Deborah Fisher Wharton letter to Charity Rotch, Philadelphia, 11th mo 19th 1815

Deborah Fisher, niece of Charity Rotch writes about a family immigrating from Liverpool, England on the brig, Hercules because of the hardship of taxes in that country. The family of John Houle, with wife, daughter and four sons (thirteen people total) plan to travel to Short Creek in Ohio Country, not far from Kendal. The family who are Quakers, landed in Philadelphia after a passage of one hundred days, existing on meager rations during their sea journey. Deborah informs her aunt of their arrival, and writes that Elizabeth Coggeshall arrived safely in New York with 15 other passengers after a 43 day journey from England with an allowance of 2 ounces of bread, 3 potatoes and a pint of water per day; all appeared to be in good health. Deborah reports that her mother, Hannah Rodman Fisher, Charity's closest sister has influenza; Hannah died in 1818. 8.05" x 10"(20.5 by 25.5 cm