Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Mary DAVIS
William N. Davis
Brandywine Manor
Post Office
Chester County,
Pennsylvania
The letter was mailed from Riblets, Ohio, on 17 Jun 1838 and the postal charge amounted to 26 cents. In this letter she gives an account of the migration trip of her family by wagon, leaving from Brandywine Township, Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday, 11 May 1838 and arriving in Richland County in north central Ohio on Saturday, 9 Jun 1838. Besides herself, the family members were her husband, Aaron Baker, and seven of their children: Sarah (16), Eliza (14), Oliver (12), James (10), Louise (7), Mary (3), Amy (2).
The time taken for the journey in 1838 was four weeks. In 2010, the driving time by automobile for this trip of about 480 miles via the Pennsylvania and Ohio turnpikes is about eight hours.
Following the letter is a typescript of a poem written by Mary (Davis) Baker on the occasion of the family leaving Chester County, Pennsylvania, on 11 May 1838 to make their home in Richland County, Ohio.
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6th. Mo. 11th. 1838 [Mon, 11 Jun 1838]
Dear Brothers, Sisters, Mother & All:-
We arrived here on the seventh day, the 9th. [Sat, 9 Jun 1838], and all are tolerably well but were very tired. We came to a tavern two miles from here, enquired for John Gibbons, they told us it was two miles. We left the children and waggon there and Aaron and I walked here. John was not at the house but soon came. He seemed almost overjoyed to see us. I staid and Aaron and John went back for the children and waggon. There was no empty house in the neighborhood. John and Mary was very anxious we should come into the house with them. They have not got their goods yet. I expect we will stay here till the first of August. At that time the other tenant has to move out, then we will move there. It has two appartments, this has but one. They are built of log, roofed with clap boards and put on with way poles. Brother Isaac can tell you, they are the only kind about here. The country round here has been but lately opened. All round where this house stands the timber has been cut off and tomorrow there is to be a parcel of men to roll the logs off, employed by the former owners of the land. We have nothing to do with it. We are about as near to the road as Mother is. It is the state road. There is two houses in sight and others not far off. John and Mary has made gardens both here and down at the farm. John says he thinks he has planted a peck of peas and as many beans. There is corn and oats in. They expect to sow buckwheat.
I must now tell you something about our journey. I kept a sort of a journal, I don't know that it will be very interesting. The day we parted with Brother Joel we traveled about 22 miles. We fed at 11 o'clock. We were told it was ten miles to the next tavern. We passed through furnace mountains a distance of seven miles not a house to be seen but the toll gate. The road was very rough and winding. It all belongs to the Colemans. I think it was [the] longest distance we traveled without seeing a house in all our journey. 2nd day we come three miles before breakfast. Aaron and I walked most of the way talking about our relatives in Chester County, we could talk about nothing else. I called at [a] house to light my pipe. The woman gave me a large dish full of apples for the children. We passed by where a son of old Richard Jones lives. Aaron called at the door. They had buried two children the week before with scarlet [fever] and there was two more laying bad. We fed at Hummelstown, a pretty large town. I counted 6 taverns. I think it is half a mile long. While [t]here a man came in selling confessions of the murderer of Benjamin Peart. He was hung on the 6th. day before. We come on nineteen miles to Harrisburg, crossed the canal going in and the Swetara [River] on [a] bridge [and] paid 12½ cts. toll. This is a han[d]some town. The streets seem as smooth and even as a floor. Coming out we crossed two very long bridges over the Susquehanna [River]. A little island runs up between the two bridges. Here we paid 62½ cts. toll. We have passed 7 toll gates and 2 bridges and paid 175 cts. toll. We have come through Lancaster, Lebanon, and Dauphin County. We are now in Cumberland, since we crossed the bridge. We put up 3 miles this side. Come about 22 miles today. I wrote this while they were all asleep. 3rd. day, parted with Ezra this morning. Turned off the pike to save toll. Took the Carlisle [Road] to Shippensburg. Crossed the Cumberland Valley railroad. There is but one track. Saw one steam car going. Passed through a smart little town called Mechanicksburg and through Carlisle. It is a han[d]some town, quite as large as West Chester, on this side the view is very much like it. 5 miles this side, we put up. It happened to be but an indifferent tavern. There was several coloured people and as many rough looking white men. It seemed they had been planting corn. We could not have a table to set our suppers till these gentry all had theirs, it made it late. They all got to differing and swearing, the Landlord as bad as any, but they soon made up and got to fiddling and dancing. We made our beds down. They broke up their frolic and all got quiet, we laid down. I did not expect to sleep but was so tired I forgot all danger and dropt to sleep. We had a higher bill to pay here than common. We had put up at good places before and it seemed a great change. 