wife of James Denton

In 1811 Deborah wrote a very revealing letter to her mother who was still
living in New York state.

I have a copy of the original letter in my files

"This is a very good rendition of the original done by my cousin who did our family research. I kept it exactly as written by our ancestor although the temptation to edit spelling, etc., was great. It is a very sad but insightful look into the life of a distant relative. This is the James and Deborah who moved a branch of the family to Denton's Valley in Virginia/Tennessee. An original copy of this letter is preserved at the Gerow Family Assoc. in New Paltz, Ulster CO, NY."

"The following letter was written by Deborah (Gerow) Denton (1763-1853) of Washington County Virginia to her mother Elizabeth Coutant Gerow and brothers and sisters in the Plattekill-Marlboro area of Ulster Co., NY. It is addressed to William "Jerow" and while difficult to read, appears to have been sent to "living in New York and ___borough". It was sent from Abingdon, Washington County Virginia July 7, 1811, as #25 in the packet of mail." R.M. Dean

Washington County
State of Virginia
June the 29th Day
in the year 1811

Dear angel Mother and Brothers and Sisters,

I embrace this opportunity of writing unto you to let you know that I am well at present and hoping these few lines will find you in the same state of health. And I (should be?) very glad to see you all (if) it was possible, and I want some of you to move out to this country if you can (possibly?), for I am not satisfied in the way I am living, for my companion is no comfort to me for he drinks, by times very hard, and when he is in drink, I see no peace with (man?).

Jerow is married and has three children, 2 boys and one girl, and he lives in about a mile of us. And David is married and has one boy and lives some distance from us. And Daniel Denton (follows singing -------?) and he talks of going to Nathaniel Hull over the Ohio to see his Aunt and his cousins. For Ezekiel Hull moved over the Ohio and this last November he died with a (gathering?) in his head and an issuing out of his ear, and Mary Hull is left a widow and she has her house full of little children to take care of.

When you write to us, I want you to send my age for I have forgotten it, and direct your letter to Abingdon post office, Washington County,

Mary Denton has got well of her lameness and she desires to be remembered to you all, especially to her aunt, Polly (Suett -- probably Shuart) And Betsy remembers her love to you all. Her (granny is important to her?) and I have had six children, four boys and two girls and five of them is living. And the three youngest's names is William and Elias and Martha and the children all remember their love to you all.

I send this hair that is the letter to my mother. This hair was cut out of Deborah Denton's head. And I want to be remembered to you all.

We want you to write the first opportunity. We had a very hard hail the first of June so that it cut down fields of grain that had 50 acres in and it is (allowed?) that it done a thousand dollar's damage.

And so, no more at present, but remain your affectionate son and daughter until death.

James and Deborah Denton

(Nathaniel Hull -- his hand)

Please excuse this bad spelling and writing. Done with a bad pen and in a hurry.