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Contributed to Maine Memory Network by the Maine Historical Society(Coll. 44, Box 1/1)Date: Nov. 9, 1811Description: Letter from Mark Fernald to Ephraim Stinchfield.
Wolfborough Novr 9th 1811Dear & Near Brother
Thee may think that Br. Mark has forgot hisNear Friend but it is not so. There are SomeReasons Why I did not write. I have been SinceI Saw thee Preaching almost Every Day or Eveningand Commonly Both Day & Evening but hadOpportunities many of I had known whereto Directed my Information to. I have heardfrom thee Several times and Understood theeWas at Labour for our master Jesus.Dear Sir, I barely know how to writefor I have Been hoping to See thy face inthe Flesh Once more and have traveled manyMiles to Puplic mettings hoping to See theeI Travell Where I think the Lord calls meall the time I have not tarried at kitterySince I Saw thee Only to Visit my FriendsThe Lord has been Wisdom and Power untome and has Wonderfully Blest my Laboursfrom Place to [missing word] I have Seen many Wounded – many Deliver - & many happy SoulsI suppose thee has heard of me Several timesfor my name is much talked aboutDear Sir I Often think on thee and what Labours thou hast Gone through I OftenMourn and Pray for thee for the GoodShepard to take Good Care of thee
Remember my Unfeigned love to thy half widow or Wifeand the Dear Children I long to See them and hopethe Lord will Send me that way in a few monthsI love them although I do not know them and hopethey will Stand fast Looking for the Blesed hope &cNB^ If thee Can write to me or to Br Joseph Y. BurgessPortsmouth for me I Should take it a Good Favour
Farewell in Union with Christ} Mark Fernald till we meet face to face Servant
Hoping thee will Receive this Information I writeI come from Bradford Mass to this townLast March and found a Borough with many Wolfish People in it and but fewwho had Relegion I Began to Preach andthe Lord Blest the word. the Enemy Soon[missing word] His Children to Howling Sundayand nearly Every thing thing they CouldInvent they said as is Common by theLords sword Cut almost all before it and a Goodly number have Embraced Christ
Nearly fifty have Been Baptd and many Converts have not. The Reformation is Very Still save what noise the wicked made all by Breaching and the Lordhas helped me Beyond what I Ever thoughtDear Sir I Do not feel nor act like the Same Person my trials about Preachingare Gone when I Give up for the Lordswill to be Done. I never thought when I was
Baptd that I was Coming to this. –––––––––––The Church of kittery [word crossed out] some Low when SeeI was there but Longing to ^ Br. StenchfieldI hope if thou Should feel Duty that theewill not Delay to Visit them and ifI know it I Shall Come 40 or 50 miles to see thee --- the Lord help thee till Deaththy needy Child & Brother Mark Fernald