4th day we come on the pike again at Shippensburg, a pretty large town. Here we come into Franklin County. We come from here to a little place called Green Village (6 miles) and put up at a very good place. They told us that James Guthrie lives about a mile from here. We bought eggs here for a fip [a half-bit coin worth one sixteenth of a dollar] a dozen. 5th. day we come six miles to Chambersburg. It is a large town. They say it is just half way between Philadelphia and Pit[t]sburg[h], 150 miles from each. We bought a piece of fresh beef and some bread as ours was nearly done. Half a mile this side, we got our breakfast. The people seemed like Chester County folks, were very kind. Come 6 miles further to Camelstown and 6 miles further to London where there was a battalion. This town is at the foot of Cove Mountain. It is eight miles over the steepest one we had in all our journey. I shall have to skip a good deal. I cant get all in. We were all walking up this mountain, no bonnetts on. A man in a gig overtook. It happened to be the landlord we were going to put up with. He invited some of us to get in. Sarah Ann got in and rode to the top where we put up. We have paid 75 cts. toll since we came on to the pike last. It is an excellent smooth road, but monstrous hills. A woman showed me sidling hill seven miles off. I could see the road through a break in the mountain very plain. It has been very warm. It rained some today, seemed to cool the air. 6th. day we come to McConnelstown at the foot of the mountain and got our breakfasts. We then came up Chesnut ridge, scrub ridge and sidling hill. Here [we] were setting down getting a drink at a spring that runs out of the mountain. A man and a woman come along in a carriage that I took to be friends, the first I seen since we left Chester County. I could hardly help accosting them. 7th. day, just one week this morning since we left home. This is Bedford County. Came through a large town called Bedford. We crossed the Juniatta [River] on a bridge and went along the river about 16 miles. A beautiful level road and crossed it again. We put up within 2 miles of the Allegany Mountains. 1st. day, here we changed our clothes. We got to the top of the mountain today, 18 miles. 2nd. day, I was not very well and rode all day. Passed through a town called Sommerset. We have seen several little family grave yards pailed in. 3rd. day, it has rained all night and still raining. We come through Laure Hills and then into Westmoreland on through the town of Mount Pleasant, han[d]somely situated on a high hill. Put up 1½ miles this side. 4th. day, we had to lay by on account of the rain. 5th. day, we had to wear our cloaks, it was so cold. We seen several coal banks. We passed where Tanner Morr lives that used to live at Doe Run. He brought us six miles in his Dearborn. Seen people burning lime with stone coal on top of the ground. We put up tonight at Stewardsville. 19 miles from Pittsburg[h]. 6th. day we crossed the bridge over the Al[l]eg[h]eny [River] before we got through Pittsburg[h] and stopt in Al[l]eg[h]eny town. The river runs between the two towns. Here we stayed till first day [Sunday] morning waiting for our boxes. 1st. day, we started and come down the side of the river 18 miles. A very bad road, [a] great part of this road is what they call the Narrows, being close along the bank of the river, there is one place where the road was cracking and falling into the river. We got along safe. We could hear the trees crack as they were ready to tumble in. We have since heard it has all slipt in. This afternoon we stalled. It was raining and no house for a mile each way. Got the waggon prized out and come to a town called Economy where they are strange people, but I have not room here to describe them. 2nd. day, come to Beaver, staid here till fifth day waiting for our boxes. Here we seen a son of Dr. Wm. Anderson and a grandson of old Wm. Iddings. 4th. day, Aaron went back to Pittsburg[h] in the steamboat, found the boxes and had them brought down. We left them at the tavern where we put up with orders to send them on by a waggon. 5th. day, the last day of May, left Beaver. A fine day. Crossed little Beaver [River]. 