1842 June 9, Trenton, to William D. Cope Esteemed Friend, Susquehanna

              Trenton 6 mo 6th 1842

William D CopeEsteemed Friend

I have been rather negligent about inquiring into the exact state of the property which was transferred by Thomas Stewardson, as surviving executor to the estate of Henry Drinker, to my mother-in-law—I have found among her papers five deeds from Thos. S. to thy brother Alfred, and a like number from him to Mother, for five distinct pieces of property—It would seem too that, previous to the making of these deeds, contracts for the sale of these pieces of land to settlers had been made by Thos. S. the purchase many with interest to be paid in instalments, and title to be made to each settler when the whole amount should be paid—These contracts I do not find among her papers, but from a letter of thine and one or two from Alfred I think it probable they were sent to him, as her agent- I find too from letters that deeds have been made to two of the settlers, I think, and, of course, all claims against them have been liquidated. There was also a bond and mortgage assigned to her given by our Bennett, but which I do not find, and suppose them also to be in thy hands.

As I feel the necessity of a little relaxation from the duties of my office, and could take a few days, without inconvenience towards the last of this month, I have a mind to take a ride up into your neighborhood for the purpose of seeing thee and ascertaining exactly how these matters stand, provided thou art likely to be at home—It would suit me best to leave home