Electa Leach was the daughter of Ruth Marsh and Ichabod Leach. Ichabod was the brother of Ephraim Leach (#129).

The letter below was found by Sean Sweeney among materials passed down through the Marsh family. After finding the letter, Sean searched the internet, found this website, and discovered the connection between Electa Leach and Ephraim Leach. He e-mailed the webmaster to confirm the connection, and then he mailed Electa's letter to the very appreciative webmaster.

The connection to the webmaster is as follows: Electa was Ephraim Leach's niece. Ephraim was the webmaster's G-G-G-G-G Grandfather. Electa is a very distant cousin of the webmaster.

(Note: This letter is a clue to the approximate date when Ephraim died. He was very sick when this letter was written, January 8, 1815. His will was probated the next year on January 15, 1816. Also to be noted is that John Wing is mentioned in Electa's letter. John Wing of Dover is also mentioned in Ephraim's will as an executor, but John was later replaced in that position. In addition to the previous information, the following things are suggested by another living cousin of Electa, Scott Fisher: "Massy" may have been "Mercys" nickname. Mercy was Ephraim's daughter and Electa's first cousin. Also, Scott notes that Electa's father had died 3 May 1813 so Electa was writing to her widowed mother. Scott also noted that Sherman (home of Ruth) was north of Dover (where Electa was teaching.)

Below are the two sides of the electronically scanned letter. The first image shows the letter addressed to: Ruth Leach... Sherman. The second image shows the letter. Below that is a transcription done by the webmaster on August 9, 2016.

 

 

Most Honored Mother I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well at present and should be glad to hear the same from you. Having a chance to send I thought I would write a few lines thinking you would be glad to hear something concerning my school. I have a very comfortable place and as many schollars as is convenient. I have had fifteen schollars and expect four more this week. I expect Maranda Barnze and Samantha this week. My school is not so large in number as it is in statue. Out of the fifteen there is seven that is as large as I am. And they behave themselves very well so far, and I hope they will continue so. Mapy was down here yesterday and she says that Uncle Ephraim is not well as he has been. She wants that I should tell you to come up there and see them, and I should like it myself if you would stop and take me along with you for I been no wheres that I was acquainted since I have been here. I don’t know but you would be glad to know when I am coming home but I can’t tell certain John Wing and his wife is a coming down to William’s as soon as it comes good sleighing and they said that I might come with them if they do come they will be at our house, and there is girl that is a comeing with them. Her name is Martha Chase and she feels pretty wise she never had a woolen gown in her life, And so I remain your affectionate Daughter. Electa Leach Dover January 8th, 1815 Please to tell the girls to write. Monthly Meeting

 

Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com