3 miles this side put up at a village called West Union. We seen a little dwarf here, a brother to the Landlord, 14 years old, not larger than Amy, a very smart, sensible child, but cant walk. We are now in Columbiana County, Ohio. 6th. day, it has rained all night. We had a dreadful road. Today stalled twice in quicksand. The horses went in to their bellys. They laid there and could not get out till the gears were taken off and helped out. People were very kind and helped us out. We got to New Lisbon this afternoon and put up at Joseph Way, a son of old John Way. The old man came to see us. Him and his wife lives in the town and are well. 7th. day we went on to a town called New Garden, here we found Margot Woodward. She is married [to] Milton Rakestraw and lives in the town. We took supper there. Sarah Ann and I took the child and went to John Rogers about two miles and staid all night. Ruth and her husband lives in the house with them. His name is Joseph Furl. He was laying very low, not likely he can last long. His complaint appeared like consumption. Lavina has a fine little boy. She calls [him] Joseph. Margaret has a daughter 8 months old called Mary Ann. Her sister Mary Ann was married three weeks before to Samuel Nicols and lives near. We called to see her. Lavina went with me to Wm. Kennets about 8½ miles from there. I expect Mother remembers him. He married Martha Mendenhall, sister to Betsy Woodward. They were very kind to me. He has three sons and three daughters, all young men and women. Their mother is dead, he is married again to a very clever woman. Cousin Kendall, the oldest son, went with me 6 miles further to Abner Thomas's. I rode one of their horses. We got there about 1 o'clock and Abner and Phebe was gone to Salem, 4 miles. There happened to be a son of Isaac Boone's there, he went on home and let them know. They got back a little before night. She knew me in a moment and seemed rejoiced to see me. They appeared to have plenty and have fine children. William Mode, the oldest son, is a nice boy. He is near 18, The youngest she calls Allen Alexander Mode. She enquired for Uncle Modes and all the rest of you. She looks a good deal older than she used and dresses very plain, wears a long eared cap. They come with us a mile to Damascus. It was after night when we got back to Kennets. He went on with me to Rogers. 2nd. day, John Rogers come 10 miles with us. We come through the towns of Alexander, New Franklin and Harris. 3rd. day we come through Canton and Massillon and went to see Isaac Skelton and staid in Brookfield all night. 4th. day, we come through Greenfield and Dover. 5th. day, we come through Wooster and a little town called Jefferson where we met George Pennock, Aaron's cousin, another town Reidsburg and Jeromesville, where we put up. 6th. day, we come through Haysville and Petersburg and got to Mansfield a little before night. 7th. day, went 12 miles to John Gibbons. I have been several days writing this letter. Sarah Ann and Eliza has been sick two days, got cold taking off their shoes and stockings, but have got pretty well. Eliza's eyes is as well as they were. I am anxious to hear from you all. Do write to me as soon as you get this. Let me know how Susan is and all the rest. I expect to write to Sister Rebecca in a couple of weeks. I wrote to you from Pittsburg[h]. Please let me know if you received it. I could write on if I only had room. I cannot hear of any friends round here.
Please to direct your letters to
Riblets Post Office
Sandusky Township
Richlands County, Ohio
Give my love to Rachel Sinn, Mary Trays, Mary Elizabeth and Rachel Warral and all enquiring friends and take a large share yourselves. Aaron and the girls sends theirs. I cant tell you yet how I like it. Write soon, I shall be anxious to get a letter. If you should send a news paper, direct it to the same place as the letters. It is about two miles from here.
Your affectionate daughter and sister,
Mary D. Baker.
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FAREWELL TO CHESTER COUNTY
Farewell to Chester County,
Which causes me to mourn,
Adieu to Brandywine Township
The place where I was born.
For I must go and leave you,
As you may understand,
To cross the lofty mountains,
Into some foreign land.
To part with thee my mother,
It causes me much pain,
To part without knowing
We ere may meet again,
For thou art growing ancient
And can not come to me,
Nor seldom can I come to see thee,
Bound by my family.
It is my lot to leave thee,
To leave thee here behind.
Lets pray to the Almighty
To pacify each mind.
When I am on the mountains
Whose tops aloft doth rear,
I will think on thee my parent
And pray for thy wellfare.
Farewell to thee my brothers
Whom I so much adore.
Farewell to you my sisters
Which makes my eyes run o'er.
The cruel thoughts of parting
Hath grieved me many weeks,
Which made the tears of sorrow
Run down my mournful cheeks.
I very soon must leave you.
The time it draweth nigh
My thoughts will be upon you
When on the mountains high.
When I am in the valleys,
Where heathens once did dwell
Or on the lofty mountains
Where savages did yell,
There you I shall remember,
There I shall make a stand
And cast my eyes toward you
Towards my native land.
Farewell to you my neighbors,
Which is a grief to me,
The more because I lived
With you in unity.
To think that I must leave you
It causes me much pain,
To leave you n'er expecting
To see you all again.
When I see my companion
And these my darling youth
Brings to my mind Naomi,
Pray read the first of Ruth.
Why should I go lamenting
Or seemingly in despair?
The sun and moon there shineth
And the same Almighty is there.
If I do much adore Him
And still am faithful found,
He'll pour His healing balsam,
Into my bleeding wound.
Now I am in the waggon
My darling children too
Likewise my dear companion.
Farewell my friends, adieu.
Mary D. Baker
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