Hewson, John (1744-1821) to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03849.04 Author/Creator: Hewson, John (1744-1821) Place Written: Kensington, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter Date: 8 July 1817 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Says Lincoln's daughter reports his health is as good as can be expected. Hewson says his health has been poor since last winter and that he was confined to the house for eight or nine weeks. Says God wanted him to live in order to help his youngest son, who ruined his family through drinking, move westward to Ohio and work as a carpenter. He has bound him out to a master carpenter for two or three years to complete his training. Says his other son James was in the Hospital for one year at 4 dollars a week and he is to move west as well. A son-in-law has also gotten into debt and ran away and his daughter chased after him, but not with Hewson's consent. But his oldest son is a credit to him, as are some of his daughters and sons-in-law. An estate he is executor of claims a large part of his time. Says he has to ride out every fine day to check on it. Says Lincoln's daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Field, are fine examples of simplicity and "Republican principles." Last two pages speak of his faith in God and how the Christian religion will see him through his family problems and give him peace at death. Tells Lincoln he is a sinner and that his family problems are causing "waves of sorrow."
Written by Hewson, a famous textile printer who was a prisoner of war during the Revolution to Lincoln as a former fellow prisoner. Lincoln was from Massachusetts.
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