LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1832
To Nathaniel and Jerusha Andrews
18 July 1832
[MS in Finney Papers, Oberlin College Archives # 1009]
Nathaniel Andrews (1762-1845) and Jerusha (Sage) Andrews (1771-1857) were Lydia Finney's parents. The following letter was received by the Finneys on July 18, 1832:
Address: Charles G. Finney
City N York
Post mark: Whitestown July 13
Whitestown. July. 7th. 1832 -
Dear Children
last night received your kind letter which gave me great satisfaction to hear your that your health was so much improved since you arrived in N.Y. we have been very anxious to hear from you a long time, I wrote by Mr. Hamilton who was in whitesboro said he should see you on his return to Newark but I suppose you have not received the letter as you did not mention it. I now write by M Henry Hutchinson who will leave here on monday for N.Y. we are all in Usual health since our return from Adams our health is rather improved by the journey, Mr Beebe & the children are very well the little daughter Maryann is a very fine good looking pleasant little child Sally has never recovered her health since her confinement remains week & feeble but works about the house some sees to her children, she was some better when we came away. we tarried there about two weeks, in the time we visited your Parents & friends in Henderson found all very well brot home Narcissa your Brother's daughter with us, they are all anxious to receive a visit from you when you come to Oneida C,y your Father ways Charles must come and see him & bring all the family - - ---- you think of returning home the last of the month I sincerely hope you will for it may be the last time you will ever call it home the farm is sold & I expect to move out the first of O October we shall want your counsel & advice what is best for us to do, you know very well the state of our family, on that point I need not enlarge., I thought it would be best all things considered I shall receive $500 - in cash the remaining 1500 in six anual payments with the interest on the whole yearly. -
[across the left-hand margin of page 1]
the man that has bot the place is coming next week
[page 2]
I have not sold altogether to my mind but it is all cash & every article we can spare out of the house os all kinds will be ready cash at a fair valuation so that we shall have no trouble to find [a] market ready at the door for all these things as they bring nothing but cash -- - after all I expect to leave the place with some reluctance but still I know I cant stay here but a little longer & want but little while I do stay. one great reason why I do this is that I can do for my children what I think I ought to do with greater convenience & still have a little something for myself & your Mother - ----
Saml has always complained this is a very hard farm to work & it is realy so, the more we cultivate it the more Stony it grows & not so productive as formerly, but after all a very good place he thinks he that other places can be found that can be cultivated with greater ease & less labour & I think so too. but Saml is not well this summer at all work looks like a mountain before him but I have no fault to find with him he is pleasant & sociable & kind. he will now have a little resp[i]te for a few days it may be for his health - --- when you come you can know all about it - --- Edward has not come we feel anxious about him Ann Anna & the children are very well I think her health is better than Samuels but her complaints are far greater
[page 3]
I am glad to hear of Mr Finneys good health & of his success in preaching the Gospel I hope the Lord will make him an instrument of gathering a multitude of precious souls int his kingdom in that great City ---- -- no particular attention to religion in this region Christians are not awake to their duty but still their is some addition to the church at our communion seasons. -- George and his family are well I believe, a very general time of health in this prevails in this town people have been some alarmed about the cholera but they are beginning to come to their right mind. Mother send mutch love to the whole family & I desire to join with her & hope we feel to pray for your prosperity & the success of a preached Gospel through the world. Mr Cone & Polly have writen no letter of late the last I heard they were in better health I intend to make them a visit this fall if my health will admit, but cant tell remember us to them dear little children -- I remain as always your unworthy. Father N. Andrews
Mr. Beebe & Sally both said while we were there they could not visit us this summer but when they hear of our contemplated removal they may come
[across left-hand margin of page 3]
Lydia your carpet is ready & as soon as you can make it convenient to come & see us & take your things & let us know what others you want the better it will be for us. when you do come perhaps you had better stop at your B. George
Lydia and Charles Finney replied as follows. Finney's handwriting is in italics:
Address: Mr Nathaniel Andrews
Whitesboro
Oneida County
N.Y --
Post mark: NEW YORK JUL 19
New York, 15th July 1832 ---
Dearly Beloved Parents,
It is past 9 oclock Sabbath
evening, but I thought I would take up my pen
and talk to you a little while.
You have doub
tless heard the reports respecting the Cholera.
