John James Letters to Thomas Rotch Regarding Zoar Community

              [page 1]

[corresponds to page one of letter from John James to Thomas Rotch, January 2, 1818]

                                                Philadelphia  1 Mo 2d  1818

Thos Roch

Dear Friend     Our beloved friend Mary Mitchell is at my house

and has requested me to write thee respecting a quarter section of

Land that is situated in thy neighbourhood belonging to her

Husband  she says that he and Nathan Harper had wrote to thee

respecting its situation and value but suppose the letters had

not got to hand as they have not heard from thee-they are very

desireous thou would give some account of this land s some

of their friends are disposed to purchase it in order to rele=

=ive them as they are in great want of the money- I hope

thy account will be so encouraging as to induce them to do

it-They are some in debt and have a prospect of retur-

=ning to England in a few months if they can get their

affairs so settled as to relieve them.  Their property is so sit=

=uated as to prevent them from procuring a sufficient supply

to enable them to keep House- Mary's home is at Frankfurt

but is out much among her friends and attending to some rel=

=igious services-  John has got employment with a relative

of mine in the Jerseys about 25 miles from the City in

keeping his Books-Thou wilt be sensible this is a

trying situation for them at this time of life but they

are favored with pretty good health and Mary seems resigned

and cheerfull through it all----You no doubt have

heard that their has been some obstruction between JW and

his friends and I have been informed their has been a great

deal more said abroad than was true, but I am sure it

will be satisfactory to thee and thy dear wife to hear

that he has regained his right of Membership among

his friends----be so kind as to give a description of

this Land as soon as thou conveniently can.