Rev. Thomas J. Newbury

There are two letters written by and one letter about Thomas J. Newbury among the "Adams Family Papers," in the Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa State University Library, Ames, IA. The papers were donated by descendants of Mary Adams (Newbury) and her husband Austin Adams.

Transcriptions of these letters are below.

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Three letters from the Adams Family Papers, "MS-10," Iowa State University Archives, ISU Library’s Special Collections, Ames, IA. This set of letters was photocopied on ten pages by Ms Laura Sullivan, Assistant Archivist, Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa State University Library, phone: 515-294-9680, and mailed to MRD in response to MRD’s inquiries regarding Thomas J. Newbury, a brother of Rev. Samuel Newbury. Transcriptions made by Michael Delahunt, Phoenix, AZ, delahunt@artlex.com, July 2010

Letter #1, page #1

[Michael Delahunt comments, July 26, 2010: Following is a letter written on Jan 23, 1840, by Rev. Thomas J. Newbury, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, to William H. Sergeant, Logansport, IN. William Sergeant (1826 - d.) was fourteen at the time he received this letter. He was one of the eight children (perhaps the youngest child) of Dr. Erastus Sergeant Jr. (1772-1832) and Margaret Sergeant (Keeler) (1780-1837). William’s father died when William was six, and William’s mother when he was eleven. William, his siblings and parents had long lived in Lee, Berkshire County, MA. William was a brother of Jeanette S. A. Rice, Mary Ann Newbury (Sergeant), Oliver Sergeant, Martha Sergeant, Nancy Sergeant, Elizabeth Sergeant and Frederic Sergeant. Rev. Samuel Newbury, William’s brother-in-law, had done some work at Wabash College in the mid 1830s, not long after its founding in 1832.]

[A sheet which the sender has folded in thirds in each of two directions, in the central ninth of which the sender has written, as one might on an envelope:] [In upper left is the impression of a postal stamp very little of which is legible]

[In upper right] 10 [?]

[In center, addressed to] Mr. William [middle initial H?] Sergeant Logansport Ind [Indiana] [In the lower left] Single [?... and written by a different hand]

Letter #1, page #2

[Two pages, the first on the right half of the sheet, and the second on the left half of the sheet. The text is so very fine, so small that I suspect the 8 1/2 x 11 inches photocopy I am transcribing is a reduction of the actual size of the original.]

Wabash College [Crawfordsville, IN,], Jan 23d, 1840 Friend William I do not know whither I wrote to you last or not, yet be that as it may, I am happy at all time to hear from you as well as in writing to you. Since I left Crawfordsville [Indiana] last Spring I have had much to try me and some pleasures. I left all well. I heard from home a few days since all were well. This morning I had a letter from E.M. She has [indecipherable word: s...] in Memphis and [indecipherable word: ] and doing well. likes the south much. She wants me to go where she is and it may be that I shall next spring. I shall graduate next July at which time I shall expect to see you here [?] you [Leorch?]. If so be shure and come. I had a letter a day or two ago from brother Samuel. All are [smudged out word: probably a malformation of “well”] well. I hear that Jeanette [a small lacuna torn from the edge of the sheet, and lost: probably one word lost on this fist of two lines affected] going to the cape [%E2%80%9Ccaper%E2%80%9D? - this word unclear; underlined]. joy go with her, a happy [a small lacuna torn from the edge of the sheet, and lost: probably no word missing] life, a long one and merry one. Now [Now written above a crossed out word] bill are you going to get [money?] if so, say so, if not, I still have company good for us the more the merrier all goes fine. Lord finshing with me, and my pole is short and current mighty, but I think perhaps I can stem it and sore my [bark] Bark. Our society flourishes well our flag is hoisted high above all others, and aplied by a mighty band of heroes. It is now nearly led time, and I have just finished my composition on the Deluge. So farewell good old friend be a good boy, and when I hear from you I will tell you something. Write me a long letter.

