Grace Cook

     Grace Cook was born in March 1654/55. She married Thomas Denny, son of Edmund Denny and Susan Syer, circa 1686 in Coombs, Suffolk, England. Her husband Thomas died in November 1717 in Coombs, Suffolk, England, leaving her a widow. The following letter was written to both Deborah and her husband, Reverend Thomas Prince of Old South Church, Boston. Grace Denny had been a widow since 1717, was then 84 years old and lived with a married daughter, Mrs. Sarah Pierson. The letter was sent from Old Newton, Suffolk, July 24, 1739, and was received in Boston on Sep 23 (according to a notation on it). Many words in the letter have been crossed out, others inserted. There is almost no punctuation. The spelling is old style-perhaps some misspelling-all of which, together with the cracking of the paper where folded, makes deciphering difficult in spots. George II in 1739 was on the British throne, but the Stuart pretenders were active. The Reverend George Whitefield, mentioned in the letter, was a famous English clergyman, one of the founders of Methodism and a popular preacher, who made several trips to America. "revnd and Dears Sr and Dear Daughter I gave you the troble of a whole paquett of letters wch ware sent away for London the 6 of may and I hope are come safe to yr hand and having sent soe many then I did not intend to give you the troble of any more untill Sept but having an opportunity put into my hand by your kind brother Captain Moses Prince who very kindly sent a letter to son Denny to lett him know where to direct to his at London soe that we might send letters by him to new England he also brought me the good news that you and also my sonns were in helth then when he came away from boston the last of march for wch I desire to be thankful to God and am very much obleigd to the capt for the account &c though I have butt little to acquant you with yett would not miss the opertunity least it should be the last that door I may have for though through mercy I still injoy a comfortable messure of helth yett ought to suppose every day may be my last and then also doe not know how soon we may be all in blood and confusion the decree seem to be gone forth and may be ready to bring forth may we be found seeking meekness and Righteousness and then there is a may bee we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger may it please the most high to power out his spirit of Grace and supplication upon the people it would be a good omen but alass I feare we are too secure and the best and wisets of men thought very lately we were in noe danger of popery and slavery: (I suppose now they see with other eyes) but that we were in danger of Atheism and Deeism Arianism &c and of prevailing iniquity in all respects: we are indeed in great and emminant danger as to these and now I believe they are convinct we are in great danger in Respect of popery and slavery in my opinion there seem a smile of providence in discovering the design of the combined nations viz to sett the pretender upon the british throne but how farr it may please the Good and gracious God to suffer them to prevaile is unknown to us we have not indeed prizd nor improved our liberty as we should have done which God may justly visitt for and make us know the worth of mercys by the want of them may it be given us to believe and suffer if cold thereunto oh I desire yr prayers that I and mine &c may be kept from denying his name and be enabled to hold fast his truth what ever come I know I am the weakest of all creatures if left to my selfe but god is able to make me stand I have bin thinking it may be bishop ushers profisy may be fulfild in our day the Lord grant that I and all mine may be in the minor Courte and then come life come death all will be well but I must conclude as to me and relatives heer we are much as we were when I writt last only poor sister wolham I understand is more feeble and somewhat childish the wars and what respects that &c and the Revnd Mr. Whitefield and what respects him are the chiefe subjects of conversation Sr I suppose you heard of the Revnd Mr. Whitefield AB of Pembroke College Oxford h having b een frequently mentioned in our new papers soe that I need not trouble you with perticulars onely a word or 2 aboute wch was delivered in conversation with a friend which one leaving writt down and it was putti into the news his conversation from his youth was in the straitest way of the church of England in wch hie soe dread that he was counted almost a saint when he went to the colledg he seem promising to make a fine scolar he followed his studys and did not read the words of the best churchmen but at leagth he did read a book cald the Life of God in man which book he say is worth its weight in gold. Reading this he found he needed conviction upon which he left his former studdy and betook himself to study the scripturs and found all this time he was ignorant of Christian Relidgion he was then despaird of for a scolar being thought to be out of he sences he was in great temptations for 2 years wch he say have fitted him for the ministry to preach from experience but not to say any more of that a *** his *** now he seems very zealous and according to knowledg multitudes flock to heare him and there seem to be great sucksess given to his ministry to undeceive the erronious and Reclaim the viceous he is very much opposed and slandered but we share his corage hold and are ready to hope he is raised up for some great work he appear a churchman and Read Prayers but also pray extempry if he did not appear a churchman the people would be afraid of him but now he is much followed by multitudes Mr Kuylog heard him upon a green near London where they thought there were 30000 people and yett the most profound silence Mr. Tood of Colchester heard him neer London 3 times one of which was thought was his last in England being to goe a shipboard next morning for gorgia though it proved otherways (the ships crue being imprest) and he made a speech to the people soe moveing that Mr. Todd I heard did say that oserving the multitude he thought there was a thousand weeping eyes but it may be this may be old news to you soe noe more concerning Mr Whitefield and I know not whether you can read what I have writt I am waiting to Rec letters from you and the rest but may be the warr may make the sea soe unsafe that there will be little opportunity for you or me to send to each other I am glad to hear of you and desire to be thankfull for mercys afforded to you and yours in all respects particularly for Restored helth to you my daughter though perhaps you are weakly still yett that you are still preserved to be a wife and a mother to hr family I pray God your restored helth and strength may be laid out more and more for the glory of God and Comfitt of hr family in all respects thus desiring to committ you both and all yours to the God of all-Grace who is able to work in you and doe for farr above what I or you can ask or think with deare love to you all I subscribe and sm Yr loving mother Grace Denny Old Newton July 24, 1739"¹ Vol 6 #6. Grace Cook died in December 1741 in Coombs, Suffolk, England, at age 86.