Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Scervant Jones letter to Thomas B. Montague, 1849 October 5

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Scervant Jones letter to Thomas B. Montague, 1849 October 5

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[Page 1]

Williamsburg Octo 5th. 1849.

My dear Sir. I had quite a time of it, the
day I left your House, the Rain pour'd
down and the Wind blew tremendously before
I arrived at the Ferry - found the Boat
and hands on this Shore and the ferry
Keeper not at home - his Wife utterly
refused to make any effort, and said
it was impossible to set me over
the River. I went down on the beach
and arranged for $1.50 my own passage
and had quite a rough time of it, but
got safely over myself leaving my Horse
and Gig on your Shore and had to
send after them the next day. As
it was, I attended the Funeral, according
to promise and came up to this place
late in the Evening - found all well,
except the loss of a Beef, stolen in
my absence, a part of which had been
found before my return in one of
the Negro Cabbins of Doctor Waller. So

[Page 2]

you see what with Ferriages going &
returning, House feed, loss of Beef &c. I had
quite a profitable Trip of it.

As yet, I have not heard any thing
from the Division at King & Queen
but expect to go on the 27th according

to the arrangement between us - that
is to say, I will cross over to Shelly, not
Catlet's, on Friday 26th after breakfast
so as to be with you at Dinner &
will preach at Night, if desired,
and the Lord permit.

Waller and Slater have lately disagreed,
as I understand, and Slater has his Ferry
now located at Saunders's and from
thence over to shelly or some where
in that Vicinity. Be that as it
may, I have seen him, and he has
promised that on Tomorrow he will
safely deliver to your Man at Shelly
the Wheat I promised to send you / Ten
Bushels /and my Overseer has had my
directions to see that it be sent accordingly.

[Page 3]

On yesterday I baptized One Gentleman
and two Ladies at the Grove Wharf - from
thence we repaired to Cheese Cake and
there Constituted (with the aid of
Doctor Martin and Bishop Amory)
Mount Calvary Baptist Church consisting
of seven Gentlemen and Nine Ladies.
I was unanimously elected their Pastor
so that my Labors are not likely to
diminish in this region of Country while
I remain at this place.

I hope, most sincerely, that you
will by some means or other be en
-abled to secure the valuable services of
that good brother sent you by the
Association and that the Course of the
Gloucester Baptist's will be Onward
and Upward.

With kindest Love to all, I am,
faithfully yours
In the best bond
S Jones

If the Lord permit,
I shall have quite
a baptizing on
Sunday - and on
Monday, I expect to leave home for the Association.

Some 8 or 9 Students, including those of this place, are all that have yet arrived -
The College will open on Monday - Professor Washington is with me -
He would not be denied and his Name got him here. Others I refused.

[Page 4]

Capt T. B. Montague
Gloucester C House

With Ten bags Wheat
containing one bushel each

Original Format

Ink on paper

Citation

Jones, Scervant, 1785-1854, “Scervant Jones letter to Thomas B. Montague, 1849 October 5,” Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, accessed March 29, 2024, https://cwfjdrlsc.omeka.net/items/show/473.
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