June 21, 1796 — to John Kobler

John Kobler had been with Asbury as they had traveled together through the Holston District in Virginia. Now Asbury has traveled through West Virginia, then Virginia, and into Maryland to near Frederick Town, where this letter was written.

NEAR FREDERICK TOWN, MARYLAND

June 21, 1796

[TO JOHN KOBLER]¹

My very dear Brother:

I cannot fully express in words my obligations to and love for thee. Whilst I was busy at Rehoboth² Daniel Hitt³ was waiting for me at the Little Levels to take me to the Clarksburg quarter meeting the very Saturday and Sabbath Day I was at McNeals. I engaged the awful march through Tygar’s Valley after riding about 160 miles in about 42 or 45 hours taken from three days. When I came near Morgantown Shin grew weak and falling down cut his knee and made the blood fly as if he had been struck in a vein. I rode him no more till I came away from the district. I was honoured with half a dozen preachers being with me continually attending three quarter meetings and filling up each day of one week. I rode near 100 miles in the district⁴ and near 300 to Baltimore, my upper appointments upon Potomack Branch were deranged. We had to work near 200 miles to Frederick Town, Maryland,⁵ all but 10 miles last Saturday by 11 o’clock. I have had a cold in my head that hath been very uncomfortable to my sensations. Redstone [Pa.] is amazingly improved. Work on the Eastern shore [Maryland and Virginia] attended with a deep and lasting conviction of long continuance to what some former calls have been. Schools and families ought not to be neglected. I have thought it might be of consequence for the eldership to take every member of the families alone and they would not fail of making, by the blessing of God, impressions. I am as ever thine,

FRANCIS ASBURY

P.S. Brother Riggan’s love to you. Farewell.

Drew University Library