It is daily increasing, and deaths are fearfully
multiplying. The report from the board of
health states 84 deaths and 133 new cases
during the Last 24 hours. As we were
going to church in the morning, we
saw a corpse just put into a coffin only
a few doors from us. A little fa[r]ther on
we met a hearse followed by one Carriage
with only 2 or 3 individuals in it. Before
we arrived at the Chapel, met a 2 horse
close carriage filled with coffins. The
City is in great consternation, and mul
=titudes are fleeing in every direction.
We feel as safe here as we should in any other
place. This awful desolating judgment will no
doubt sweep through the length & breadth of
the Land.
We have packed up our things twice in
order to visit you but have concluded to
remain for the present, from a sense of duty.
We may do good to a greater extent now than
at any other time, We are not any of us
[page 2]
very well, neither are we sick. Little Helen has
gone to New Haven to spend a few weeks.
19th
I meant to have finished my letter yesterday
but neglected it. I have just recd yours, my
beloved Father dated 7th inst. I am rejoiced to
hear from you once more in the Land of the
Living. Altho I am glad you have sold out
still when I reflect, that, [that] retired spot where I
have spent so many of my days, days of childhood
and peace, of where I have [rec,d&] enjoyed so much parental
brotherly, & sisterly affection, when I reflect that I
can no longer call it home, my tears flow.
and I cannot refrain from weeping bitterly.
I suppose my dear Parents have not been
apprised that we are at house keeping. It
is 2 weeks since we commenced and I now
write you for the 1st time in "our own hired
house." had you been here My dear Mother
a few of the 1st nights you would have smi
=led to see us we slept on the floor without
a blanket or bed quilt to cover us, but as
the weather was warm, we got along very well.
We have been furnishing our house some,
but I am waiting to get some things from
home. I am glad my carpet is done. Mother
may let me have such beds as she thinks
best and can spare. I suppose it will be best
to sell those articles of furniture I called mine
if you can, as transporting them here would
[page 3]
be some trouble & expense. The table with draw
=ers which belonged to our dear deceased Clarissa.
I should like to keep and have in my possession
if there is no objection.
The letter you mention by Mr Hamilton
I have never received.
Am sorry to hear Sister Sarah is so feeble
I did hope to see her this summer. Cant
she come home in August? as I think I
shall visit you some time that month.
Perhaps the 1st or 2nd week, do write to her to
come if possible. Mr F. will visit his Parents
and she could return with him if she
could come out in some way.
I was quite surprised to hear you had
got little Narcissa for we had talked about
bringing her with us.
We have been making some calcula
=tion to have Father & Mother Finney come and
spend the winter with us, or to have you
come, As you are breaking up house keeping
perhaps it would be pleasant to spend the
winter here. But we will talk about that
when we see you.
The cholera increases every day, in some
houses 2, 3, and 5 are dead in one day.
Surely "the Lord doeth his will among the
inhabitants of earth, and none can stay his
hand or say unto him what doest thou."
Who will be the next victim we know not.
[along the left-hand margin of page 3]
pray for us that we may be prepared for any event.
Love to all friends.
Your affectionate daughter, Lydia.
[page 4]
I wish Edward wd meet us there if he dont come
here before. If he wants to visit New York. He need
not fear the cholera as there is no appearance
of the disease being contagious. Should he come
down previous to our leaving he will find us at
No. 177. Grand st.
[address is written here]
We feel anxious to know what Father intends to do.
It is a great thing for persons of your age to be
without a home. I doubt not you can better yourself
as to location, if you wish to purchase another place.
Our healths remain tolerable - People dying all around
us. O that we may be also ready. & may the peace of God
be with you forever. Yours as always. C. G. Finney
July 18th 1832.
[along the left-hand margin of page 1]
P.S. Lydia hessitates about comming up there, as she can not go home as usual.
I hope to be able to come up next month & get her things so that we can be comfortable in keeping house. Perhaps she will come with me as she needs a country air & August is a trying month in the city. Whatever she has there that can be safely Boxed up & transported should not be sold
[along the left-hand margin of page 2]
at a sacrifice. If the weather remains cool it is doubtful whether she comes.
If it should [be] very warm, & our healths are spared I think she will come.
She can stay some at George's & spend some days at some of our friends in Utica while I visit Jefferson county, & return by first September. C.G.F.