Haverstraw, NY Harpers, Heartbreaking Ltr

The following is a letter from my gggGrandfather John Hewitt to his brother-in-law William F. Gurnee of Haverstraw, NY regarding a loss suffered by William Harper of the same town:

New York, January 11th, 1837

Mr. William F. Gurnee

Dear Brother,

I have just heard by Mr. A. Markes that Harper has lost one of his children by fire and that Harper and his wife are sick.Nothing but indisposition prevents me from going up by the stage tomorrow morning.I therefore endorse you an order on Mr. Laden for goods to the amount of ten dollars if they should be in want of anything.This will be left to your discretion, your being on the (unreadable word).If he should not be able to attend to feeding the creatures, I must here request that you will get some person to attend to their being fed and taken care of and I will gladly pay for the same, until I am able to come up which I hope will be soon.I hope your health is restored and family all well,

Yours in haste respectfully,

J Hewitt

(Text continues with a note to Michael Laden)

Mr. Michael Laden

Sir/ Please deliver to William Harper goods to the amount of ten dollars and charge the same to

Your Servant

John Hewitt

If anyone would like a photocopy of this letter, please let me know asap as this and other documents are soon to be donated to Ringwood State Park in NJ.

Tim Hewitt
Colorado Springs