March 27, 1801 — to Ezekiel Cooper

Another set of preaching appointments shows the unusual stamina of Asbury in spite of a body that was frequently in great pain. His will power was extraordinary. The references to the publishing business are interesting.

PORTSMOUTH, VA.

March 27, 1801

[TO EZEKIEL COOPER]¹

My very dear Brother:

If we do for you, in return you will serve us. We wish to take the following, or a better plan, if it can be found, through [New] Jersey: Monday, June 8, to leave Philadelphia and preach at Clonmell, three o’clock P.M.

Tuesday, June 9, to preach at Salem, two o’clock. Wednesday, June 10, to preach at Bethel, two o’clock.

Thursday, June 11, to preach at New Mills, three o’clock. Friday, June 12, to preach at Emley’s, two o’clock; but I must be at Joseph Hutchinson’s that night.

Saturday, June 13, to preach at Brunswick, twelve o’clock; Drake’s, five o’clock.

Sunday, June 14, to preach at Elizabethtown all the Sabbath. You will consult Brother Sharp,² and do the best you can. I am not able to say what places ought to be in the vacancies, but we must be at Joseph Hutchinson’s and Brunswick, and Drake’s and Elizabethtown, that we may come in time to the [New York] Conference.

We could not collect any money from Thomas Bowen.³ According to his settlement with Jesse Lee,⁴ he holds the Connection in debt to him. Brother Whatcoat⁵ hath received but very little of your money as yet, but he has sent you one hundred and twenty dollars. Forty-nine you will be pleased to pay Sister Dickins⁶ from Henry Bradford, as a part of payment he hath obtained for land sold in North Carolina; the remnant you will enter to Brother Whatcoat’s credit, as he expecteth to receive money of yours at the Virginia Conference.

100 dollars United States Bank, No. 129.

20 dollars Bank of New York, No. 334.

This small sum will be of use to you, but the money Brother Whatcoat will collect, of yours, will be of no use to him, only a burden. I am, with respect, yours,

FRANCIS ASBURY

Portsmouth, March 27, 1801

$100

20

120

49 to E. Dickins

71 to R. Whatcoat

I have enclosed the twenty dollar bill in a letter to T. Haskins.⁷ F. ASBURY

Garrett Biblical Institute Library