JOHN HEWSON was born in England, September, 1744, emigrated to America, settled in Philadelphia, and became a citizen in 1775. He was married twice, and had a large family of children. He entered the American army, and was taken prisoner in Philadelphia, April 1, 1778. Rufus Lincoln and John Hewson became acquainted while prisoners of war in Philadelphia; they were marched to New York, and were paroled to Flatlands, Long Island. The last of August or first of September, 1778, a plan to escape was formed by Hewson and several others; Rufus Lincoln was asked to join, but refused. See Letter Number Two for the history of the escape. After the escape, it was many years before these old friends heard of each other, and in a remarkable manner. "Prudence," the second daughter of Rufus Lincoln, married James Field, February 22, 1813, and shortly after they went to Philadelphia to live. One day Mrs. Field told her landlady of a friend her father once had in that city, recounted the story of his attempted escape, and that as her father had never heard from him, it was supposed that he had perished in the attempt; but when she mentioned the name of her father's friend, imagine her surprise to learn that her landlady was the sister-in-law of the person spoken of, and that he was alive and well. Thus it was that these old friends heard of each other once more, and the letters herewith are those written by John Hewson to his old friend Rufus Lincoln. John Hewson was a calico printer by trade, and his name was in the Philadelphia Directory as late as 1822. His last letter is dated 1820; possibly some later ones have been lost. In 1825 the names of both father and son disappear from the Directory. In February, 1902, I met a member, by marriage, of this family, and tried to obtain some of Rufus Lincoln's letters to John Hewson. I learned that the family had nearly died out, and none of those remaining knew of any family papers or letters. Their home was near Germantown, Philadelphia. I received your favor dated in May last fr your Daughter who lives in the House of my Wife's Sister. the Sattisfaction my Wife & my Self received is better felt then described - Mrs Hewson nor my Self ever forgot you, but often regretted we had not taken a Memorandum of your place of Abode when at home; if you should live to see it in peace Mrs. Hewson is Just now recover'd from a Six months confinement by Sickness & debility to her chamber, and my Self about 12 weeks, most of which time in Excruciating pain, I am astonish'd when I view my self in the Land among the living; but it is the Lords doing and it is Marvelous in my Eyes: the Praise I render to his most Holy Name - we just begin to ride out a little for the air, I can only make out to walk about 50 yards at present I remain so weak; The small present you are so kind to notice that I sent you, I am pleased to hear it came safe to your hand; I can asure you it was a grief to my heart that is was so small, I likewise return you my sincere thanks for the very hansome ruffeld Shirt you Sent me- I have had II Chilldren since my Captivity 6 I had when I was taken Prisoner, which makes 17 in all-they have brought me 47 Grand Chilldren about 37 of them are living; about 2 years ago 30 of them dined with me - 10 out of my 17 Chilldren are living, 7 Daughters & 3 Sons: and I have great reason to be thankful that there is but one Scabby Sheep in my flock; his wife and 5 fine Chilldren, and left them to Starve, it proved the Death of his wife very soon- and his Chilldren we have amongst us and all this for that Cursed Sin of drinking; he is 43 years of age had a fine Constitution, but got quite deranged in his mind; and now, as the only and last Step I could take to give him a chance to save both Body & Soul; I had had him taken up as as an Insane person, and Sent to the Pensylvania Hospital - My Eldest Son is 45 years of age, and a worthy man, he is a Minister of the Gospel in the Baptist Connection; but does not live Chargeable to the Gospel- he follows my Business that I have gave up about 4 years since; he has preach'd about 20 years Among the Methodist & Baptist together without receiving any pay: the former displeased him & he Joined the latter; and is very acceptable among them: my other Chilldren are all Morrale, & the greatest number Pious; So that upon the whole I have great reason to be thankfull- Mrs Hewfon is very weakly has been confind Six months but is recruiting a little, my Self as I mentiond before about 12 weeks - and no longer ago then Yesterday I did not think it possible I who abandon'd could live one hour my Cafe was so Critical; that if I could have had all the Medical Aid of the City at my Command; they could not have been of the Least service; nothing less then the Interposition of Divine Providence could be of the least Avail - Accordingly I lifted up my Heart in faith & humble Prayer to the Lord; and pled his Promises in the Name of our great Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ I belivee it was not three minuets before I felt relief; which Overcame me in such a manner thats better felt than Describ'd - The Difficulties, trials & Afflictions I have had to wade through in raising such a numerous family have been great, it would Allmost fill a volume to relate them; if I was near you I should feel a Pleasure to recount them over to you, and how wonderfully the Lord has dealt with me; and delivered