Miami County, Ohio State, the 9th of February, 1812.
Dear Brother: I once more am permitted by the leave of Divine Providence, with time and opportunity, to write to you, and am happy to inform you that my family is as well as common, thank God for his mercy. I received yours of the 29th of December, and also that you sent to Zanesville, and am glad to hear that you are all well. On the 20th of last month, a day or two after I received your last letter, I started to Ft. Wayne with a sled in company with five others, with whisky and flour for that garrison; it lies about a hundred miles from where I live in a northwest direction on what is called the Mamee, or Miami of the Lake. About 60 miles of the way is through the Indian lands and uninhabited. We had to encamp out five nights, the snow about 14 inches deep and the weather very cold. Some got their feet frostbit, tho' I did not ; yet I am very unwell since I returned. I saw a good many Indians at the fort, some of a strange tribe called the Kickepoos from the Illinois River, but did not learn their business there. There is great talk of a British and Indian war. If there should be war with England it is probable that there will be an Indian war also : if so it will be well with you and others who are out of danger. I lately saw a letter from one of our legislators, who says that they are about to raise a company of rangers to spy on our frontiers, who probably will be a help to our safety.
The most strange and awful news I have to relate to you is the shaking of the
earth through all this country; the first shock of earthquake felt here was, I
think, about the 16th of December; the last was on Friday last, first about 4
o'clock in the morning, the other about 9 o'clock in the evening. The first of
the two last mentioned was very hard and the earth continued in motion for the
space of two minutes, and some say more. I suppose it was not felt in Waynesburg
or you would have mentioned it in your letter.
[Note:
The quake on the 16th was the first of three very large earthquakes usually referred to as the New Madrid earthquakess of 1811-1812.]
There is a copy of a letter published in a newspaper from a gentleman passing down the Mississippi, who was anchored near the Little Prairie, a little below the Chickasaw Bluffs. He stated that the earthquake, which was on the 16th of December, was very hard there, and that many of the islands sank in part and were split to pieces and the banks in places fell in in acres together, and all the logs, &c., imbedded in the bottom of the river, rose up and greatly obstructed the passage down the river, and that the inhabitants of that part were moving off from the river. Other reports are going that a volcanic eruption has taken place up the Missouri River in one of the mountains, and that it bursts forth with fire and that it has destroyed a vast many Indians near it. The truth of those reports I am not able to ascertain, but true it is that it is the awful power of God to shake terribly the earth.
I now come to tell you something about the land as you requested me. Mr. Smith has broke up and gone off down the river, tho' it is said full handed, and has left his lands in the hands of W. Lowery, his former agent, who is now his son-in-law, who sells to any who will purchase, tho' he does not sell much, as there has been but one fourth paid and the certificate taken out, so the back interest makes it come high to the purchaser. Another thing in his favor was that Congress allowed them a year of grace, the same as is allowed on other public lands not excepted to the rights of preemption, which prolongs the time of forfeiture till the first day of next January. I advise you, if you have a mind for land here to come down next fall, and if you like, deposit your money with a receiver or some other person, to enter, when forfeited, in your name. This is the best instruction I am able to give you and am but a poor adviser at any time.
I have a house and lot in Staunton ; I wish you would send some one to buy it. It is a frame, with a stone chimney, two fire places, a good well of water in the yard, and the lot is inclosed with a post and rail fence. I ask only $140 for it, and the forty I would take in shoemaking, if you can send a shoemaker to purchase. I think this is very low, and a shoemaker is very much wanted, and would meet with good encouragement, there being two tanyards near and no shoemaker. I shall be glad to see you or Reuben down here. I do not ever expect to come and see you again, as I am embarrassed with a large and expensive family, which requires my care and attention at home. We now have 12 children, four sons and eight daughters. The youngest was born on the r5th of November.
I shall omit writing again until John Dye goes up in the spring, and then I will again if I am spared, and you can do the same when he returns.
No more at present ; my pen is getting very bad, and I have now encroached on the hours allotted me for sleep, and must conclude, with remembering my love to my mother, brothers and all inquiring friends. Fannie remembers her love to Polly, and so do I also. Requesting you to show this letter to my mother, I am and remain your friend and brother,
Thomas Sayers.