Thos. J. Newbury [Thos. = abbreviation for Thomas]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Letter #2, page #1

[Michael Delahunt comments, July 26, 2010: The following is a letter from Rev. Thomas J. Newbury, Raleigh Inn, Germantown, TN, to his brother, Rev. Samuel Newbury, Jackson, MI. The letter is on one sheet the sender has folded in thirds in each of two directions, in the central ninth of one side of which the sender has written, as one might on an envelope:] [In upper left, from] Raleigh Inn Febry the 19th

[In upper right] Paid 10

[In center, addressed to] Rev. Samuel Newbury Jackson Michigan

Letter #2, page #2

Raleigh Feb. 19th 1849 Dear Bro. Samuel, For three or four days now, we have had something like northern weather — the thermometer has been one morning 14[degree sign] below freezing — this is all the winter weather we have had — yet I think I feel it more sensibly that I would the cold of the months one changes are very sudden — and are from extreme norms [name] — to cold — the system is not prepared for it. Since I wrote to you last, I have enjoyed good health. I have a comfortable room — and a tolerable good library. I have just sent for $50. north of the books of the Presbyterian Board of Publications. (I am determined to make myself “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” I am not doing so much for my master as I ought to do. Yet, I am in hopes the way will be opened for me soon. I preach every Sabbath, and Sometimes on week-days. Yet, I want to tell more that Jesus did to save them. It is a self denying work — much responsibility, and a great reward. I have some very unpleasant work to do now, settling private quarrels. It does seem as if the Devil took great delight in

Letter #2, page #3

disturbing the church and leading the child of God to disputation. This I believe is a Devil [?] “Which cometh not but by fasting and prayer.” I have heard nothing from our friends since I wrote. I hope our parents stand the cold climate well. Tell sister Mary Ann [the writer’s sister-in-law, Mary Ann Sergeant Newbury, Rev. Samuel Newbury’s wife] I would like very much to receive a few lines from her. By the way, what has become of that niece to whom I used to sing — and toot — about so much? I don’t intend to say “How do you do” to her untill [sic] she writes. I think she has treated me shamefully. She wrote a long list of old Bachelor verses[?]. as if she intended them for my dirge and then left. Well! I will show her one of these days one of natures fairest daughters from the Sunny South. I believe all is arranged except the Parson has not said ___________ but enough of this. I will tell you more after the [the writer crossed out an indecipherable word: m...lk...gs?]

Remember me affectionately to all. except Frances don’t tell her how do. Your Bro. Thos. J. Newbury

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Letter #3, page #1

[Michael Delahunt comments, July 26, 2010: The following is a letter of Sept. 7th 1849, from a Committee of three men representing Shelby Lodge No. 33, a local branch of an American fraternal organization called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), in Germantown, TN, to Frances Newbury, who is in nearby Memphis, TN, expressing condolences at the death of her uncle, Thomas J. Newbury, who had been the lodge’s presiding officer.]

[This is the face of an envelope, much of the photocopy of it extremely dark, with little contrast between text and background. Top line:] letter from [name illegible] [At center, To] Miss Frances E. Newbury Memphis, Tenn. [At lower left] Mr. H. Brundens [?]

Letter #3, page #2

[At top left, from] Germantown, Tenn, Sept. 7th 1849

Miss Frances Newbury, By dinstion [?, elinstion, slinstion, ] of Shelby Lodge No. 33, I.O.O.F. [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] we enclose you copies of resolutions adopted on hearing of the death of your much lamented uncle Thomas J. Newbury who was at the time of his death the presiding officer of our Lodge. In discharging this duty we deem it unnecessary to pass a [] eulogy on the deceased — to speak of his many virtues, his usefulness as a minister of the gospel and the high esteem in which he was held by all classes of the community. Your visit amongst us has given you an opportunity of witnessing the deep grief and the many regrets his death has occasioned, and no where has his loss been more lamented than by the members of our fraternity. We miss from our ranks a brother whose place will not soon be - if at all supplied. We have however the consolation that he has gone to reap the rewards of his labors in a far better world, and we bow in submission to the wise [ ] of Him who in his Wisdom has brought his bereavement upon us. In conclusion we regret to learn that you will in a few days leave our neighborhood on your return home. We wish it was so that you could stay longer with us. Accept for ourselves and the Members of our Lodge, our best wishes for your safe and speedy

Letter #3, page #3

arrival at home, and the assurance that wherever your lot in future may be cast, our prayers shall attend you. Very Respectfully Yours with true Friendship’s devotion Wm. P. Vadim [Wm = William] R.L. Scruggs [Seniggs?] J.M.M. Cornelius [Comilius?] Committee

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