4 August 1738

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

Most Dear & Hon^d Father

It is as disagreeable to me as it unusual to be thus long separated from y^e Best of parents without y^e happy Succedaneous of indeared Epistles. I consider your other Engagements & therefor can’t desire much less expect to be favord in y^t regard as I have formerly been but you’ll forgive y^e 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 somew^t troubled with my old Companion y^e Tooth Ach but y^t 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 y^e freedom & friendship we are entertain’d with every where Endeed hitherto I see much reason to be pleased with Bro^r’s Scittuation who is certainly well beloved & together with Sis^r well suited to y^e people (as far as appears) every way Yesterday we were at M^r 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 (y^t my Father I am beholden to you for) yet I took pleasure in hearing y^e word of truth held forth & to find y^t together with y^e invisible Aids & strengthenings of y^e Spirit of God you have other faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ under his influences striving (tho at a distance yet) together with you for y^e faith of y^e Gospel May y^e same good Spirit abundantly succeed your United Labours to preserve y^t pretious Depositum against all y^e Assaults & Batteries of Earth & Hell.

I have inquired further concerning Colchester & find y^e Gentlemans Name who is chosen there is Harrison[3] A Person of Universal good Character & unanimously [?] ^upon^ & y^e Account you had seems justly representative of the Circumstances between him & y^t People. M^r Pits[4] is chosen at Braintree tho’ with y^e dislike of some on account of his warmth. M^r Steff[5] is going to settle at Taunton, has preach’d here with universal Approbation M^y Bro^r thinks he sets out well. We have had as yet no Conversation on disputed things but by w^t I can yet see I hope he retains old principles I think I may be certain as y^e Doctrines concerning y^e Satisfaction & y^e Offices of y^e Spirit & I know nothing against his doing so as to y^e Divinity too, but shall perhaps be able to say more afterward We are entertaind by Bro^r & Sister with affection & every thing is very agreable & y^e 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 & y^t Joy of y^e Lord which may be your Strength The Health of y^e Body y^e Exhilarator of y^e Universal [Spirit?] assure y^e Life & Strength & Spiritual Vigor of y^e 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 & Affect^e 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 y^e Books & Sisr ^designs to write soon & Sis^r^ & y^e children for their respective Presents. Sis^r Johnny sends her Best Affections to Bro^r & y^e 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 Rev^d M^r Scott Sen^r | in S^t Michael’s at Pleas | Norwich | by y^e 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.

Texts: Simon Gratz Collection 250B, Box 248, Folder 36, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Gen. MSS. 635, Beinecke Library, Yale University.