me out of all my troubles, and here by his help am I come, to about 68 or 69 years next September - But whats is best of all I have a bright prospect of a glorious Immortality when the Earthly House of this tabernacle is Disolved, I have a building of God not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens; this last Affliction has been made a Blessing to my Soul, Sharp and painfull as it has been, I would not be without it for the world-It gave me great pleasure to see a Daughter of yours here, I think she is weakly with regard to her health; but I believe she likes Philadelphia pretty well If I surmount this Sickness, I shall write you again & give you a history of our Escape from the Island it was a wonderfull thing, but it was the Lords doing and it is marvelous in my Eyes; the praise and Glory be to his great & Holy Name As to Politicks I have never Calld my self by any party name, But that of American I feel as in 75 & never knew any change; I love my Country; I like its Goverment, and am determined to be Obedient to its Laws; them that would wish to divide her deserve to be divided themselves Your Daughter & her Husband Send their love to you & your Wife, and are Anxious to hear from you; her health is in a Mideling way; she Complains a little of our heat; they are pressing for you to write — & I pray you on the receipt of this, you will let me have a line from you Mrs Kendal is Dead more then ten years since; I will give you her history in my next Moore is Dead a Long time, he lived a Disapated life, Stainer I believe is Dead a great while, he went to live in the Country & followed Butchering; I am sorry you are so Deaf; but be of good cheer in a little time we shall renew our Strength as the Eagles and mount and Sing arround the throne of God, I praise the Lord I have my hearing good & have wrote the without the aid of Spectalles, & in all my sickness I have never lost the use of my mental powers; nor had the head Ach one half hour I am a little better this morning the 18 June- & now my dear friend adieu for the present and if we never see each other in the flesh, may we meet in that place where all is peace and Rest Yours John Hewson, I must beg your forgiveness in not answering your last sooner, but the exstreeme debility my last affliction left me under, took away all my spirits & resolution for writing and a constant exspectation of your Daughters intention to go home to see you, made me postpone it to the present Opportunity: but I had very nearly mist it by being seised with a violent Cough & spitting about 4 weeks ago, which brought me full half as low as I was in my great affliction: but I am in the hands of that God who does wonders in the Heavens above & on the earth beneath, and who is now restoring me to a measure of health & usefulness again Glory be to his most Holy Name I have just past the bound of time alotted to mortals, I have entered on my 71 year: and through the infinite goodness of my Gracious God: I retain the use of my limbs and my mental powers, my Eyesight is good, my hearing allso, & I am as upright as when we were on the Island. O Sir! what cause for thankfullness! wife is recovered a little from her debillity, and if nothing happens to put her back, we propose to drink tea with your Daughter to morrow - I promis'd to give you a detail of what I past through when I left the Island; it will be tedious, but it may beguile a gloomy hour, as well as show to you the superabundant goodness of a Gracious God to one of the very Cheifest of Sinners When we left Island, we my went to the mouth of a Creek which led to barren Island & from that to the sea. it was about ten OClock at night; We had prepared a large boat, but our Company not all ariving, we took a small Canoe which we could not stand in without danger of tumbling overboard - we proceeded down the Creek about a mile & then run her ashore & ballasste her with sand; and proceeded to the Ocean, we soon had to encounter the breakers, which were terrible; we exspected to be swallowed up; but God preserved us, Glory be to his most holy name! when we thought little of him he was mindful of us and saved us: I shall just mention there was a light in the lighthouse that evening, and it was at the abating of a storm, which two circumstances was necessary to be observed, but all these prudintial methods would have proved abortive, had the Lord not prevserved us - Judge from the following; a Canoe a little wider than our bodies, and five of us pretty well fill'd it lengthways, we made Ogburn our Captain, and bound our selves to Obey his Command - he with a short paddle sat in the stern on the bottom of the canoe, and with incessant labour with his arms in the sea to his elbows, he kept her from falling in the trough of the sea, which if once done we should all have undoubtedly perished: my self & two more rowed with paddles, Blake sat on the sand on the bottom of the canoe, to bail the water out with his hat as it occasionally came in, we made an offing toward the Ocean of about 20 miles for fear the flood tide should be to powerfull for us and put us in view of Allens Core at the Hook we past several vessels in the night, but we was as still as death, about One OClock as near as I can guess, An awfull moment arived, The Sky blacken'd and the wind made a hollow dismal noise, the waves was raised about 3 feet high, and several times broke part over us; I fainted |