It happens with delightful frequency that historical treasures find their way to our archives in round-about ways.  Last week I received a call from UConn history professor Christopher Clark, who had been contacted by a woman in Texas who owned a letter that had a connection to eastern Connecticut.  Dr. Clark put me in touch with Ms. Anne Bowbeer of San Antonio, who described the letter and asked if I would like to include it in the archive.  I most certainly would!

The letter, written on August 13, 1835, from Mr. S. Hitchcock of Reidsville (no state stated but likely North Carolina, possibly Georgia) to Mr. Michael Richmond of Westford, Windham County, Connecticut, tells us that Mr. Hitchcock is originally from Connecticut and plans to return at the end of the month to hold a religious meeting.  Here is a transcription of the letter:

Reidsville August 13th A.D. 1835

My dear Sir I expected to have written to you, long before this time. But in consequence of the plentiful harvest and few Labourers in this region I have delayed writing till now. By letter received from Connecticut I have understood that my temporal concerns required that I should once more journey to my native town. And as any field of labour in this Country is verry extensive; and my whole time devoted to religious service I have waited [for] the vacancy of a fifth Sabbath that I might consistently[?] leave my circuit for a few days; you may therefore expect (If the Lord will) me to attend meeting at your Meeting house on the fifth Sunday in August at the usual hour of meeting. You are therefore at liberty to make the appointment if you think it best. I greatly desire your prosperity as a free religious; people had[?] should have much to write; But as I hope soon to see you face to face I defer writing more. Serve the Lord and Fare Well. Your Respectfully S. Hitchcock.

The letter brings up a lot of questions — who was S. Hitchcock?  What led him to leave Connecticut?  Who was Michael Richmond?

Perhaps an inquisitive student from the region will choose to research these men and their place in history.  For now we’re grateful to Ms. Bowbeer for her thoughtful decision to send the letter to us and allow us to save it for another 180 years and beyond.