John Street letter to Thomas Rotch, Salem Columbiana County Ohio 7 Mo 23rd 1813

               
  A-327-5
         Salem Columbiana County Ohio 7 mo 23d 1813
  Dear friend,
          When I wrote thee last I was not certain of the
  number of sheep to be taken on shares of thee that's wanted
  in this neighbourhood bur signified I should write again
  when that knowledge would be ascertained which I be-
  lieve now is viz. my brother in law Robert French and
  myself will each of us take 12 ewes as thou proposest
  when here but would as [illegible] would not have a buck for either com-
  pany as the one I buy of hee will serve for us both not only
  for them we may get of thee but but our own and all that
  we may take in of our neighbours as our neighbours dont
  seem at all spirited about merinos or at least not enough
  so to be willing to give much for the breed - (Thou wilt
  perhaps make some difference in the terms in takeing
  each of us 12 ewes without a buck) My brother in law
  says if thou wouldst rather he will take a buck with
  him as it may be there may be more ewes to be had
  than we now expect - (of this we can say, more when we
  go for the sheep which we wish to do as soon as we
  hear where they are as we now don't know whether
  they are at Kendal or Short Creek - I am very desirous
  of having the two I but of thee as I have a number of
  common ewes and they will soon be wanting the buck
  and I fear some of the common ones may get to them.
    I would have sent for them before this time had I
  known where to send, having heard nothing from thee
  on the subject.  Thou wilt please give us the necessary
  information by post or otherwise as soon as may be-
  Samuel Hicklen of Lexington also wishes to take some of