I took pleasure in hearing ye word of truth held forth & to find yt together with ye invisible Aids & strengthenings of ye Spirit of God you have other faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ under his influences striving (tho at a distance yet) together with you for ye faith of ye Gospel  May ye same good Spirit abundantly succeed your United Labours to preserve yt pretious Depositum against all ye Assaults & Batteries of Earth & Hell.

         I have inquired further concerning Colchester & find ye Gentlemans Name who is chosen there is Harrison[3] A Person of Universal good Character & unanimously [?] ^upon^ & ye Account you had seems justly representative of the Circumstances between him & yt People. Mr Pits[4] is chosen at Braintree tho’ with ye dislike of some on account of his warmth. Mr Steff[5] is going to settle at Taunton, has preach’d here with universal Approbation  My Bror thinks he sets out well. We have had as yet no Conversation on disputed things but by wt I can yet see I hope he retains old principles   I think I may be certain as ye Doctrines concerning ye Satisfaction & ye Offices of ye Spirit & I know nothing against his doing so as to ye Divinity too, but shall perhaps be able to say more afterward   We are entertaind by Bror & Sister with affection & every thing is very agreable & ye little folks very fond & engaging but we do not forget those we have left behind. No we tenderly remember you as we also depend upon a kind remembrance by you.  I intreat you My Dear Father to take care of your (every way so valuable) Health Use Exercise drink some wine don’t study too hard but recreate yourself with your friends but above all I wish you those Consolations & yt Joy of ye Lord which may be your Strength   The Health of ye Body ye Exhilarator of ye Universal [Spirit?] assure ye Life & Strength & Spiritual Vigor of ye Soul    May that joy abound in you all your Life Long & always as your day is may your Succours & Assistances be  Thus wishes thus ardently prays My Dear Father the most dutifull & Affecte of daughters, 

Eliza Scott

Brother & Sisters & Tommy & Carly join me in dutifull regards to your Hon’d Self & Mother

But Betsy says she will go & carry her duty herself for she longs to see you  they are all pretty improving Birds.

Brother designs sends thanks for ye Books & Sisr ^designs to write soon & Sisr^ & ye children for their respective Presents.  Sisr Johnny sends her Best Affections to Bror & ye family she is well & would be glad to hear from him Love & Service to all when due. Love to Miss Moody  I design her a letter soon

Ipswich August 4 1738

Address: To | The Revd Mr Scott Senr | in St Michael’s at Pleas | Norwich | by ye way of Yarmouth

Postmark: Ipswich [no date]

Notes

[1] Thomas Scott (1679/80–1746) served as an Independent minister at the Back Street Chapel, Hitchin, and the Old Meeting, Norwich. 

[2] William Notcutt (1672-1756), minister of the Independent meeting in Tacket Street, Ipswich, from 1724 to 1756.

[3] Richard Harrison, who served as minister at the Independent meeting in St. Helen’s Lane, Cochester, from 1738 to about 1741.

[4] Joseph Pitts (1702-88) served as the Independent minister at Braintree, Essex, from 1738 to 1742.

[5] Thomas Steffe (1716-40) studied under Doddridge at Northampton and served as the Independent minister at Paul’s Meeting, Taunton, from 1738 until his death in 1740 at the age of 24.

Text: Simon Gratz Collection 250B, Box 248, Folder 36, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.