Loyalist Women in New Brunswick, 1783-1827: Letter from Sarah Winslow to Ward Chipman, 15 November 1795, Fredericton

It is my Friend, as you may well suppose a
very great relief to my Sister & myself that the House is
purchase, — with gratitude thankfulness and extreme
satisfaction we now can be doing a little every day to
make ourselves more & more comfortable — we have so many
favours that I am unwilling to be sorry for any incon
vience, but I could not help being a little chagrin at not
receiveing your letter in time to answer it by the last post
but it was only in so short a time that Hailes had not sent
me the letter before it was gone again, — as I had not seen
nor heard from Doctor Earle I immediately requested Mr
Hazen to go in persuit of him, and he yesterday follow^d
him up so closely as at last to get him to Mr Odel where
he got the discription of the Lot & half that you wish for,
business of any kind is realy a burden to the Doctor
he has perplex^d me greatly about the rent of the House
the very day the year was out I sent for him, had the
money ready & offer^d it, he told me he had rather not
receive it and desire^d I would wait til the Attorney
General came up, the morning after Mr Bliss arrived
here, we sent for him and mention^d the circumstance, he
also refuse^d takeing the money saying he chose we should
settle with Doctor Earle. thus has it gone on without either
of them receiveing the rent due since we tooke possession
of Mr Lamberts house which was the 20^th of june 1794,
I have paid for every repair which has been done to the
House to the amount of which you will se from the
enclose papers. I got Mr. Hazen to take it from the
receipts thinking it was to be deducted from the
rent but the Attorney Generals letter to Doctor Earle
mentions that the two hundred pound sterling is
exclusive of all repairs since we came into the
House, I enclos^d Mr. Lamberts letter to you so in
stantly upon receiveing it that I cannot determ
what he says about it, which ever way it is the
The Doctor thinks it best it should be settle with Mr
Bliss when the Bills are drawn for the purchase of the
House. if you think so and will agree to it, it will
be peculiar fortunate for us, for it is out of my
power to draw a bill until I hear from England
and if I am oblige^d to pay the rent just now must
be under the necessity of borrowing the money
here, it will be few more conveient for me in the
spring to pay for what little alterations we may
make than to advance money at this time, have the
goodness to inform me by the first express wether
it is perfectly agreeable to you to settle it —
the expence for a small bed room we had put up
when we first came to the house & some other very
considerable expences I never charge for, because
I was not authorise^d to do them, after which I
had Mr Lamberts first letter where he says what
ever repairs you think necessary to be made, I
have commission^d my agents to have come out if
the rent of the house, you will do whatever is
right, and will greatly oblige me by leting me
hear from you by the next post, and will thank
you to enclose to me Mr Lamberts letter —
I can never make sufficient apology for the
great trouble we give you therefore shall make
none at this time Pen joyns in affectionate
love to Mrs Chipman & yourself,