Margaret P. Olivier letter to Ellen A. Baylor, 1845 January 14

Margaret P. Olivier letter to her niece, Ellen A. Baylor. Olivier writes about family matters including the visit of Ellen's brother George who came to collect a debt; Ellen's Aunt Mary Whiting's destitute family; and the conversions of her uncles, Warren Baylor and Mr. Whiting.

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Grenwich Jan^y. 14^th. 1845

My dear Niece

I cannot tell you how much
pleased I was upon returning from a little excursi-
-on in the neighborhood, to find your brother
George here, who I had not heard was in the
County until yesterday; he seemed anxious to
turn his face homewards to day, but as I had
not seen him for such a length of time, nor
even heard from any of you, I prevailed upon
him to stay one day longer for my satisfacti
-on, & I fear I have wearied him with questions
about you, & all my old acquaintances, he is
so much grown, that but for his likeness to
your father & mother I do not think I sh^d-
have known him. I am sorry to find that
the object of his visit will not be accomplish
-ed at this time, as he tells me he has not
received the money from M^r. Smith, who
has the business in his hands, & from whom
I have not yet received a cent of what is
due me; for it appears to me there is
always some obstacle in the way & justice
being done to the needy, at least it seems
they have sometimes a great deal of trouble
to obtain their right; but however I hope

[continued from page 4]

to send them but [illegible] presents to all the little children have
cleared out every thing I had.

[running vertically]

I trust they will turn out well. Do remember me kindly to Miss E Jones & her sister
Believe me my dear Niece whether you hear from me or not your Affectionate
Aunt. M.P.O.

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that after a time we shall all get what is
due us, altho' we may be put to some trouble
first. George will tell you about your Aunt
Mary, whom he has seen, & her six children, a
heavy charge indeed, upon indigent parents
but they are generally fine children; her se-
-cond son has been extremely ill, but is now
better. I have now been living near them
for three years, they have been a great source
of anxiety & deep regret to me, for I found my
means totally inadequate to aid them essen-
-tially, or to enable them to educate their
children, all that I could do was to keep them
as much as I possibly could from present
suffering: but I hope that M^r Whiting
will now exert himself to better purpose
than heretofore, as he has lately made a
proffesion of religion & will soon connect
himself to the Baptist Ch[u]rch, from what I
have seen of him I think & believe he is really
changed, & I trust that his exertions for the
benefit of his poor helpless family, will now
be blessed with success. I do not have it in my
power to see her as often as I wish, as your Un-
-cle John's animosity against them is such that
he does not even like me to have any commu-
-nication with them, whilst I am here, but

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the Lord helping me, I am resolved never to with-
hold any aid I am blessed with the means of
bestowing, from the needy & unfortunate, & least of all
from my own kindredred after the flesh, & in so
doing, I most sincerely disclaim all merit or even
the shadow of it; & feel that I could not do other-
-wise without subjecting myself to insupportable
remorse of conscience, & to the awful condemna
-ation, "inasmuch as ye have not done it to one
of the least of these ye have not done it to
me." & I feel that it is not for me to decide upon
the worthiness or unworthiness of my suffering fel-
low being whose misery claims my sympathy.

Your Uncle Warren was here in D^ec you will
be surprised to hear, that he is now a zealou[s]
member of the Methodist Church [torn, illegible]
we exclaim amazing Grace, for never was its
power & efficacy more wonderfully exemplified
than in the salvation of him the chief of
sinners, who seems now tiwh the simplicity
of a little child to be willing to sit at the feet
of Jesus, & to learn of the humblest of his follow
-ers; when I saw him those words were brought
to mind, "unless ye become as a little child" &^c for
in disposition & feeling he indeed seems to have un
-dergone that wonderful transformation w^h
none but a power from on high could effect, he
seems to be the happiest person I ever saw, altho
laboring under many worldly cares & troubles, with
seven children to provide for & no means ade-

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-quate to the demands of their necessities it is
indeed gratifying & edifying to see his entire
childlike repentance, & christian resignation to the
will of his heavenly Father. I have nearly filled my
paper without mentioning your father & the dear
Chidren, & dear Jane. I wish I could see you all
give my affectionate love to them all you must
not think I do not love you & think of you be-
-cause I do not write; for I really have an almost
insuperable aversion to writing, w^h I can seldom
overcome except when compelled to write on business.

Miss Ellen A. Baylor
Caroline County

I wish [torn, illegible] I [illegible] something [illegible] worth [illegible] you my
dear Niece, the hand^f. & collar tho' of little value you
must wear for my sake, I hope the calico will be enough to
make little Louisa a frock; I had not time to finish the
needle Book tell Julia she must finish & use it; I send
some trifles to Chloe & Juda; & some Cotton for J to make
a shirt for her father. give the pin cushion to dear
Jane & tell her altho a trifle it serve to remind her
of me. A lady from this County saw your Sister J. at the
Springs & expressed herself pleased at forming the acquaint-
-ance; I hope she is not a less affectionate daughter or sister
from being fortune's favorite, if so I shall think she is not
to be envied. I must not forget to mention the two
boys give my love to them I wish I could find something

Ink on paper